I am pretty sure I am pregnant (almost 2 months late with my period, sore breats, nauseous) and plan to take a test this weekend. I suffered with severe panic attacks last year after I had gone off Lexapro for 6 months. I've been on Pristiq ever since & it has been a God send. I'm freaking out right now because I am so scared to go off the Pristiq, but I do not want to do anything to jeapordize this pregnancy. I've been begging my husband for 5 years to try for another baby & he finally agreed to have unprotected sex only 2x & this is my last chance. Has anyone had experience with either Pristiq, or managing panic attacks while pregnant? This board is amazing and I like "real world" information more than googling info on the internet. Any insight anyone has would be much appreciated
Thank you to everyone who responded. I went to my Ob-Gyn today and she is looking into Pristiq and its effects on pregnancy. It is such a new drug that there is not much info on it right now. I am definitely going to look into trying neurofeedback. That is something I've never tried. My ob assured me that we will figure this out. Thanks again for taking time out of your busy lives to respond. Those of you who've experienced panic attacks, I know you all know how devestating they are. It really helps to hear from those of you who have been in my shoes, especially now.
Thanks again. God Bless all of you!
Hello D. - I developed panic attacks while pregnant (at 40) with my son. I was in my 4th/5th month of pregnancy. The doctor put me on Zoloft and that worked well for me. I was on it for the rest of the pregnancy and beyond. My pregnancy was uneventful and my son was born 9 days after his due date. I would check with your doctor about the meds. Hope this helps.
Hi D.,
I have no experience with Pristiq, but am sadly very familiar with anxiety/panic disorder. I have just one child, and went off of Welbutrin and Clonazepam as soon as I suspected pregnancy...all I can tell you is that the pregnancy hormones seemed to compensate, and I was OK for the duration of the pregnancy without meds. Afterwards, however, I experienced much worse anxiety than I had ever had before and had to get into therapy and onto meds. right away.
Ultimately, what's worked best for me, and this is certainly safe for you to do now...has been neurofeedback. It is wonderfully relaxing, and "teaches" your brain how to respond to anxiety differently. I'd be happy to tell you more if you're curious.
Good luck, and do take care of yourself. Anxiety can be crippling; I know. You have my sympathies.
Hi D..
I would absolutely contact your doctor before you even try to get pregnant! I looked it up online and pasted the following in for you. Hope it helps. God bless.
FDA pregnancy category C. Pristiq may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Pristiq can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.
D., have you discussed with your doctor whether this medication is "safe" when used in pregnancy? No drug is 100% safe and all drugs do reach the babies, but there are some medications considered acceptable for pregnancy. I would suggest seeing your doctor right away. You say that you don't want to jeopardize the pregnancy, but it is the first trimester when the baby's systems are all forming and when damage from medication is most likely to occur. I don't know anything about this drug, but if it's harmful to a developing fetus, then the damage is most likely already done.
It's important for you to be treated for the anxiety disorder. Please see your doctor right away. Good luck, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Hi D.,
How did you go, I'm curious as I am 2 months pregnant and in the middle of getting off the medication.
R
I would love to chat with you more about this, I have gone through something very similar. Do you have an email address? I would love to email you about my experience:) My email is ____@____.com
Talk with your doctor about both concerns. The meds are helping, so he/she may recommend a pregnancy-friendly version of the anti-anxiety med. You should also look into short-term therapy. While I am far from anti-meds, learning how to control your thoughts w/o the chemical will make the meds more effective. Look for a cognitive-behavioral therapist who can teach you relaxation techniques and how to calm the anxiety provoking thoughts before they get out of control!
Good luck-
