Question:
Hi, I have panic disorder and agoraphobia,and take paxill for it. Today i found out that I’m pregnant so I will have to stop taking the paxill. I’m really scared that without the paxill I will go crazy, because even with the paxill I still have severe panic attacks. When I had my first child I didn’t have this disorder, and knowing the pain you go through in labor I’m really scared I’m going to panic and quit breathing or even die. I don’t have insurance so I go to the free clinic and you always see a different person there every time you go…never the same doctor. I’m so afraid when it comes time to have the baby, the doctor there will not no about my problem. Well I know it will be on my chart, but I’m afraid he might not understand just how severe my attacks are! I’m just really scared about the whole pregnancy because I won’t be able to take my nerve pills if I need to,or the paxill. I don’t take the nerve pills very often anyway because just knowing they are there makes me feel better! I’m having anxiety right never even thinking about the situation! Don’t get me wrong I am really excited about having another baby, I just wish I didn’t have to go through the pregnancy and labor! If anyone has any advice PLEASE write me! I really need to heart from you! SCARED TO DEATH, Samantha
Response:
Whoa! Hold up for a minute! Didn’t you say that you found out that you’re pregnant? Does that mean that in about 6 more months you’ll deliver? If this is true, it’s to early to worry about the pain of delivery. Your doctor/s will work with you on the anxiety. Like I said to a previous poster on this very topic, I was told to stop my meds, too, by my OB/Gyn. My pdoc was in agreement. My pdoc said we’ll watch you, and it will get to the point where we’ll see if being on the med is better for you. So, in other words, I’d have to see if I could "stand" being off the med. If I could not, they were going to work with me on the medication (My OB/Gyn was willing to let my pdoc make this decision.). I have had one normal delivery, and yes it was painful. The doctors had no problem with providing Demerol for pain once I had gotten dilated to a certain point. Also, the doctors may give you an epidural if you wish. It’s totally up to you. You may find that you’ll get to the 9th month and want to go natural. Who knows? My last two pregnancies were delivered by c-sections. I felt no pain during the deliveries because I was "blocked". Although, I still panicked; but once those babies were out…the doctors put me out! I keep thinking that my twins were born a day later than they really were because I didn’t really wake up until the next day. What I am trying to say is talk to your doctors, make sure that all of them are aware that you have panic disorder, make them understand what you would like to have done during your pregnancy. If they believe that it is in your best interest, I’m sure they’ll work with you. Mel P.S. I work with a person that was on Zoloft prior to her pregnancy. I never asked her if she is still on the med. I know that she is getting bigger everyday and that she still works. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I have panic disorder and agoraphobia,and take paxill for it. Today i found out that I’m pregnant so I will have to stop taking the paxill. I’m really scared that without the paxill I will go crazy, because even with the paxill I still have severe panic attacks. When I had my first child I didn’t have this disorder, and knowing the pain you go through in labor I’m really scared I’m going to panic and quit breathing or even die. I don’t have insurance so I go to the free clinic and you always see a different person there every time you go…never the same doctor. I’m so afraid when it comes time to have the baby, the doctor there will not no about my problem. Well I know it will be on my chart, but I’m afraid he might not understand just how severe my attacks are! I’m just really scared about the whole pregnancy because I won’t be able to take my nerve pills if I need to,or the paxill. I don’t take the nerve pills very often anyway because just knowing they are there makes me feel better! I’m having anxiety right never even thinking about the situation! Don’t get me wrong I am really excited about having another baby, I just wish I didn’t have to go through the pregnancy and labor! If anyone has any advice PLEASE write me! I really need to heart from you! SCARED TO DEATH, Samantha
Response:
Hi there. My cousin was taking Paxil for PD when she got pregnant, but she didn’t relapse when she stopped the Paxil. Apparently there is something about the funky hormone things that happen to women when pregnant that prevents panic, depression, etc. My recommendation would be to find a psychopharmacologist who specializes in treating women, or who is experienced with the problems of psychopharmacology in pregnancy. Such people exist: call the psych department of a university-affiliated hospital and ask if there is one there. That person should be able to help you decide how to deal with this tricky problem. One thing is that the greatest risk to the developing fetus from drugs is in the 1st trimester – so you might be able to restart the Paxil while still pregnant. Or, since SSRIs are so safe, you might not have to stop at all. Good luck, and congratulations on the pregnancy! -elizabeth
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