Posted by Racer on January 12, 2006, at 18:06:36
In reply to TTC with a Mental Illness: CATEGORY C?!, posted by babydancer62 on January 12, 2006, at 16:02:06
I'm in the same boat -- trying to make a baby after 40, on meds. Right now, I'm only on Wellbutrin and Buspar, which are both Catagory B, for that reason. Which is part of the reason I'm on the sofa with a quilt over my head, trying to sleep so that I won't cry...
Have you talked to your psychiatrist about this? Asked about changing to Catagory B drugs, like Wellbutrin, etc?
With SSRIs, or any SRI type drug, there are two basic problems: some can cause fetal cardiac abnormalities, and Paxil apparently is moving to Catagory D for more distinct fetal damage; and they cause withdrawal symptoms at birth. The withdrawal, which can be uncomfortable for adults, can be very dangerous for neonates. Plus, the SSRIs are associated with low birth weight, also a problem for neonates.
One option, though, is to get off the SSRIs as soon as you know you're pregnant, go back on if you really must during your second trimester, and then get off again during your third. That's not what I would want to do, but it is one possible optionl. A better option is to research safer alternatives, like Wellbutrin, etc.
If you go up the list, I asked about Catagory B anxiolytics, and someone posted a link to an article about safe psychotropic medications. Scroll up, and check it out. If it's not on this page, it's on very last archive.
Good luck, on both finding a good solution, and on having that baby.
poster:Racer
thread:598389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/598419.html