Going off Celexa

If I were you, I would stay on it until you are completely ready to go off of it. With my experiences with postpartum depression, I would continue to take it. Just my opinion. Hope it helps.

M.-

Yes, I have direct experience. I went off
of Celexa my second trimester and it was HORRID!
I couldn't concentrate on anything, my mind wandered,
I cried, I yelled - I was totally the person I was
before I went on the Celexa.

I ended up going to a therapist who looked at me and
said, "You NEED to go back on the medication. It's
much better to have you on medication and stable than
off medication and harmful to yourself mentally"

I also learned, after much research, that those who
are on anti-depressants before getting pregnant have
a higher risk of postpardum depression and that staying
on medication will help you through the after delivery
stages.

If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to
answer them for you.

A.

Hello M.,

I was on Celexa with my first child. My midwife also suggested I ween myself off so that it isn't in the babies system during birth. I was on the medicine through most of my pregnancy like yourself but I did ween myself off of it like my midwife recommended. That way it was out of the babies system and avoided the baby going through withdrawals upon the birth. I managed ok and once the baby was born around my 6 week check up I started taking Zoloft which I guess is safer to take while pregnant and breastfeeding. I was still taking Zoloft when I had my second child and since doctors / midwives are more familar with this type of drug I was able to continue taking it during and after the pregnancy and birth. If you are concerned about how you will feel if you stop your medicine all together maybe you could ask your doctor if you could ween off of the Celexa and start taking a small dosage of Zoloft which should be ok to take throughout the pregnancy, birth and during breastfeeding. Good Luck to you. - MN (mother of two healthy girls, ages 2 and 4)

Like you, I have been taking effexor for a while and don't want to return to the way I get when I am not taking it. I have continued taking effexor thru two pregnancies and will be breastfeeding my 2nd (as I did my first) as soon as I deliver this week. My pysch doctor always has to warn me that the effects are not known but he has had multiple patients on effexor over the years and no problems have come from it. Unless your doctor is worried that there will be a problem with the child I don't see why you would have to go off it. Especially at this late date. If your OB doc doesn't know for sure, contact a psych doc and see what they say. I hope this helps a little!

I was on Celexa throughout my pregnancy and my son was born happy and healthy. My OB/GYN said it was the only drug they could have me on that would not carry over to the fetus. I wouldn't have went off of it because even when I was on it, I still had a lot of anxiety and depression. You have to weigh your options and make your own decision about how you are feeling mentally and ask your doctor if there have been further studies that suggest the drug would be harmful to the baby after 30 weeks.

Good Luck,
J.

Hello M.,

I was on an anti-depressant (Zoloft) throughout my pregnancy and am now on it while nursing. Both my regular family practitioner and OBGYN recommended that I stay on it. I understood the risks of being on it to be very minimal, while the risks of going off it to be substantial. The really can't tie any specific problems in babies to mothers taking antidepressants. Tons of women take them while pregnant, and I don't think (but don't quote me) that there is a higher propensity to any specific problem.

Celexa takes a while to get "on board" your system. If you go off it, it'll take 4-6 weeks to take effect when you go back on it. When your baby is born, you, your husband, and your baby will need you to be all there ready to deal with the challenges of motherhood - lack of sleep, on-demand feedings etc. Your relationship with your husband will also require you to be at your best, as you'll be working as a team on this fun, new project of parenthood. It's hard to have a healthy relationship when your world view is skewed.

Don't know if you're wondering about Celexa while nursing. I'm not a Dr., but my degree is in psychology with a lot of courses in childhood psychology and psychopathology. I will tell you that the mother's state of mind has a huge impact on your baby's state of mind. If you suffer depression and/or anxiety and that world view is what your baby comes to know, it has a very negative impact and can result in them suffering in the same way. Also, how you and your husband relate in front of the baby is very important.

And finally, as a new mom, you'll want to enjoy this fabulous experience of having a baby. A long time ago (before I was pregant with Natalie who is now 7 months), I went off Zoloft. It was a big mistake, and it made me realize how truly chemical depression is. It's one thing to read/learn about that, and another to experience it. I slipped into someone who is not myself. I cannot imagine raising a baby in that state of mind. I love every bit of being a mom. The challenges certainly are not overwhelming to me because I experience such joy in her smiles and the little milestones she reaches. She is an incredibly happy baby - always laughing and cooing and now giving hugs and kisses. I don't think that I, my baby, or my husband would have such a positive experience if I were in that dark place of depression.

I hope this helps, but like I said, I'm not a Dr. They do need to ask you if you want to go off it b/c of the risks, but I wouldn't take that to mean that they recommend it. I'd speak candidly with a psychologist/psychiatrisst about your concerns if you're feeling very conflicted about it. If you don't have one, your insurance may have an employee assistance program (EAP) where you can talk to someone about this.

Good luck!

My doctor said any risks with Celexa were minimal, and if I stayed on it through pregnancy it would be fine to continue while breastfeeding. I did stay on it through pregnancy and breastfeeding, and noticed no problems in myself or my daughter. She is now 14 months old and hasn't breastfed in over 4 months, and I haven't noticed any withdrawal problems. It's up to you what you decide, but I thought I'd encourage you that it was OK for me.

Yikes. Do you know why your doc keeps suggesting this? There is supposedly some risk post partum for the baby to go through withdrawl and have hightened startle response and some other minor things. However, your post partum period....especially those first six weeks....is probably the worst time to not have the internal support of an antidepressant if you have been taking one. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about switching meds. I researched this so thoroughly when I was pregnant because I have a history of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and had been on Lexapro for some time. I found a very knowledgable psychiatrist who really, really knows the medications (more than the OB's do in many cases) and said that he would never let me take anything that he felt would put the baby at any risk....and if I'm not mistaken, Lexapro is the cousin of Celexa and transition could be easy. I know they often recommend Zoloft for pregnant women too. I took the smallest dose of Lexapro throughout my pregnancy and until my son was 6 months old. I breastfeed him still so when I weaned off the medication, he did too. The lactation consultants at Waukesha Memorial were super helpful with researching the safety of this too. Researchers KNOW that untreated depression and anxiety in mothers can have lasting damaging effects on the fetus, babies and children. And the kids who are born to moms on SSRI's (like 50% of my ob's practice!)really seem to do fine! (I think studies on Zoloft follow kids into adolescence). I think I would have been a disaster in those early postpartum weeks if I had gone off my medicine. Don't get me wrong..I didn't sail through it at all...but I was able to be much more solid for my son and my sleep-deprived self. Feel free to email me again if you want to talk. I feel so strongly about this.
Best of luck,
A.

Hi M., i am also on celexa and have been since my first child was 9 months old. i had post partum depression and didn't know it until then. I have taken it through my last two pregnancys as well. My OB always strongly recommended that i stay on the meds through the pregnancy (since i was already taking it) and while i was nursing because of all the extra hormones and body changes that occur during preg. and while a person is nursing. I know the feeling of being afraid to go off of them. That is where i am now - terrified of being as miserable as i was before. I saw a counselor for a long time before too. she helped me come up with ways to cope with my depression. I am now at a place where i am not nursing or pregnant and can focus a little more of the changes my body might make in going off the meds. While preg. or nursing, you can't control those hormones. Maybe it is better to wait. My children have had not side affects (that i know of) from me taking the meds. I hope that my experience helps you in making the decision. I know whatever you decide will be great for you. Good luck with your pregnancy!

No experience with Celexa and going off during pregnancy...but I can say that, since I've had anxiety issues for 12 years and they are a zillion times worse when I'm pregnant, that the year I've nursed both my boys has been WONDERFUL and I have much LESS anxiety now that I have kids. I thought I'd have huge postpartum issues with depression/anxiety, but I didn't and was quite excited...if I could nurse my kids til they were...25?...I would, I feel so good and on balance. So...if you're willing to risk it (since nobody can tell you for sure what will happen) I can tell you I felt better after kids than I ever did before. Good luck.

I was on Zoloft when I first became pregnant with my daughter. I decided to go off of it shortly after I found out I was pregnant because I'm not a huge fan of taking drugs while pregnant. I completely understand those people who need to stay on their meds while pregnant but decided for myself that if I could try to go off I would. I did just fine during the rest of my pregnancy but decided to go back on my Zoloft after my 6 week post-partum check-up because I was feeling depressed again. I stayed on it for about 6-9 more months and then decided to try to wean again. I've been off my Zoloft for a year now and am doing great! I am currently pregnant again and told my doctor that I will probably need my Zoloft again after baby #2 is born because I'm sure I'll have some post-partum depression again. We'll see...If you feel comfortable trying to wean off your Celexa, I say go for it. If not, then don't, but it doesn't hurt to try... If you decide to wean off, make sure you have a good support system that will let you know if you need it again because you may not know. Be especially vigilant post-partum! Good luck!!

Being that you are so close to the end anyway, I would not go off. You'll want the full effect of the medicine in case post partum depression hits you. I believe Zoloft is considered safe for breastfeeding, so you could talk to you doctor about switching to that if you plan to breastfeed. The time coming up is so difficult, as wonderful as it is. I would not think about going off your meds until long after your baby has arrived. Good luck!

I would ask your doctor what the advantage would be of going off this medication at this point in your pregnancy. If it is safe up to 30 weeks, it must be safe throughout. I would agree with the other respondent that the post-partum time could be an issue and would lead you to go back to the medication soon anyway.

Only your doctor can talk through the pros and cons of this issue with you. I know drugs get pulled off the market all the time because of side effects no one knew about.

If you can, read "What your doctor may not tell you about..." whichever book in the series fit your age group. I'm 37, so I read the Premenopause book. It totally explains how our bodies change and respond to certain things as we age and in our environment so we can make the best healthcare choices as possible for ourselves as women.

Also, I had post-partum depression after my last baby and it cleared up on its own. I wish I had known about the Creighton method. On the way home from the hospital this time, I'm going to get a shot of progesterone...I guess a huge percentage of women are helped with postpartum depression with this approach. I'll bet you could talk with your doctor about all of this.

I don't know what this drug is, but I can tell you that I took a drug for depression during one pregnancy and I have regretted it. I thought I couldn't handle the pregnancy without it and there were no studies that indicated any problems with the drug. Trouble is, his birth weight was low and there have been many developmental anomalies that could have been caused by the drug. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't have taken it.

Please keep in mind that no one else's experience can predict your own. I was on Celexa and Effexor XR throughout the whole 34 weeks of my pregnancy. I have Major Depression with severe and recurrent episodes. Once I found the right combo for me, nothing come hell or high water would convince me to not be on them. I will NOT be on medications during my next pregnancy.

Ultrasound showed a healthy, normally developing baby. No other tests were done by my request as I deemed them unnecessary. My son was born prematurely by six weeks. AFter his birth, he was diagnosed with two congenital heart defects; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis and Ebstein's Anomaly. My son had heart surgery at 23 hours old. He was on blood pressure medication until he was six months old. My story has a fortunate ending. My son is doing very well and the first prognosis given us has been anything but accurate. His heart will always be misshapen; his pumonary valve may reclose; he will always be followed by a cardiologist, but he is healthy and growing well.

My son did experience low tolerance to startle. But was that meds or because he was a preemie? Did my son have a heart condition because of the medication or was it a fluke? There is no way of detemining. I just don't want to take a second chance and have a worse outcome.