new here, question..

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
new here, question..
5
Sun, 03-05-2006 - 11:42pm

I'm pretty sure I have bipolar disorder. My doctor thinks so and has suggested I go to a psych to get diagnosed. My mother is a psych (she's told me for years that I have BP)and my stepmother is also and they both think I have it. So I'm not going to be suprised if I'm diagnosed with it.

My question is this: What meds do people with bipolar disorder take? I'm due to have a baby any day now and my OB said that I might not be able to breastfeed because of the medicine(s) that I'm put on. This to me is very very sad. I really want to breastfeed. My doc is worried that if I don't take meds then I'll have post partum really bad. And that I'm scared of. Still, I want to breastfeed. Have any of you mothers out there breastfed while on meds?

Currently I'm taking 150mg of Zoloft in the morning. I was diagnosed 15 years ago with depression and have been on and off of meds since then. But in the last 2 or so years, it's been really rough with my mania, etc... I flip on a dime. And I'm always on the verge of upset, even when I'm pleased with things. I hate it!

Sometimes I really want to be happy and calm and loving. But I can't snap out of it. I can hardly fake it. My DH must be a saint to put up with me. My last marriage failed because of my stability, or lack thereof it. And he got custody of our two wonderful children and that has nearly destroyed me in every way.

I have a wonderful husband and supporting family. I guess I'm glad I found this board and I'm looking forward to reading about all of you. I'm sure it'll ease my mind some to find out I'm not the only one.

Thanks for reading,
Laura

Avatar for suziq_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 03-06-2006 - 6:20am
I BREAST FED WHILE TAKING ZOLOFT(oops sorry for shouting)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 03-06-2006 - 8:53am

Hi Laura,

I'm glad you found the board...BP sucks, as you know!!! I too can relate to what you said about not being able to fake it some days...I want to be able to just be happy, and content and calm too, but I just can get it to happen some days...as for breastfeeding, no advice there...my ds is 15 now.

Support is so vital, and my poor dh is in line for his sainthood too. But the ladies here are my first line and most important support. I hope you'll stick around with us.

Many Hugs,

keli

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Mon, 03-06-2006 - 12:10pm

Laura,


I'm afraid I don't have an answer to your question about meds, but it's something to be very upfront with your pdoc about--there are meds you can take & breastfeed, just don't know which is which.


BTW-If you're only on Zoloft--it's fueling your mania BIG time!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2005
Mon, 03-06-2006 - 1:01pm

Laura,

Hi and welcome! Like Marci said the Zoloft is fueling your mania and I agree with your OB about the PPD. I was dx'd with depression before I got pregnant with DS and I didnt take any meds for it because I had no insurance, but I tried very hard to get my OB to help me in getting help for after I had my son because I just knew somehow that I would have severe PPD. But my OB just said it was normal and would go away, but I su'd and my XH took custody of my son because he was afraid I would hurt him, all because I wasnt on meds.

I know that most meds for bp you are unable to take while breastfeeding and are unsafe to take during pregnancy ( I read all about them a while back just so I could know, each med has a "grade" that tells you how severely it can affect your baby. A "B" or better is usually prescribable but anything "C" or lower is off limits unless you are EXTREMELY manic or su. If you can take the Zoloft during pregnancy I am sure it will be fine during breastfeeding too and that will help with the PPD, so I wouldnt worry too much about it and I think it would be possible to bf still on meds if you have to take bp meds bc you can pump the milk after a few hours of taking your meds when they arent as strong in your system and that might be okay.

But, my personal opinion is that I would do exactly what your psychiatrist says and know that if you cant breastfeed, your baby will be much better off with a stable mother and drinking formula than an unstable breastfeeding one.

Keep posting and congratulations on the pregnancy!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Mon, 03-06-2006 - 1:03pm

Marci,

This makes total sense!! Ahh thank you! My DH has an Abnormal Psych book from college left over and I read a lot this weekend about BP and that regular depression drugs can exaserbate mania. And I believe it is.

Well I'm going to make that appointment today to get diagnosed finally.

Glad I found this board!
Laura