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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mandajoy on September 4, 2002, at 12:36:24
HI everyone. It's been a while since I posted, but I have some useful info I wanted to pass on. I became pregnant in May of this year and have been taking Klonopin as well as an antidepressent for almost 10 years now. I had a team of Drs from the Cleveland Clinic assess my situation, and it was decided by the a team of Drs to keep me on the meds because the benefits outweigh the risks. The reason they told me Klonopin was listed in the drug catagory it was is because there has never been a sufficient study as to Klonopin and pregnancy. The drug companies are afraid of a law suit should anything adverse happen to the child or mother. In the info they did give me, the average birth defects occuring in a situation like this were no more than ANY normal pregnancy. I have been watched closely this whole time, and so far everything looks excellent. Just thought you should know.
Posted by judy1 on September 4, 2002, at 20:07:01
In reply to FYI My Pregnancy and Klonopin, posted by mandajoy on September 4, 2002, at 12:36:24
Thanks so much for keeping us updated, I'm thrilled evrything is going so well for you. I stayed on klonopin also when pregnant with no problems; you're right there are so many studies contradicting each other when it comes to benzos and pregnancy. Best of luck until Feb.? :-)- judy
Posted by nmk on September 5, 2002, at 12:01:54
In reply to FYI My Pregnancy and Klonopin, posted by mandajoy on September 4, 2002, at 12:36:24
I read your post and felt compelled to write since I was in your identical situation just over a year ago. I had been taking zoloft and klonopin for depression/anxiety and consulted ob/gyns, psychiatrists, and genetic specialists before trying to get pregnant. Luckily, I found a wonderful pdoc (who is also an ob/gyn) who agreed with what you said about how women have been scared into thinking that they are doing something so horribly wrong. Ob/gyns have to play it conservatively for fear of malpractice.
Anyway, after much research, I decided to attempt to get pregnant (we had to go through IUI) and succeeded. My doctor did decide to take me off Klonopin and prescribed Ativan instead since it is a category "C" drug. I went through my entire pregnancy on zoloft and ativan and did not have one problem. My doctor wrote an order at my 19 week ultrasound to check for cleft lip/palette since the incidence is higher with benzo use. Luckily, everything turned out fine and I was blessed with a healthy little boy in December.
I even nursed my son for four months but made sure to feed him before I took my nightly ativan. In the middle of the night, my husband would bottle feed the baby and I would "pump and dump" so he wouldn't be getting much of the ativan. Zoloft and breastfeeding is fine.
Unfortunately, for the past four months, I have been going throuh a horrendous postpartum depression which I am currently being treated for. This also happened seven years ago after the birth of my twins. The zoloft has pooped out on me and I am now in my 4th week of Effexor. Am feeling better but am not back to my old self.
I would be happy to email you if you want to share experiences or just talk. Let me know since I have been down that road twice before.
Congratulations on your pregnancy, relax, and enjoy your journey ahead.
Sincerely,
Nicole
This is the end of the thread.
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