Taking Zoloft While Breastfeeding

I took it while I was breastfeeding without any problems. I breastfed my kids for a little over a year.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/antidepressants-hale1...

According to a pharmacologist and a RN, Zoloft is the best antidepressant to take when you're breastfeeding.

S.

I took zoloft while I was preg and breastfeeding my last. I breastfed for about 14 mo. My dr and his dr both felt that it was the safest medication while preg and b/fing. It was best that I didn't get off of it, either. I am about 4 mo preg, taking zoloft, and plan to until I'm done b/fing this one, as well, probably about a yr.
Good luck!

I was on Zoloft the entire time I Breastfed, which was 9 months. I believe my gyno put me on that one ( I was having post partum depression) because it is the safest to use while breastfeeding.

I had horrible post partum depression with my second son and I took zoloft and breastfed and never had an issue with anything bad. I breastfed for a year. I was on it for a time with my first child as well and breastfed so I think its fine!! Its better than the alternative of being not normal mommy while you have a new baby. I say stay on it and feel good!! I didn't have to stay on it forever either I just did while I was trying to get over it all.

I took it all 2 years of breastfeeding and had no trouble at all. Am weening off of it now in pregnancy, but plan to start again after birth. All feedback from pediatricians, psych, OBs etc. had no problem with it at all. It's a personal decision but you should consider how your little one's Mommy is off of it, vs on it. How great of a Mommy can you be regarding either situation. For me?...I was better on it. Good luck.

Take it!!! Your health and sanity is paramount if you're going to be an effective mommy!
My twins were born at 28 weeks last summer. All I could do was pump for two months. After meeting with the lactaction consultant, as well as speaking with the neonatologists and the head nurses, I was told that the research indicated SRI's were okay---but that the research didn't include any cases of babies weighing less than 4 pounds. I stopped taking it for about a week. It was hard to tell what effect it had---after all, I was already dealing with a situation where I coudln't even hold my newly born babies, we were moving, and I'd just given birth. But after more invasive reading, and after speaking with another nurse who had herself done quite a bit of research, we decided to dump the pumps I did 7-10 hours after taking my zoloft. Evidently, this is when the drug is most potent in your system. Anyway, I got back on my meds and I did that until the babies were 4 pounds, then stopped dumping. I was able to breastfeed those babies as soon as they were able to take my milk in their feeding tubes, through their whole 9 weeks in the nicu, and for another month after they came home. While they never got the hang of nursing, being able to provide for them was such a rewarding experience. I decided to stop once I was unable to keep up with their demand, and I realized I wasn't sleeping nearly enough! THe boys are both FINE and they've had NO health complications, not even a little cough or cold! They'll be 6 mo on Friday!
You MUST take your meds!! :)

Just to reiterate - I took Zoloft too, while pregnant and nursing and all is fine - if you do not feel okay, how can your family/child?

Hi J.,

I took Zoloft for my whole pregnancy and breastfeeding with my first son. I think it's a fairly common medication for nursing mothers who need a little extra help.

Good luck!
C.

I have been on Zoloft for 7+ yrs (150-200 mgs) During my first pregnancy I cut back on it to 50 mgs, but for my second pregnancy I upped to 200 mgs. Both of my children are healthy. I think I should have stayed on the usual dosage during my first pregnancy (hind sight is 20/20) I breastfed for 11 months and 9 months. Just watch how you eat, as it is not uncommon to gain 30 lbs. over a long period of Zoloft. It contributes to the 'munchies' which sure sneak up on you over time. Hope this helps you feel better about it! ~K.

took it while breastfeeding my second. Tried to stop taking it during third pregnancy but realized I needed to stay on. Much happier momma that way. My OB took me off the last month of my pregnancy. I started back at about 6 months but probably should have started sooner. It is absoutely true..."if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"! You don't want to miss a moment with the little ones because you are feeling down.

I took it all 14 months I breastfeed & all went well.
Good Luck!
M.

Dear Jill, I have been taking Zoloft for years now, and I stopped taking it while pregnant. About 3 weeks before my due date, my doctor put me back on it indefinitely to avoid post-partum depression. I nursed my daughter for 18 months with no side effects. I was on a 100mg dosage, and was concerned about nursing also. My doctor assured me that it was the right thing to do and even said that if it were his wife and baby, he would tell her to take the Zoloft. Happy Mommy = Happy baby. As a mom, you need all the help you can get. Good luck and don't worry, you sound like you are a great mom!

I took Zoloft while breastfeeding as well. My ob wasnt excited about it but the other option was not to breastfeed at all. It is a very personal decision but my situation turned out just fine. Hope this helps! Be encouraged and take care of yourself first so that you can take care of your baby.

I don' think its a good idea to take it while breastfeeding. it can pass through tthe milk.

I didn't take Zoloft but did take Paxil when breastfeeding both of my children. I nursed my daughter for 12 months and my son for 8 months. Both are just fine and had a healthy mommy. My most important factor was that I be mentally healthy for my children, even if that meant I had to give up nursing. Both of my doctors were fine with me nursing. All turned out well. Good Luck!

I took Zoloft during both of my pregnancies and while I nursed both kids (one year each). The Doctor I saw felt very strongly that any effects of the Zoloft (which aren't proven) were substantially less than the PROVEN impact of an unstable/unhappy mom. Our children react so strongly to our ability to handle our circumstances and I think the best thing to give your child is a healthy mom.

I am currently about 5 months pregnant and am taking Zoloft. I don't take it everyday, but I do take it about 4 out of the 7 days of the week. I feel like it is something I need and I plan to continue to take it after I have the baby and I plan on breastfeeding. I talked to my doctor about taking it and she told me that they haven't found that it causes any problems to the baby. I hope this has helped you in some way.

I too have been taking Zoloft for years for anxiety. I breastfed for one year with no problems. If you need it, take it. It is safe and will help you cope.

Hello J.....I have breastfed 5 daughters and used LLL's technique of "baby led weaning" with them. I was very careful of taking any medications while I was breastfeeding, particularly when they were totally breastfeeding. Here is a website you can visit to read up on Zoloft and Breastfeeding:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_560.html That said, you have to remember that there have been no definitive studies of older children whose mother's were taking Zoloft during their nursing months. I don't know why you are talking the Zoloft but if I were you, I would try some other more holistic approaches to winning over depression during this very critical time in your child's life...a friend to talk to, more excercise time outside, taking breaks from motherhood by leaving the baby with a reliable sitter or family member....do something for yourself when the baby is napping. Motherhood is stressful most of the time but can be especially so during the newborn period because of lack of sleep....oh, I remember those days so well....but this too shall pass and you want to give your baby the best possible start in life. What you do RIGHT NOW will have a long term impact on your child's mental and physical health for the rest of that child's life. So, do your best to provide your baby with the best by breastfeeding with as few drugs in your milk as possible. Read up on it, talk honestly to your physician AND to your pharmacist, then make a truly informed decision. If you must take it, then I would take it for as short a time as possible. Good luck...and enjoy this time with your baby....it will be over and gone before you know it. Time flies by whether you are having fun or not so make the best of it.
N. C.
Price, Texas

I am currently taking it as well. I am not planning to get off of it anytime soon. I plan to breastfeed for a full year. I take it at night before I go to bed. I feel like a better mom now that I am taking it.

Good Luck!

I did and I nursed for almost 8 months. I only took it though for the first 3 and the last month I tapered to 50mg (half pill). I did lots of research and my midwife assured me that is has been proven safe. If you need it, do not stop. The most I was taking was 150 at the beginning and it really took the edge off and let me focus. I was on it more as a preventative though since I was seriously depressed after the birth of my second child I just started 150 the day after my third. I also took 50 the last 2 weeks I was pregnant if that helps you. Feel free to reply with more questions. Oh and the baby seemed fine, slept fine, ate fine, acted fine.

I HAD to take Zoloft after having my last 2 children due to severe post partum depression and I successfully nursed them both full time until almost the age of two.
I asked both of my Drs. and researched all I could on the internet.
Anyway that's just my experience. My youngest two are now 4 and 6 and were even preemies, born at 32 weeks and 31 and weeks and are healthy, happy, smart, sweet, loving.....lol
So it worked out for us. Best of luck!!!!

Jill
There are some meds that cross into the breast milk, there is a journal on meds safe to take while nursing or you can go to the internet to research it. You have to decide what is best for you and if you need to change your antidepressant for the sake of your child or find another way to cope with what is troubling you that you need a pill to make you feel better.

good luck

I know you have already received several responses, but I feel very passionate about this. I suffer from Bi-polar disorder, and take much stronger medication than Zoloft, however while I was pregnant and breastfeeding with child #1 I had to be switched to Zoloft because it was the only safe option. It was a struggle for me to not be on the correct meds, but I made it and my son is fine. For baby #2 I decided to not take any meds, and try "holistic" and "alternative" remedies. It was disasterous, to myself, my marriage, my older child, I ended up hospitalized. Thankfully we were able to overcome, but do not ever compromise your mental health...ever. Your children need you, mind & body.
Take care!

I took Zoloft while breatfeeding my youngest. He nursed until 19 months with no ill effects. He's now 4.5 and in great health.

B.
www.MomsWorkHealthy.com

I took Zoloft for just over 6 months after I had my son 5 years ago. I had mild post-partum, my main issue was insomnia. The Zoloft really helped. I breast fed until he was just over 9 months old and Zoloft did not seem to have any effects on him.