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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MamaKitty on December 12, 1999, at 8:56:53
ok everyone,I need all the info you've got for this question...
I just discovered I am pregnant. I am roughly 2 weeks along.
I have been taking celexa for these two weeks (have been taking celexa for almost 2 months total now)
I have been taking trazadone for 6 days to help me sleep.
six days ago, I stopped taking ativan, cold turkey, (i think my body new I was pregnant)previous to the six days, I had been taking ativan at 1.5 mgs, every morning.
all the evidence on the net that I have found points to relatively safe pregnancy
any info on this? I want this baby, and am depply upset that I may have unkowingly exposed my growing baby to the teratogenic effects (if any) of my AD's and ativan.
I am stopping everything today. Last night i didnt take trazadone, ugh ! no sleep! but I am prepared to deal with side effects and hopefully cintinue to grow a heaqlthy little baby.
please respond in haste, I am very anxious abot this. thank you all,
<3,
MamaKitty
Posted by Noa on December 12, 1999, at 13:38:09
In reply to MY BABY and CELEXA/TRAZADONE/ATIVAN cocktail!!, posted by MamaKitty on December 12, 1999, at 8:56:53
I was skimming through the book, When Words are Not Enough, which is about meds and women, and the author said it takes a certain amount of time (don't remember the specific amount) for the network of blood vessels to develop that transfers what the mother takes in to the fetus, so that there is a margin of time to get off any harmful medications. The book is listed on Dr. Bob's book recommendations, I think. In any event, ask your obstetrician.
Posted by jamie on December 13, 1999, at 2:47:15
In reply to MY BABY and CELEXA/TRAZADONE/ATIVAN cocktail!!, posted by MamaKitty on December 12, 1999, at 8:56:53
> ok everyone,I need all the info you've got...
> MamaKitty
No prob MamaKitty. I looked up this topic in The Pill Book and the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference). There have been scientific tests on rats and rabbits, but not humans. They are too lengthy and numerous to cite here. But to summarize, all drugs have caused abnormalities with the fetus in doses ranging from 2 to 10 times MRHD (maximum recommended human dose). So problems have occurred in animals, but at higher doses than are given to humans. The lowest 'no effect' dose was six tenths of MRHD...that was with Celexa. The other ssri 'no effect' doses were at or above MRHD. So basically cutting your dose in half is probably safe according to the scientific studies. But again, this hasn't been tested in humans. Just referencing from animal studies.
Trazodone and all the benzos are contraindicated in pregnancy at any dose. So those are definitely out the window. Prozac is probably the safest of them all, if you need to stay on an antidepressant. It showed no abnormalities in animals at all, but hasn't been tested in humans. If you stay with Celexa, cut the dose to six tenths your current dose.
But consider also the concern of the fetus is irrelevent if the mother is suicidal, or severely depressed that she can't responsibly care for the developing fetus (not eating well, drinking alcolohol, smoking, general bad health, etc). This statement from the Pill Book sums it up: "Do not take xyz without first seeing your doctor and reviewing the benefits of therapy against the risk of taking it." It is a risk/benefit decision. But generally the ssris appear safe in low doses (especially prozac), but not trazodone or any benzos at any dose. My concern, which I didn't see mentioned, was the baby withdrawing from the antidepressant after being born. Even at a low dose withdrawing is uncomfortable to many of us. With a long halflife and smooth withdrawal that might be one more good reason to switch to prozac for the next 9 months if you need to stay on an antidepressant. Regardless of what you do, insomnia appears to be a real problem you'll have to bear for the next 9 months. By the way, congratulations! Hope all goes well. With a thoughtful caring mother like you, I think the baby will be just fine. :-) jamie
ps All these drugs pass through the milk to the baby, so breast feeding is not an option.
Posted by jamie2 on December 13, 1999, at 3:53:35
In reply to Re: MY BABY and CELEXA/TRAZADONE/ATIVAN cocktail!!, posted by jamie on December 13, 1999, at 2:47:15
After my previous post I went to Dr Bobs Tips section. There is good feedback from doctors on this subject. Click on "tips" at the top of the main page. Once there, on the left hand side of the page is a topic called Pregnancy and Lactation. Click on that. Also, on the right hand side, go down and type pregnancy in the search box. Click on search. There are several good discussions. I found this more helpful than the information from the left hand side of the page. Apparently doctors do use low doses of tricyclics during pregnancy, and have for 50 years, so you may have insomnia relief after all. Some have used the benzos too. Prozac is discussed as being the safest and most studied. Once again Dr Bob's Tips sheds some light on what doctors do in the real world. It should be a lot of help for you. jamie
This is the end of the thread.
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