Medications & Supplements

[Rin]

Can those who have taken medication please tell us about it. What did you take? What were the side effects? Did it work? How long did you take it and are you off it now?

Also, I'm big on holistic and homeopathic remedies, so if anyone has tried those, please mention them here as well.

I took Prozac when I was 12. It worked I guess, went off it and haven't been on anything since. I've also taken St. John's Wort, but never long enough to notice a change. I plan on trying accupuncture once I'm done breastfeeding.

[daylilies]

I took, I think it's called Celexa? That doesn't sound right! LOL
I only took it for like a month. It made me really tired and I was down to half a pill every other day and it didn't even seem worth it. So I stopped. I stopped seeing the counselor then too. He just didn't seem to be helping. When I didn't want to open up he would just say "oh well, want to meet next week then?" He wouldn't try to draw me out or anything.
When I was a teen I took a few things that didn't seem to do anything for me. Wellbutrin I remember was one of them.

[newmami]

I took Zoloft for PPD. I do not have any previous experience with Depression
Side effects? at the beginning, I became completely emotionless, I am usually a very emotional person, but it felt like I had no emotions (happiness, anger, anything), that went away after couple of weeks
The worst side effect was feeling hot.... I know it was the medication because it could be cold and I was sweating like a pig... not nice when it is Summer in FL

[LuTruPeMo]

I've taken a lot of drugs. ;) j/k

For PPD in 2007 I took Lexapro but I sweated SO BAD, and had trouble sleeping, and the side effects were so bad I stopped taking it.

I think in 1999 I started Prozac. It worked great for depression. Only side effect was no orgasms. :(

Then I got panic attacks and Prozac did NOT help. Took Paxil. Worked great! Also gained 50 lbs... thought I was losing my mind, but actually a LOT of people gain a lot of weight on Paxil even with diet & exercise. I wanted to get off it to TTC but started having major problems with withdrawal - brain zaps, flu like symptoms, dizziness - so had to switch to Celexa (which is essentially Lexapro) then taper off that slowly.

For acute panic attacks I still take Ativan. It gives me amnesia though so I try not to take it unless I'm just in a really bad state. I've gone to therapy so I know how to handle the attacks usually, but once in awhile (maybe 10 times a year) I need Ativan to help get me calm again.

[missychrissy]

As far as holistic goes, I forced myself to get up and get out. I also made myself sit on the porch in the sun. Sunlight is nature's cure for depression. Some may think I'm crazy, but it's true.

I never did take antidepressants. Looking back, I know I should have. The right antidepressants take the edge off the worst aspects of depression, but I believe cognitive therapy is necessary to fully get over the depression...along with not allowing yourself to sit and wallow in it. As long as you sit around waiting for things to change, they won't. You have to be proactive.

[LuTruPeMo]

I have a friend who flipped out on ADs - like psychotic.

She found a holistic psychiatrist in MI who prescribed 5-HTP and fish oil. She's had really good success with it. I tried it but it made me groggy and that was about it, but she swears by it.

[Jenny]

I take fish oil, and can really tell when I've skipped a day. My moods get all wacky without it. I also take a Vitamin B complex and when I'm super stressed I drink Natural Calm. I've also tried the 5-HTP and it didn't do anything for me. Fish oil is certainly the best thing for ME.

For Rx meds, I've taken Lexapro and Wellburtrin. I didn't notice any difference while on the meds and was on them for many many months, long enough that if they were going to work, they would have by then.

[momof3-1/2]

I took paxil..it worked for the ref SAD, but not fot the PPD. I needed to take effexor for that and it worked great. Didn't notice any side effects from it either.

[cln1812]

I've taken a host of meds. Right now, I'm on Zoloft for PPD and anxiety, and it's working great other than I'm having night sweats (though this could be due to PP hormones too). I'm sleeping much better at night and haven't had a panic attack since it kicked in.

I took Wellbutrin, which never did much for me. Paxil didn't help my depression much and caused me to feel faint & dizzy & have super low blood pressure. Effexor did help the depression for awhile, but it also made me feel flat emotionwise (no lows but no highs either, couldn't get excited about anything). On Effexor, I had tremors & shakiness, nightmares, a never ending headache, but even worse was the withdrawal, which was pure hell with brain zaps, scary panic attacks (never had a single panic attack before going off Effexor), muscle spasms (had to be prescribed muscle relaxers along with a huge dose of Xanax). Effexor withdrawal was so horrible, I feel it should be taken off the market. I didn't have withdrawal issues with Paxil or Wellbutrin. I've also taken Xanax for panic attacks but this is addictive and Trazodone to help with sleep (semi-successful) and also Klonopin, Geodon, Buspar, Seroquel (worked best for sleep). At one point, I felt like a walking pharmacy because I've been unlucky to have psychiatrists who overprescribe meds and there was a point, I was on 6 meds at once. I felt doped up and out of it. Now I don't trust psychiatrists much after that experience and the last one being unwilling to taper me off Effexor, so I get the meds I need thru my family doc who doesn't overprescribe.

I also did have a positive reaction to taking fish oil daily while TTC and while off meds (I was off everything for about 2 years, up until my DD was born). I tried 5-HTP but it didn't really help and upset my stomach and made me tired.

[lexsmama]

I took Lexapro and did fairly well at first. I wasn't able to cry or have as many emotions as I had hoped. Then, I started getting groggy. After that, I was foggy like walking under a cloud all the time. I couldn't concentrate for anything.

They swapped me to prozac with little to no side effects. I did skip it sometimes, and I could tell very well when I was and wasn't taking it.

[DucksLikeRain]

I'm on zoloft-50mg. I've been on it for about 6 weeks and am feeling a difference. I don't think I've had so many good days...in nearly 2 years! I sleep way better...but I can't seem to sleep enough! that's not normal for me. I'm usually in need of a pretty low amount of sleep. When I first started I had severe diarrhea for about 10 days. But that's all worked out of my system now. My anxiety levels are much more manageable, too.

Of course, I'm at that inevitable "was it the meds or was it just time passing?" point and have been tempted to quit taking them...but I haven't yet. I'm planning on working on being better about my fish oil an b-complex. I'm hoping that if I get real good at taking those (gee, maybe I should put them in a pill box thing with my zoloft for every day, huh?) then maybe I really would be ok to go off the zoloft and not have adverse effects. I've not tried the 5-HTP, though.

[KimJ]

I'm on Lexapro right now. It's the first AD i've been on but i should have got on something a long time ago. It's helped tremendously. And i haven't noticed any major side effects other than some sweaty palms at first...and the occasional freaky dream. The first few weeks i felt emotionless but that seems to have changed. I can cry without crying for hours or days, and i can get pretty dang excited too.

[toesockies]

I just got prescribed Ativan for night and Celexa for the day. I haven't really taken anything before, but man, that Ativan kicked my but! I don't know if I am going to be taking that again. I don't even trust myself to pick up the baby if I take it again.

[newmami]

Betsy, talk to your doctor about the side effects of the medication he gave you

I have also noticed that flaxseed oil and a multivitamin make me feel better, I can feel me "down" when I forget to take them!

[Hunter]

Have any of you taken these medications or any other while BF'ing?

[newmami]

I was BF when I started on Zoloft, but my BF didn't last that long....

[Channing'sMom]

Have any of you taken these medications or any other while BF'ing?

I'm taking Zoloft and Bfing with no side effects for the baby. They warn of possible slow weight gain, but my LO went from 6 pounds to 9.6 in 4 weeks, so I guess that's not a problem for us!

The Zoloft works great for my depression/anxiety. I did have some pretty severe side effects the first 2 weeks, though. Weight loss due to MAJOR food aversion, diarrhea, insomnia, racing heart, dry mouth, sweaty hands. That all went away after 2 weeks and I felt the therapeutic effects of the medicine by one month. Now I am myself again, but do not feel extreme emotions.

[Aubrey]

I was put on Wellbutrin and didn't really notice any side effects, but I was told I couldn't be BFing while taking it. I'd already stopped BFing by the time I found out what I was dealing with was postpardum. It helped me greatly and I weaned myself off of it after about 6mos.

[vew825]

I've noticed a lot of the posts have been about taking these meds after pregnancy. I'm curious if anyone has been taking any medications during pregnancy. I suffered an allergic reaction to Reglan which I was taking for morning sickness and began having severe panic attacks and anxiety. My doctor consulted with my psychiatrist and since I was treated for anxiety and depression 2 1/2 years ago but did not feel like I'd ever experience it again. The Reglan kind of kick started the anxiety and it's been very hard to pull myself out of it. My doctor started me on lexapro with the hope that I'll be off of it by my 36th week as it can potentially cause some problems with the development of the lungs. That really scares me because I worry that I may be at risk for PPD and will need to begin taking it again after the baby's born. I'm also taking Clonozepam only at night to help with my anxiety. It's worse in the mornings and I'm only 11 weeks along. I keep hoping that after the hormone surge of the 1st trimester, things may calm down a bit with the help of the medication as well. Does anyone have any experience taking antidepressants or antianxiety meds during pregnancy? I'd love to hear about it!

[autumn]

I took Zoloft after Aiden and it really helped. I only took it for a couple months and slowly took myself off of them. I didn't really notice any side effects.

I've been taking fish oil with this pregnancy at my OB's suggestion, but I haven't taken it since I had the babies so that could be why I'm not feeling right. I'm going to take it and see how I do. I just wish I could sleep.

[Irish-Eyes]

I've noticed a lot of the posts have been about taking these meds after pregnancy. I'm curious if anyone has been taking any medications during pregnancy. I suffered an allergic reaction to Reglan which I was taking for morning sickness and began having severe panic attacks and anxiety. My doctor consulted with my psychiatrist and since I was treated for anxiety and depression 2 1/2 years ago but did not feel like I'd ever experience it again. The Reglan kind of kick started the anxiety and it's been very hard to pull myself out of it. My doctor started me on lexapro with the hope that I'll be off of it by my 36th week as it can potentially cause some problems with the development of the lungs. That really scares me because I worry that I may be at risk for PPD and will need to begin taking it again after the baby's born. I'm also taking Clonozepam only at night to help with my anxiety. It's worse in the mornings and I'm only 11 weeks along. I keep hoping that after the hormone surge of the 1st trimester, things may calm down a bit with the help of the medication as well. Does anyone have any experience taking antidepressants or antianxiety meds during pregnancy? I'd love to hear about it!

I take Welbutrin, 300mg once a day, extended release. I was also on Lamictal but stopped it the day I got my BFP because it increases the chance of a cleft palate. Thankfully, my hormones seemed to have picked up the slack left by stopping Lamictal. I did forget to take my Welbutrin one morning and I could really tell the difference so I'm staying on that for now.

I talked to my doc about anti-anxiety (years ago, I was also on Clonazapam) but she said she wanted me to just get through the first trimester before touching it. Now, if things got REALLY bad, then yes, she would give me something but she wanted to look at all other possibilities first. After the initial shock of the BFP though (2 weeks later), the anxiety calmed down a little.

She also asked me if I was taking Omega 3. When I said yes, she told me to up the dosage to 3 grams (3,000 mg) since an Omega-3 deficiency is linked to PPD. It's also great for baby's development.

I was also taking 5-HTP before my BFP and that also helped me tremendously but I had to stop that once pg.

[Melissa1972]

I was prescribed Lexapro (10 mg) but only took that for about 3 days as it made me feel like I had the flu. I am now on Prozac (20 mg) and am already feeling better after only 2 days. I'm still not myself by any means, but I am not the basketcase I was.

I am also going to a psychiatrist, which is helping to sort out all of the emotions and such and that seems to help.

[Paula+1]

I just started taking Hyland's Nerve Tonic (prn)which is otc, and magnesium and I'm noticing a difference.

[Rin]

I just started taking Hyland's Nerve Tonic (prn)which is otc, and magnesium and I'm noticing a difference.

I remember you mentioning that in NM. I couldn't remember the name so thanks for mentioning it again.

[proudmommaof5]

Has anyone taken EPO, (evening primrose oil)? I saw, on kellymom, that it's bf-friendly and works well for ppd. (Not sure if I actually have ppd or not but figured homeopathic remedies won't hurt one way or another). TIA

[virginia]

I took Lexapro, 10 mg for like 7 months. I only got off it because we couldnt afford my $130 per month prescription. Ive been off it for around 2 years now, but with all the stress in my life and being pregnant, Im thinking I need it again. I didnt really notice any side effects. Other then being happy again.

[Mom22]

I was prescribed Zoloft because I wanted to continue to breastfeed. I did not react well to it--I literally was walking into walls and doors, it made me really anxious and made me have very dark thoughts, and the last straw was when I collapsed on the floor of the baby's room (luckily not while holding him!)

I went on Lexapro and had to wean on my dr's and Luca's doc's advice and am doing much, much better.

[Lee16]

I've taken meds since age 13. Every med out there practically! I feel since my second child, my situation has gotten worse. Right now I am on Abilify, Seroquel, and Topomax. Ativan as needed. :crazy:

[ibisgirldc]

i'm on lexapro (20mg, now moving up to 30mg) and clonazapram (sp? - 2 wafers/day) for ppd. haven't noticed anything negative in either case. was crying daily, maybe even hourly or for hours, and i felt much better within days. within a week or so, people were saying that i seemed like myself again. i'm still anxious, but i don't get gripped with fear as i watch the clock in terror that my son will wake up. and while my marriage seems to be a mess right now (stress boiling over for us both), i'm not crying every day b/c i think i've ruined our lives by wanting a baby. i've still got a ways to go, but these meds have made a big difference.

[AlexL2010]

My doc prescribed me prozac, and Im bf. Haven't noticed anyone mentioning it?

[navywife]

I'm taking Xanax for few days since the Dr. only give me 10 tablets and after 3 days I had follow-up for the other dr, She ask me if I need more and I said, I think no so right now I'm kinda fine no more palpating and she refer me to a Pshychiatrist. My Psychiatrist app. will be in August. I wonder what we will be talking about? Does any have idea? What mostly the Pshychiatrist ask? Is it normal to cry while talking the problem?