Need help I have major anxiety and am now pregnant

By Nikki Thursday, June 26, 2008

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I have been on Paxil for the last 2 1/2 years 20mg and xanax as needed. I have since I have since found out that I am pregnant. My MD told me to taper off the paxil (cut it in half) oh wow I thought I was losing my mind. I called the OB to see if I could get a rush apt and was told 3 weeks. So I saw the OB 2 days ago he took me off Paxil completely and prescribed Bupropion ( wellbutrin) 2 times a day 100mg. I have done some research and can not find any thing saying wellbutrin helps with anxiety and panic attacks. Does any one know if this will help me or not? Since the medication changes the OB made I have been unable to leave the house I feel sick to my stomach, my head is foggy, my eyes hurt, I break out in sweats,major racing thoughts, agitation and I am dizzy and do not fell well at all. Is this normal? I don't feel as though any one knows what I am going though I really need some advise.

Thank you!!

Has any one taken Buspar did you have side effects if so did they go away

Comments (8) | Add comment

Sue

6/28/08 2:45pm

Hello, I have it set up in my Yahoo account to send me articicles concerning ANtidepressants and I received this. The reason why I am so curious is because I know some people who have had neg. reactions instead of the widely reported positive ones. I could type in everything I have learned about these pills or you could just do a search and type in Paxil suicide. The information concerning these drugs is unbelieveable ! EVen according to Glaxo you should taper. It seems doctors only listen to the sales reps concerning these drugs and should really know more before giving their uneducated diagnoses. Please check out the paxil progress web site it contains valuable information for tapering so that you don't go into a head spin or have a deranged episode. Good Luck and please pass the word around of what you learn . More people should know how they have been tricked and how truly uneducated physicains are about these pills. Good Luck, Sue

Richard G. Wirtz, Psy.D., Health Guide

6/29/08 9:26pm

Nikki - Sorry that you have been going through all of this. Although I am not a physician I know from my clinical practice that stopping medications like Paxil, after taking them for a long time, can result in something called discontinuation syndrome.

You might want to read about it to see if any of your symptoms fit. There are many medications for anxiety ,as you will see by reviewing the HealthCentral site, but Wellbutrin is not generally considered a good choice for highly anxious people. The symptoms you are describing may well be caused by the bupropion. If you are not already being treated by a psychiatrist you may want to consult with one who is experienced at treating pregnant women and who knows all the current literature on use of these medications in pregnancy.

Dr. Rick Wirtz

Robyn Mason

8/ 1/08 12:31pm

I have been on medications for anxiety for over 10 years. After about 1.5 years the drugs stop working and I have to change. I am also on xanax 1mg once a day. Before I got pregnant I was on Lexapro 30 mg and it worked great. When I knew I wanted to have a baby I tapered off the drugs. It is really hard to do but try to exercise to relieve the tension and try to cut back on caffeine. I found that drinking lots of water and taking deep breathes thru my stomach helped a little. I got pregnant and once I hit the 3 month mark of pregnancy I started lexapro at 20 mg. It helped me tremendously. I read that its best to try and be off the depression/anxiety medicine when trying to get pregnant and during the first 3 months. Also, never take the xanax while pregnant. I had to throw mine out because I wanting one really bad. I told my doctor it was tuff being of the anxiety medicine and he precribed me tylenol 3 because I was getting lots of headaches. If you cant get off the meds for the first three months because of the anxiety I would ask your doctor about Lexapro. Wellbutrin is only for depression. After I gave birth I got off the Lexapro and on the Wellbutrin 100 mg twice a day and the anxiety came back. For the sake of your sanity only do whats best for you. During the time I tried to get pregnatn I was moody, anxious and mad at the world. As soon as I got back on Lexapro I was relieved of most anxiety. I really hope this helps you. Dont feel you are a bad mom if you are on the meds while pregnant. Many women take them. Looking back I might have taken the meds during the first 3 months because my anxiety took a toll on my marriage. Whatever helps relieve your anxiety do it.

Nikki

8/ 2/08 1:57am

Thank you so much for your share it is nice to hear I am not the only person out there who has gone through this. I am now 13 weeks and am doing better. The wellbutrin makes me feel very strange very mad at the world I have no appatite, and I feel depressed I can't wait till Feb so I can get back on my normal meds and feel normal and in control again. I also have been fighting a low back injury for over a year and was just told that I have a degenerative disk and a disk buldge and can take nothing for the constent pain. I feel like I am falling apart!! I have not taken any zanax since I found out I was pregnant. I know what you mean about wanting to take one that is why I have not refilled my RX.

I will try drinking more water I have been staying away from the caff and have been practicing my breathing to I have also been seeing a theripist who specialized in anxity disorders I have only seen her 2 times so far so I am not sure if it is helping or not.

Thanks again for your share Nikki

Robyn Mason

8/ 2/08 8:19pm

Nikki, I also wanted to tell you that I have seen advertisements on TV about PAXIL causing birth defects in babies. I know its probably not something you want to hear. I was really shocked because my PCP wanting me to take that or Prozac. I have never had luck with those two drugs. They make me angry. I wish I was normal and didn't have to go thru all this anxiety crap. My husband has no clue what I am going through. I really hope things work out for you. I just started the Wellbutrin a few weeks ago and I felt so light headed and sick to my stomach. I also have no appetite but since you are pregnant try to eat what you can. I started to take the Enfamil Lipil vitamins with Omega 3 while pregnant. Also, register on all the baby formula sites and you will start getting formula samples for when your newborn arrives. Also, they will send you coupons all the time. I am also felling angry at times and getting mood swings. It is getting better but when I start getting stressed out the anxiety is back. Also, while I was on Lexapro my son turned out just fine and I even breastfeed him while I was on Lexapro. I know there hasnt been much research out about the Lexapro but I had to take a chance. I mean look at all the research that was done on PAXIL and being told it is a safe drug for you to take while pregnant. I am telling you if I wasnt on something while I was pregnant I couldnt have gotten through pregnancy and probably would be divorced. Talk to your doctor about pain medicines that are okay to take sparingly while pregnant. Each week I probably took two Tylenol 3's and I relied on a heating pad to take care of my aches. I wish you well. You will get thru this. Once the baby gets here he/she will make you feel much better. Just looking at my son and watching him smile and laugh is the best thing in the world. Good luck with the psychiatrist. I have seen many and they seem to help a little. You just have to be honest and then forgive whoever has done you wrong to make you get closure. Hang in there!

Nikki

8/ 4/08 12:15am

Robyn'

I am so having a hard time today I am not sure but it seems that when my back pain is at its worse so is my anxiety my stomach hurts so bad and I don't want to go into full attack so I am trying hard to relax. My husband trys to understand but he is one of those guys that does not worry about a thing he looks at me like I am out of my mind sometimes. When it gets really bad I ask my husband to watch the 3 year old and I lay down and try and relax. For some reason I seem to be more panicky at night when I am home so sometimes its a long night I just can't seem to ever slow my brain down!! You mentioned the psychiatrist and forgiving, the psychiatrist I am seeing mentioned that there must have been some sort of a trigger when I was 12 that would have caused the panic all I know is that it all started after I got the flu and vomited I just felt like I was losing control . Later on I found out that my Mother and my mothers father have struggled with this all of there lives I believe that it is Heredity I just pray my kids don't get it . Did you see your PCP or your OB for your pain meds I am not sure who I should talk to this about both of them know about my back. Did your Dr say that the Tylenol 3's are safe for pregnancy?

Robyn

8/ 4/08 12:26pm

Nikki,

I am having a hard time too. My husband built us a big beautiful house that we were planning to flip and now the economy is in such bad shape we might take a big loss on it. Whenever I get bad news I start immediatly breathing faster and it starts to feel like I cant get enough air. I started to get off the Lexapro because I felt like maybe I had some post partum depression going on. I also got off because it totally wipes out any sex drive at all. I have battled this before and I think its better to have no sex drive then to be anxious all the time. I am going to give the Wellbutrin a few more weeks and then I might get back on something else. The psychiatrist can help with determining whats wrong but they never really fixed my problem. But maybe for you it will help that you can talk to someone that is unbiased. They can also prescribe multi-meds for you to take (probably after you have the baby) and tell you have to cope with your problems. I found the best luck getting the Tylenol 3 from my OBGYN because they specialize in pregnancy. They said codeine which is what is in the Tylenol 3 is suppose to be safe while pregnant when used sparingly. They would only give me 15 pills at a time so I would only take them when I was really suffering with neck pain and headaches. I think your back pain is maybe from tension in your neck too. I am totally stiff there because I am an anxious person. I am getting ready to go back to a chiropractor because it helps relieve the muscle aches. I too think anxiety is hereditary. I think it takes one dramatic change to trigger. The odd thing is I never had this until I moved to Northern VA when I was 18 and had to finish highschool at a new school. My mom, dad and I totally started getting panic attacks. It was so bad. I just didnt know how to cope with things. It helps me when I can talk to someone I really trust. Whenever I feel anxious I call my mom and she helps me through it. If you have someone like that try it one day. I cant talk to my husband because just like yours he is easy going and thinks I am nuts. He doesnt understand mood swings and makes me feel worse when he tells me he isnt use to dealing with people like me. I just let him know not every woman is perfect and we all have our faults. There are many people that suffer from depression and anxiety so dont feel you are the only one. My parents have told me to go to a church marriage counselor to help him understand what I am going thru. We only went once to the man that married us because he doesnt do marriage counseling. He helped my husband see the hormones I have that he doesnt and thats what makes us so different. It totally helped for awhile. Now he has forgotten what he learned. Maybe you can first call your OBGYN and see what anxiety or pain meds women take while pregnant. They might be able to help you over the phone. Then you should call your PCP because I dont think the OBGYN can prescribe anti-depressants. I'm not a doctor but have suffered from anxiety for over 18 years. Maybe the Wellbutrin isnt for you. They have other anxiety medications out there. On 9/11 my dad was stuck in the Pentagon for 5 hours and the panic attacks came back. I got on Effexor and the panic attacks went away within a week. While pregnant I had a hard time getting my PCP to prescribe me anything because I was pregnant and they were scared to give me drugs. When I would go to my office visits at the OBGYN I would tell them my PCP wont give me anything for my pain because they dont like prescribing anything to pregnant women. Just be honest with them and let them know you are in pain and its hard to deal with this pregnancy. That is what I did. I was out of work more than I was in. There are a few pain medicines the OBGYN can give you. I cant remeber its name but it starts with an F. I would try calling them first to save you an office visit. Sometimes they will call the Tylenol 3 in for you. What helped me calm me down is getting a massage. Ask your husband to rub your feet or neck. I also soaked in the tub a lot and tried to make myself look as pretty as possible while pregnant. It gave me more self esteem and seemed to limit the anxiety. Also, see if its safe to take Tylenol PM when you see your OBGYN. I too start thinking about everything at the end of the night. Making it impossible to go to sleep. I found it easiest to wait until I was really tired then run upstairs read a few pages of a book and it would get my mind of things. Then I would fall asleep. Just so you know while I was on the Lexapro I hardly had any anxiety while pregnant. It was the pregnancy mood swings I went through. Let me know what your doctor says. I hope they help you soon. Robyn

Nikki

8/ 7/08 12:49am

Robyn,

Well I went to my PCP today I just don't feel comfortable talking to my OB he just looks at me like I am nuts. My PCP knows my whole history. SO I am tapering off the wellbutrin and an starting to take Buspar it is an anxiety only med so we shall see how it works.She also is sending me to a new physical therapist so see if it helps with my back I pray it does. I to am stressed about money I quit working in May to stay home with the 3 year old 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant yikes!! Then last week my husband decided he was tired of taking our range rover in to the shop all the time (even though it was under warranty ) and bought a new vehicle now I have to sell the car and hope I can sell it for a decent amount with the economy and all I am hoping well sell it for a good price. I just hate the thought of a car payment when the old vehicle was paid off . But oh well I just need to take it one day at a time.

Is it possible for you and your husband to stay in your new home until the market turns around it always does just give it some time. Its funny that you mentioned that you confide in your mom when you are going through anxious times I do the same thank goodness I have her I don't know what I would do with out her. Feb of 2007 my mom got deathly ill she has dx with end stage liver disease and the only way she would live was a liver transplant and she needed one ASAP she was in the hospital for almost 3 months and was given a transplant in April of 2007. I for some reason (God ) I was able to stay calm and in control the entire time take goodness as my father and I had to fight the drs tooth and nail to list her on the transplant list.

You mentioned your dad was in 9/11 I remember that day like it was yesterday I was driving to work at about 4:00 am and just had this strange feeling I got to work and was listening to the radio when it was announced it was surreal all of my coworkers and I in CA felt so helpless.

I took your advise and asked my husband the last 2 nights to massage my back with tiger balm it has really helped me not be as sore and in pain the next day. Only 3 people know I am pregnant and I am almost 14 weeks I am going to have to start telling people in a month or so since I should be showing my then I am not looking forward to this at all I really hate being pregnant all the attention and questions I am just not comfortable with this at all my therapist has helped me understand that it is all right I have a little OCD and when you are pregnant you are not in control of your body it is like another person is in control and I should not feel guilty. So needless to say I am not a normal person!! How are you doing? is the wellbutrin working for you? I will let you know how my new medication does . By the way I love your last name it is my sons name:)

Need help I have major anxiety and am now pregnant

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