Starting to panic again...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2002
Starting to panic again...
3
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 3:23pm

I have been doing SO well with the anxiety and panic lately. But then I went to my OB/GYN for my yearly exam and told him DH and I were thinking about trying to get PG again (I had an ectopic pregnancy earlier this year). My doctor told me he would like me to try to wean myself off of the Zoloft before getting pregnant. He said there isn't anything to indicate the medication would affect a baby but also there isn't enough information to conclude it would be safe to take either. He said to talk it over with my regular doctor. I am a huge procrstinator and have yet to make that appointment.

I decided to foloow his advice to see what would happen. He told me to maybe try taking the Zoloft every other night to avoid feeling nauseaus. I have been trying that and on the days I don't take it, I feel as if I am on the verge of a panic attack. Part of me is convinced it is all in my head, my mind is telling me I NEED the medication, but then I take it and I feel better. I don't want to depend on drugs forever, but I don't want to feel so anxiety ridden either. And I REALLY want to have a baby.

My moments of feeling panicky seem to happen the most when I am driving. Actually, they happen when I am stopped at a traffic light. I don't know why, it's like when I am stopped, I have time to think and freak myself out. When I have someone else in the car with me, the feeling is still there, but not as bad.

I feel as if I am SO CLOSE to "figuring this out" and getting better, but I can't quite reach the answer. I don't know if that makes any sense. I am just so frustrated and angry with myself. I hate feeling this way, and I hate that it frustrates my DH (even though he would NEVER tell me that!).

I am wondering if anyone else here took Zoloft while pregnant and had a healthy baby? Was your doctor approving of the drugs? I am going to go in and talk to my regular doctor about it this week. BTW, my OB/GYN isn's totally opposes to taking it, he said if you need it, you need it, but he wants me to try not taking it.

Jessica

siggy by Cheryl

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 6:34pm

(((Jessica))) Sorry to hear about the return of anxiety. When I have gone off of antidepressants, my prescribing pdoc put me on a reduction schedule. I had very good luck when I broke pills in half & didn't reduce my dose for 5 to 7 days. It took me nearly 3 weeks, but I didn't have a return of a/p symptoms. Is the ob/gyn your prescribing doc? If not, I would check & see what sort of schedule the prescribing doc has in mind.


As for safety during pregnancy, your dr. is right. Complete studies haven't been done, but others on our board did take AD's throughout their pregnancies. I hope they will give you their experiences. Try to keep in mind that anxiety in the mother is not good for a growing baby, either. You can always look for a dr. who has experience in pregnancies that are a little riskier when the moms require meds. My niece did that & though her baby had some breathing problems @ birth is doing perfectly fine.


BTW, being stopped in the car @ stop signs, traffic lights, traffic jams, etc. is a trigger for me & others. I always feel trapped. I use the belly breathing & positive thinking to get me through.


Please keep in touch. Let us know how you're doing. We care & want you to feel better. Good luck! jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 8:55pm

(((Jessica)))

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 8:58pm

Oops!

Sheri Ann