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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karenR on September 19, 2001, at 10:22:52
First, I'd like to thank the people that commented on the Vistaril. Unfortunately,
my pdoc said it was just recently put on the "not for the first trimester" list.
My pdoc seems to be unable to find me some med that i can take for my anxiety during
the first trimester. As I previously wrote, I was on a series of meds for the
last 7 months, but had finally found serzone to stabilize my anxiety and
sleeplessness. I was on it for just over 3 months. I went off 10 days ago
due to the pregnancy. Now my anxiety seems to have hit new heights and I have
ruminating thoughts that don't let me sleep and breathing anxiety and tightness
in my chest that's very upsetting. I felt this way before the meds were working,
but it seems even more amplified now. Anyway, does anyone know of safe
anti-anxiety meds or sleep meds that can be taken during first trimester of pregnancy?Thanks for your help,
karenR
Posted by Emme on September 21, 2001, at 13:50:52
In reply to Pregnancy and anxiety, posted by karenR on September 19, 2001, at 10:22:52
How about Paxil? I found it good for anxiety and although I've never been pregnant, I've heard it said (can't remember where, so I don't know if this is accurate) that Paxil's okay during pregnancy.
Emme
> First, I'd like to thank the people that commented on the Vistaril. Unfortunately,
> my pdoc said it was just recently put on the "not for the first trimester" list.
> My pdoc seems to be unable to find me some med that i can take for my anxiety during
> the first trimester. As I previously wrote, I was on a series of meds for the
> last 7 months, but had finally found serzone to stabilize my anxiety and
> sleeplessness. I was on it for just over 3 months. I went off 10 days ago
> due to the pregnancy. Now my anxiety seems to have hit new heights and I have
> ruminating thoughts that don't let me sleep and breathing anxiety and tightness
> in my chest that's very upsetting. I felt this way before the meds were working,
> but it seems even more amplified now. Anyway, does anyone know of safe
> anti-anxiety meds or sleep meds that can be taken during first trimester of pregnancy?
>
> Thanks for your help,
> karenR
Posted by triedit on September 21, 2001, at 22:51:41
In reply to Re: Pregnancy and anxiety, posted by Emme on September 21, 2001, at 13:50:52
NOBODY should ever take Paxil. Paxil can be deadly to some people and have horrible long term effects for others.
Posted by Emme on September 22, 2001, at 20:19:50
In reply to NO NO NO, posted by triedit on September 21, 2001, at 22:51:41
Umm...that sounds a bit, well, extreme. Can you be more specific about your concerns? What did you mean by deadly...? A drug that's bad for one person is good for another. We see that all the time in the posts on this board. Of all the drugs I've tried, Paxil was one of the more benign for me for side effects and I have known several people who have done very well with it. I can't help but think of Prozac, which got a bad rap for years but has helped many people.
Emme
> NOBODY should ever take Paxil. Paxil can be deadly to some people and have horrible long term effects for others.
Posted by LyndaK on September 24, 2001, at 4:33:55
In reply to Pregnancy and anxiety, posted by karenR on September 19, 2001, at 10:22:52
It's my understanding that Zoloft is safe during pregnancy. I took it during my second pregnancy although I was at the end of my first trimester (and suicidal) when I started back on it. Zoloft has actually worked the best for my anxiety of all the antidepressants that I've tried. And it certainly doesn't seem to have had any ill effects on my son (who's 3 now).
Lynda
> First, I'd like to thank the people that commented on the Vistaril. Unfortunately,
> my pdoc said it was just recently put on the "not for the first trimester" list.
> My pdoc seems to be unable to find me some med that i can take for my anxiety during
> the first trimester. As I previously wrote, I was on a series of meds for the
> last 7 months, but had finally found serzone to stabilize my anxiety and
> sleeplessness. I was on it for just over 3 months. I went off 10 days ago
> due to the pregnancy. Now my anxiety seems to have hit new heights and I have
> ruminating thoughts that don't let me sleep and breathing anxiety and tightness
> in my chest that's very upsetting. I felt this way before the meds were working,
> but it seems even more amplified now. Anyway, does anyone know of safe
> anti-anxiety meds or sleep meds that can be taken during first trimester of pregnancy?
>
> Thanks for your help,
> karenR
Posted by karenR on September 24, 2001, at 11:41:29
In reply to Re: Pregnancy and anxiety » karenR, posted by LyndaK on September 24, 2001, at 4:33:55
Hi Lynda,
Just wondering. Were you on zoloft BEFORE you got pg and then went off because you were pg?
Or did you start it after the first trimester? Also, did you wait till the second trimester
to be safe? I was on zoloft for 2 years for depression, but stopped because i was feeling better.
When I developed this next anxiety problem, zoloft wasn't effective. I also tried Buspar, Remeron,
and finally serzone. My doc thinks I can take it my second trimester, but I'm trying to figure
out how I'm going to get through the next five weeks. Nights are very difficult
and I'm so tired, it's frustrating.Thanks,
karenR
> It's my understanding that Zoloft is safe during pregnancy. I took it during my second pregnancy although I was at the end of my first trimester (and suicidal) when I started back on it. Zoloft has actually worked the best for my anxiety of all the antidepressants that I've tried. And it certainly doesn't seem to have had any ill effects on my son (who's 3 now).
>
> Lynda
>
>
Posted by LyndaK on September 26, 2001, at 1:53:46
In reply to Re: Pregnancy and anxiety » LyndaK, posted by karenR on September 24, 2001, at 11:41:29
> Hi Lynda,
>
> Just wondering. Were you on zoloft BEFORE you got pg and then went off because you were pg?
> Or did you start it after the first trimester?Yes, I was on Zoloft before and then stopped when my pregnancy test came back positive. I was actually on Zoloft before my first pregnancy (he's 5 now) and went off during that pregnancy. I was able to get through the whole pregnancy with no meds, although I had to go back on when the baby was about 4 or 5 months of age and I was still breastfeeding (he's just fine too). I tried to do the same with the second one but, as I said, had to go back on by the end of the first trimester. I had great concerns about what this drug might be doing to my baby -- especially since I'm a therapist who works with physically disabled children. But, as a developmental therapist, I can tell you that both of my boys are just fine -- no cognitive problems, no physical problems.
Also, did you wait till the second trimester
> to be safe?I was actually trying to make it through the whole pregnancy, but the end of my first trimester is the point at which the risks of my being OFF the drug were greater than the risks of my being ON the drug. I do encourage you to try to get through the next 5 weeks with no drugs. The first trimester is when all the basic structures are being formed -- the brain, spinal cord, internal organs, and basic body form.
I was on zoloft for 2 years for depression, but stopped because i was feeling better.
> When I developed this next anxiety problem, zoloft wasn't effective. I also tried Buspar, Remeron,
> and finally serzone. My doc thinks I can take it my second trimester, but I'm trying to figure
> out how I'm going to get through the next five weeks. Nights are very difficult
> and I'm so tired, it's frustrating.I feel for you. No sleep is no fun -- especially when you're pregnant and extra tired anyways. Keep working with your pdoc, though there may not be any good answers right now. Your OB/GYN might be a good resource as well. One more thing you might want to try . . . get your rocking chair / glider rocker now. Use it to sooth yourself . . . with a cup of milk or hot cocoa or chamomile-mint tea. :)
Hang in there, Karen.
You can do this.Lynda
>
> Thanks,
> karenR
>
>
> > It's my understanding that Zoloft is safe during pregnancy. I took it during my second pregnancy although I was at the end of my first trimester (and suicidal) when I started back on it. Zoloft has actually worked the best for my anxiety of all the antidepressants that I've tried. And it certainly doesn't seem to have had any ill effects on my son (who's 3 now).
> >
> > Lynda
> >
> >
Posted by gracie2 on September 26, 2001, at 21:35:07
In reply to Pregnancy and anxiety, posted by karenR on September 19, 2001, at 10:22:52
I wouldn't trust any drug to be absolutely safe during the first trimester. After working at Shriners Hospital for 5 years and seeing the devastating results of an abnormal pregnancy, I think it's not worth the risk.
If you can afford it, try hypnosis therapy and therapeutic massage for at least the first trimester.
-Gracie
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