and how hard or easy it is to slowly come off of it? I heard your supposed to stay on these drugs for 5-6 months at the least but I am itching to start a family so I want to do it now. Has anyone tried to get off this soon and succeeded?
2007-01-15 11:13:26 · 3 answers · asked by bea1 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
I've taken it.
Understand there is a reason it was prescribed. Having a baby and experiencing the hormones, emotions... this would not be your best idea. You need to be 100% to care for your child and take care of you too. Many women become unbelievably depressed following giving birth. What's the big rush? A baby does not eliminate stress and anxiety- it adds to it.
Don't come off of it without 1st checking with the doctor that prescribed. Read the info that came with it. Ask your pharmacist to translate it. You may be feeling better BECAUSE you are taking the medicine. God bless.
2007-01-15 11:25:16 · answer #1 · answered by skayrkroh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is largely dependent on what you went on it for in the first place. Was it a random, one time bout of depression or is it a chronic problem for you? I'm currently reading a book about women and psych-meds. It says, if it was just a single episode of depression that 6-9 months of antidepressant treatment may be appropriate. And you may not have a problem with the depression returning. If it is chronic, this situation is more complicated. It also explains that there are no completely safe-during-pregnancy antidepressants...there have been far too few studies done to accurately say what is safe. They *think* some meds are safer than others, but the fact is, they really do not know.
The book is called Psychotropic Drugs and Women Fast Facts by Victoria Hendrick and Michael Gitlin, if you are interested in reading up on the subject. It seems like it would answer a lot of your questions and give you really relevant information. I'm only 67 pages into it though.
Lexapro should be weaned off of somewhat slowly, but it isn't as bad as some others (like Effexor).
2007-01-15 14:07:40 · answer #2 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell your doc you want to get off it because you want to start a family. It can be done within two weeks. Can you wait that long? :) Btw, if you do need something while you're pregnant Zoloft is an option because it's had lots of clinical studies. Wellbutrin as well.
2007-01-15 11:56:11 · answer #3 · answered by aali_and_harith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋