Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by croy on March 5, 2007, at 9:20:31
Is anyone else on near this many meds?
I take Lamictal, Trileptal, Celexa, Abilify, Ativan (prn), Synthroid, and Adderall.
side effects of all these (can't tease out which is causing what): dry mouth, confusion and word-finding problems, significant weight gain, severe fatigue and somnolence (that's what adderall is supposed to help), hand tremors, and really excessive sweating.
I want to get pregnant soon and am 37 so the clock is ticking. I'm so afraid of what will happen to my mood when I taper off and then have no medication support. Has anyone successfully done this? Does anyone know if any of these are okay in pregnancy? Are any substitutions okay in pregnancy? Has anyone stayed on any of these while pregnant?
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 5, 2007, at 11:02:11
In reply to on seven psychotropic s: advice re pregnancy, subs, posted by croy on March 5, 2007, at 9:20:31
Hello!
Well I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge about most of the drugs you're taking, but I know for sure that on Celexa I gained weight, and was tired all the time. Although if you're taking synthoid that might be because your thyroid is deficient....and isn't overweight/tired supposed to be a symptom of this?
At the moment I'm not taking anything and I don't feel particulary bad. I'm guessing that it'll take quite awhile (and be quite nasty I'm afraid) to taper off all those meds.
I think really these are questions you need to ask the doc/pdoc/medical professional who is prescribing these things in the first place.
Let us know how its going...
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 5, 2007, at 11:04:05
In reply to Re: on seven psychotropic s: advice re pregnancy,, posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 5, 2007, at 11:02:11
Oh and perhaps it would help others to understand your current med regime if you posted your dignosis and doses and maybe abit of history?
M
Posted by stargazer on March 5, 2007, at 17:06:38
In reply to on seven psychotropic s: advice re pregnancy, subs, posted by croy on March 5, 2007, at 9:20:31
Pregnancy is almost never advised while on the number and types of medications you are on. Have you discussed this with your psychiatrist yet, since s(he) would have to evaluate if you could come off most of the meds you are on. The only meds that might be allowed would be the Synthyroid, if you are on it for hypothyroid and possibly a low dose AD (Celexa). PRN Ativan may be OK, but again it would be your pdocs call depending on your diagnosis and history of illness.
You should make an appt with your pdoc to have this conversation ASAP since if this is really what you want to do, it makes sense to begin a plan for either decreasing the meds or substituting these meds for other ones.
I wouldn't think anyone here would be able to make that call since pregnancy makes it a whole other ballgame where only the pdoc and the OB/GYN could advise you what needs to be done before getting pregnant.
Good luck and keep us advised as to what they recommend.
Stargazer
Posted by med_empowered on March 6, 2007, at 1:47:35
In reply to on seven psychotropic s: advice re pregnancy, subs, posted by croy on March 5, 2007, at 9:20:31
Could you simplify? Like, drop the Abilify...or lower the adderall? Maybe drop the antidepressant? Talk to your shrink...or get a new one...I've been on combos like yours (mine was: Trileptal, Abilify, Klonopin, Adderall, Celexa, Ambien, and propranolol) and I think you might do well dropping off a couple meds.
Good luck!
Posted by Sandra62 on March 6, 2007, at 19:43:05
In reply to Re: on seven psychotropic s: advice re pregnancy,, posted by med_empowered on March 6, 2007, at 1:47:35
I have recently stopped trying to conceive but when I was I was living in constant fear of my meds causing birth defects, so I understand completely how you feel. Unfortunately with most of these meds they are Category C and that means they have been known to cause birth anomalies in animals but not enough studies have been done with pregnant women to know the risks for sure. It's a risks vs benefits choice. There is a good site for checking effects of drugs on pregnancy at www.safefetus.com. Good luck with your quest to have a little one, and in finding a comfortable drug regime that works in the safest way possible.
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