Sage-Tips

Can you take mental health medication while pregnant?

Yes. A decision to use antidepressants during pregnancy, in addition to counseling, is based on the balance between risks and benefits. The biggest concern is typically the risk of birth defects from exposure to antidepressants.

What are the risk factors for mental illness during pregnancy?

This systemic review found a list of contributing factors for antenatal mental health problems, including lack of social support, type of relationship with husband, marital satisfaction, unintended pregnancy, stressful life events and domestic violence.

Can pregnancy cause mental issues?

As many as 1 in 5 women have mental health problems in pregnancy or after birth. It can happen to anyone. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems in pregnancy. These affect about 10 to 15 out of every 100 pregnant women.

How can we maintain mental health during pregnancy?

Here are seven tips to help you take care of your mental health during pregnancy:

1. Step away from the computer. Don’t become a Google doctor!
2. Self-care. Take time to care of your number one priority – yourself!
3. Rest.
4. Eat healthy foods.
5. Exercise.
6. Don’t over do it.
7. Build a good support network.

Is anxiety medicine bad for pregnancy?

Overall, the safety of anxiety medications during pregnancy can vary a lot, depending on the specific medication. For the most part, studies show that anxiety medications including benzodiazepines and serotonin reuptake inhibitors aren’t going to have a huge impact on a baby during pregnancy.

What’s the safest antidepressant in pregnancy?

Antidepressants that are considered safer include:

• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

What can I take for anxiety during pregnancy?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after delivery.

How can I calm my anxiety while pregnant?

Tips to calm anxiety while pregnant

1. Catch more Zzzs. Some research has found that lack of sleep could exacerbate anxiety, so aim for seven to eight hours a night whenever possible.
2. Eat whole, fresh foods.
3. Stay active.
4. Arm yourself with knowledge.
5. Build a support system.
6. Schedule time in your day to relax.

What is the safest anxiety medication during pregnancy?

While benzodiazepines are category D, long-term anxiety medications like Prozac and Zoloft are often described as “probably safe.” Tricyclic antidepressants and buspirone may be safe during pregnancy as well.

Is Zoloft safer than Lexapro during pregnancy?

Are there any risks? Sertraline appears to be one of the safest SSRIs to use in pregnancy, but other SSRIs, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and vilazodone, are likely safe too. Studies suggest that there is little risk with taking SSRIs during pregnancy, but they still could affect your baby.

Are there any anxiety medications safe for pregnancy?

How do I stop taking anti-anxiety medications?

“You need to let your doctor know that you’d like to start the process” of discontinuation, said Dr. Bruno, adding, “You should never abruptly stop taking anti-anxiety medications. Factors like your size, gender, how long you’ve been taking them, and the dose will determine how long it will take to taper and discontinue the medication.”

How do you know when it’s time to taper off anxiety medication?

Generally speaking, “a patient will know if they’re ready to taper off anti-anxiety medications when they experience side effects they don’t like, they begin to feel too dependent on them, or when the medication becomes less effective,” Dr. Bryan Bruno, Medical Director at Mid City TMS, told INSIDER.

How do you safely stop taking medications?

Your body type, the length of time you’ve been on the medication, your dosage – all of these affect how dosing should be completed in order to safely stop taking medications. With drugs like benzodiazepines, a very slow withdrawal is crucial.

What happens when you wean off of anxiety medications?

Since anxiety medications often impact other aspects of a person’s life, from sex drive to sleeping patterns, our experts explained what you might expect as you wean off medication.