Freaked out! new prozac info and bf question

[lynettefrancois]

Here's an article about it:
http://mentalhealth.about.com/b/a/2004_10_28.htm

I know it gets in the breastmilk, but I can't find any info about this new information and breastfeeding! When I originally researched it, half the people didn't recommend taking it while breastfeeding no matter what, and half thought you should take it if you and your Dr agreed (we did). I started it a month or two after DD was born (I had taken it prior to becoming pregnant). Now I'm afraid to continue but am also afraid I'll be miserable if I try to stop at the worst time of year: onset of winter. Any ideas?

[Rachels]

Don't panic yet-- this is just a blurb, and there's not much info yet. And we KNOW that babies whose mothers are depressed have a tough time, so taking care of yourself is important for your little one. So is breastfeeding. If you're feeling like you need to make a change right now, you might consider Zoloft instead, which is generally considered to be quite safe. I'll look around for more info, and maybe Shannon can weigh in as well.

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!

[crayonblue]

Please don't freak out! I am taking Wellbutrin and as far as I know, there have been no studies with this drug. I started off with Zoloft since doctors say this is the safest while breastfeeding. But, I couldn't tolerate Zoloft so I switched to Wellbutrin. I can honestly say that I am completely happy with it and feel that I am a MUCH better mother, wife, etc. while taking this medication. To me, it outweighs the potential problems that might or might not result.

Having been raised by a depressed mother, I can say that having a depressed mom who isn't taking medication is not a good situation and probably contributed enormously to my own depression. My mom breastfed me for 18 months and she suffered from post-partum depression for those 18 months. I wonder how different things would have been if she had taken medication.

[lynettefrancois]

thanks Rachel and Lana! I was mostly alarmed by the lack of ANY info about it. I haven't looked into other options since originally the Dr. wanted me to stick with the one I knew. I would appreciate seeing any info about the effects due to breastfeeding in light of this new research- I wonder if the amount in breastmilk is even slightly comparable to the mouse-equivalent test amounts?

[audys]

I found the book, "Medications and Mother's Milk" by Hale (http://ibreastfeeding.com/catalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=98&reviews_id=2) to be very helpful. There is a new edition that just came out.

Mice are NOT small humans - the animal studies are suggestive but not definitive.

I agree that you should take care of yourself first. Depression is really very real, serious and impacts your baby too.

Take care,

Audrey, mother to Graham

http://lilypie.com/baby1/050210/3/15/1/+10/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[sntm]

Lynnette, this is such a preliminary study that I wouldn't worry too much about it now. AS previously said, mice are not humans, so we can't necessarily extrapolate. The amount excreted in breastmilk may not be equivalent to taht study. I'll look up some more later.

The SSRIs are really indiosyncratic, so you may be able to switch to another easily or you may not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 16 months and counting