LoveToKnow Pregnancy:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Pregnancy

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Taleah,

although Lexapro may cause some complications in pregnancy, it's not a guarantee that either you or your baby will have any problems with it. You'll need to evaluate the risks of stopping it versus potential pregnancy-related risks. Talk to your OB/Gyn about it since he may be able to prescribe a different medication that might work for you.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

i only now am finding out the risks of taking lexapro in pregnancy after being on it for three years and finding out im pregnate again. my second son is now 8 months old and i took lexapro unknowing about the side effects all through the pregnancy. my concern now is do i stop taking it now for my third pregnancy or continue knowing the risks are so bad. My 8 month old is happy and healthy with no conditions caused by taking the lexapro but is that just luck?

-- Contributed by: Taleah

Keri, it sounds to me like you are experiencing the effects of depression and anxiety, not symptoms of withdrawal from the Lexapro. I think these issues were treated by the Lexapro and now that you've stopped taking it, the symptoms are coming back.

Speak with your doctor about his thoughts on Lexapro and pregnancy. You may be able to take a different medication or you may need to stay on it, depending on the severity of your symptoms.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I too am wanting to get pregnant. I have been weaning myself off of Lexapro very slowly. I usually take 10 mg daily, but cut all of my remaining pills in half. I continued to take the 5 mg daily for about 2-3 weeks. I have now not taken anything for over a week, but I am still experiencing side effects! I feel like my heart sometimes races, followed by dizziness. I can't focus very well and I feel blah all the time. I cry at the drop of a hat. I am constantly irritated with my husband and lash out at him for no reason, which then causes me to feel incredibly guilty. I'm wondering if this will go away soon or if I will battle this during the entire pregnancy?? I'm starting to wonder if it is worth it to stay on Lexapro. I would be so devasted though if I harmed my baby. Has anybody else gone through this...will it get better?

-- Contributed by: Keri

Erinn...I have been on Lexapro for about 2 years. It is a wonderful treatment for anxiety, which is what I suffer from. If I miss about 2-3 days on medication, I feel "electric zaps" in my brain and have the dizziness you were referring to as well. I am wanting to get pregnant...but the side effects are horrible with this drug. :(

-- Contributed by: Me

Erinn, it's hard to know what your symptoms are from since you are newly pregnant, coming off the meds, and have mono. It might be a combination of all three. Typically, weaning off the Lexapro slowly will prevent side effects, but since you've already stopped it's too late for that. If the symptoms continue, call your doctor.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been on Lexapro for several years and it is the only thing that works for me. I talked to my doctor about wanting to get pregnant again (would be my second child) and he told me I could take my Lexapro up until I missed my period. Then once I missed my period to stop the Lexapro. He said he may or may not put me back on it during the 2nd/3rd trimesters - that we would just have to watch and see. But definitely he would put me back on it when the baby was born as I had post partum depression real bad with my first child. However, my doctor did not have me wean off of it. I take 10 mg once a day. He just said for me to quit taking it once I missed my period. I missed my period this past Friday and took a preg test and it was positive. So I have only been off of the Lexapro for 3 days, but I am having all these awful side effects. Not sure if it is from coming off the Lexapro, from being pregnant, or from having Mono (I got the mono virus 2 weeks before finding out I was pregnant). I am so dizzy, very very irritable, crying all the time, yelling at my husband for no reason, feeling odd at times like I am floating, just really strange. Can you tell me if this is from stopping the Lexapro? Any advice would be a big help!!!

-- Contributed by: Erinn

Katy, Lexapro is a Class C drug, meaning that there isn't enough evidence to show if there is harm caused to the fetus or not. Although there may be some evidence of side effects, it needs to be weighed against the benefits of the medication.

If you want to stop taking the medication, do so only with your doctor's help. You should be weaned off it slowly rather than stopping quickly.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I've been on lexapro for 2 years now and it has really worked for me. I found out that I was pregnant in August. My doctor told me that it would be fine to stay on the lexapro. So did a genetic counselor and my prescribing physician. I just recently found all of the side effects. These scare me to the point that I want to stop taking the drug all together. It amazes me that none of these doctors stopped to explain what could happen, instead of what most likely what would happen. I'm very scared for my baby.

-- Contributed by: Katy

Leah, you'll need to find a doctor that is more in touch with you and sympathetic to your needs. It sounds like this doctor isn't taking the time to listen to you. Another doctor, perhaps an OB/GYN if you haven't already seen one, could be more helpful.

In a perfect world, doctors would like women to not take any medication while they are pregnant. But that's often not possible. Lexapro is a Class C drug, which means there isn't enough evidence to say if it's safe during pregnancy or not. Since it's a class C, the FDA advises that it should only be taken during pregnancy if the risks of not taking it are worse than the possible side effects of taking it. In your case, it sounds like you need to continue taking it, but you'll want to talk to another doctor.

It may be possible to put on a lower dose during pregnancy, too, but only with a doctor who is taking the time to work with you.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I am really concerned. I have been on all different types of medications. But now I have finally found one that works for me which is Lexapro. My husband and I have decided that we are going to start trying for children. We went to the Doctor to get a pre - natal check up. And he didnt explain anything to me, and told me to go off lexapro with out even stating way(the same centre that misdiagnosed me, said that I have bi -polar, which I don't). Told me to reduce it over six weeks which is what I did and I started to go completely insane, I would snap at my husband for no reason at all and we were arguing everynight it was horrible. Now I am back on it I have halfed my medication to 10mg every 2 days and I am fine. But we are both so frightened that something will happen if/when we fall pregnant. Please any advice welcomed.

-- Contributed by: Leah

Kerri, Lexapro is considered a Class C drug, meaning that there isn't enough evidence to determine whether or not it's safe. If your doctors think your mental health is going to be adversely effected by stopping the Lexapro, they must feel that the chances of it affecting a baby are slim.

If you still don't want to take the Lexapro, maybe there are other medications or treatment options your doctors can recommend.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I was on Lexapro and when we started trying for our 2nd child I stopped the drug now I'm very moody, grumpy, no depression but I can tell a difference in myself. When I talked to my PCP and Ob/GYN they both said it was okay to take Lexapro during pregnancy but I do not think I'm going to start the drug again. If we are blessed w/another child and something was wrong I would never be able to forgive myself. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had their Dr's tell them Lexapro is Ok during pregnancy???

-- Contributed by: Kerri

Jessica, this is good advice to other moms who are reading this. Tapering off medications is a good idea during pregnancy, especially if it's done under a doctor's guidelines.

Unfortunately, many children are born with congenital problems, even to moms who didn't take any medication during their pregnancy. You'll never be able to find out if the Lexapro caused your son's problems, so please don't blame yourself. You took good care of yourself and your son by addressing the concerns as soon as you know about them.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I took Lexapro for a year and a half while pregnant and breastfeeding my second son. This was before all of the warnings were issued about the effects on the baby. My doctor did not offer any other methods of treatment and I trusted her advice. As soon as the warnings were issued about IPPH I stopped breastfeeding. It was very difficult to go off the medication. I made me so dizzy that I fell over several times and my vision would be off and I felt like I was floating, but in a very scary and unsettling way. I tapered off the meds very slowly but when I finally cut myself from it completely I had a rough week or two with all the weird side effects. Anyway, that isn't the worst part. My son was born with congenital nystagnis and strabismus and is now having trouble with lung infections and is undergoing testing for heart and lung problems. I have no idea yet if the meds caused this but even so I would not recommend anyone take it while pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, I would recommend talking with a psychiatrist about treatment for depression before starting any medication especially while pregnant.

-- Contributed by: Jessica

Isadora, make sure you are working with your doctor to taper the Lexapro. They also might be able to substitute it with something else that is easier to come off of.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I went off Lexapro after a small taper (2weeks every other day of 10mg) and wow, not a good idea. I had heartburn for 2 days straight, the top of my head felt like bugs were crawling on it, I was sweating, and my head was swimming like crazy. I was so weird-ed out that I went home and took one, and it all went away!! Since we really want another baby, I will just try a longer taper-off period, and hope that works!

-- Contributed by: Isadora

Hi Stacy, as I mentioned on the Pregnancy and FDA Drug Classifications you will need to talk to your doctor about this, I can't really recommend any other medications for you. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Can you give me a different med that may be compatible to Lexapro? I planning on getting pregnant and don't won't to take any chances with the baby. It will be impossible for me to go off everything. the side effect to the baby after birth seem to be risky. Do you know of anyone or any studies who have taken Lexapro during pregnancy? I have been taken off 3 different meds since March and this seems to be my last hope Please any advise would be appreciated.stampone@optonline.net Stacy

-- Contributed by: Stacy
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