Online resources for women weaning from anti-depressants for pregnancy?
December 29, 2009 4:46 PM Subscribe
What kind of resources -- blogs, online communities, etc. -- are out there for a woman who is trying to wean herself from anti-depressants, in hopes of getting pregnant?
This is for a friend, but I'll try to answer any follow-up questions with what I know. She is currently on several different anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, including Prozac, Wellbutrin, Seraquil, Lithium, and Buspar. She is thinking she'd like to try to get pregnant sometime soon, but she's feeling pretty daunted by the thought of trying to wean herself from medications that have helped her a lot. Are there online communities or blogs or something out there that address this issue? I'm thinking she might be helped by the perspectives of others who are facing or have faced this, and especially who are working through it successfully.
In advance of any concern on this score: she's definitely under the care of doctors and would be weaning with their knowledge and advice; this is more to help her see what others' experiences have been.
This is for a friend, but I'll try to answer any follow-up questions with what I know. She is currently on several different anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, including Prozac, Wellbutrin, Seraquil, Lithium, and Buspar. She is thinking she'd like to try to get pregnant sometime soon, but she's feeling pretty daunted by the thought of trying to wean herself from medications that have helped her a lot. Are there online communities or blogs or something out there that address this issue? I'm thinking she might be helped by the perspectives of others who are facing or have faced this, and especially who are working through it successfully.
In advance of any concern on this score: she's definitely under the care of doctors and would be weaning with their knowledge and advice; this is more to help her see what others' experiences have been.
Best answer: The Patients Like Me forums have a couple of threads with women talking about exactly that, and most people on there are open to being contacted for more info.
posted by jacalata at 5:36 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by jacalata at 5:36 PM on December 29, 2009
I'd send her and anyone to Altdotlife.com for pregnancy advice. There's nothing too obscure about what she's asking to do, and others can help her. Weaning off antidepressants during pregnancy, or staying on them, isn't uncharted territory. Altdotlife is where I'd start.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 6:08 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by A Terrible Llama at 6:08 PM on December 29, 2009
Dooce has discussed this, but I'm not having luck finding the post I was thinking of. I believe that with her second full-term pregnancy she stayed on most of her antidepressants, but perhaps not all of them?
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:27 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:27 PM on December 29, 2009
Best answer: Salon.com's Table Talk thread called "Melancholy Mamas". It's in the Members Only section so you can't see it unless you are signed up and logged in to Table Talk.
I started that group WAY back when I had to wean myself off of 4 meds and on to 1 different med for getting and staying pregnant. Please have your friend read one of my old AskMefi comments if she is seeking info about pregnancy, anxiety and depression. And tell her best of luck...it worked out for me and many other women I know.
posted by jeanmari at 6:28 PM on December 29, 2009
I started that group WAY back when I had to wean myself off of 4 meds and on to 1 different med for getting and staying pregnant. Please have your friend read one of my old AskMefi comments if she is seeking info about pregnancy, anxiety and depression. And tell her best of luck...it worked out for me and many other women I know.
posted by jeanmari at 6:28 PM on December 29, 2009
That comment I linked to above is one that I made while I was still pregnant. This comment gives the whole story and the very happy ending.
posted by jeanmari at 6:31 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by jeanmari at 6:31 PM on December 29, 2009
Best answer: This is a difficult choice and one that I am glad I will not have to make for some years. Good luck to your friend. Here's Dooce discussing medications and her second pregnancy.
posted by autoclavicle at 7:42 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by autoclavicle at 7:42 PM on December 29, 2009
I know of one community centered around fertility ( and just people trying to get pregnant, period) They talk about just about everything and have a very positive and supportive vibe. If you can't find what you are looking for there specifically, they will sure know where to point you.
Check it out. FertilityTies
posted by Edubya at 10:28 PM on December 29, 2009
Check it out. FertilityTies
posted by Edubya at 10:28 PM on December 29, 2009
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posted by sugarfish at 5:01 PM on December 29, 2009