Hello all. I'm just wondering if anyone has been on this drug in pregnancy? My husband and I are thinking about having another baby (maybe) and I'm doing well on this drug. Thanks

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi momof2boys5848

Whilst there "may" be members who may come forward and offer personal experiences with you on this one, it always needs to be borne in mind, especially when a pregnancy is involved, that your treating psychiatrist needs to make an informed evaluation, weighing up the pros and cons of you being on this medication whilst pregnant. I hope that you have these discussions with your prescriber.

If any members have had lamictal, they will hopefully come forward and share their experience.

Best wishes on your future journey with your husband. Kids are blessings.

I would never be on any type of medication while carrying. Some antidepressants can cause serious problems. The beginnings of a life is so complicated and involves more than our doctors would ever know. I'd wait till the drugs cleared out before trying to get pregnant, then get back on them quick if not breast feeding. If you're going to breast feed, then yould have to wait longer.

I hope it goes well for you sweety.

[BlackSheep79]

I completely agree with AlwaysChanging2. I have made the choice to not have children, but if I was to have children there is no way that I would have any of these medications in my body while carrying or breast feeding. Think about all the bad effects there are for us, let alone for a growing baby. Plus, you always here years down the road about some horrible effect a drug had after the fact. This is just my opinion on the subject.

[Victoria'smom]

lamictal is a class C. Most Mood stablizers are class C or D accorded to here There are class B anti psychotics Clozapine and Lurasidone accorded to here

If it was me I'd come off meds and into day treatment.

[Nammu]

I wasn't diganosed or on meds when I was pregnant, my daughter went off her meds under the supervision of her Pdoc and back on a low dose during the last month. Her son, my grandson is doing great. They are thinking about having kid number two because they are both only children and want him to have a sibling.

[Eliza Jane]

Originally Posted by momof2boys5848

Hello all. I'm just wondering if anyone has been on this drug in pregnancy? My husband and I are thinking about having another baby (maybe) and I'm doing well on this drug. Thanks

This is a hot topic and I get frustrated with how many people get judgmental about other women's healthcare decisions. At the end of the day, this should be a collaborative decision with you, your pdoc, and your OB. In a perfect world, you wouldn't feel like you need to be on meds for your pregnancy. But that isn't realistic for everyone. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for either being on meds or going off of them. As an OB told me when I was struggling with this decision, maternal suicide is 100% fatal to the fetus. Sometimes being on meds is truly life and death. You are the one in the best position to judge this.

I took lamictal through my pregnancy. I only have a so-so response to lamictal, but I switched to it on the advice of a pdoc (from Abilify) because there is lots of favorable long-term data on it. Since lamictal is also used for seizures, there are many women who can't get off of it. They did a 25 yr pregnancy registry study which suggested that there is no increased risk of birth defects. I felt comfortable enough with that to try it. My little on is now almost 2 yrs old. If you have more questions, feel free to PM.

Good luck!

P.S. They are now saying Latuda is category B, so I may look into that next time. However, it is newish, so I imagine there isn't tons of research on it.

[cashart10]

I had my first 2 children without medication because I was pregnant before I accepted my diagnosis. I did horribly with one pregnancy and post postpartum and OK with the other. When I accidentally became pregnant with my third child, I was taking Lamictal, Abilify, and Klonapin. I was already manic and sleeping less than 4 hours per night, the hormones only amplified my symptoms. I wanted to come off of my meds altogether but my pdoc convinced me otherwise. I was already a mess on medication. I did come off of the Klonapin because I feared the baby would become addicted to it (although my pdoc advised me that it was only an issue in the third trimester and wanted me to stay on it for the sleep). Between the middle and end of my pregnancy I lost touch with reality and actually took Lithium in my pregnancy. My pdoc (a new one who is LESS liberal with medication in pregnancy) prescribed it because she said the major issues with Lithium and pregnancy occur in the first trimester. She felt I had no choice. So, I took Lamictal and a couple other meds and I have a happy, healthy 16 month old baby. Now, I was and am devastated that I was not able to nurse, especially after nursing my other two for more than a year. The two doctors I saw had conflicting opinions about breastfeeding on Lamictal. The first said he would recommend it (why I sought a second opinion and changed pdocs) and the second did not recommend it. Both agreed that it would be a terrible decision for me not to take lamictal and the other meds during my pregnancy and all of the medication decisions were made because my doctors felt like they were requirements because of my condition. It is a tough decision. I would listen to your pdoc and weigh your options carefully. Pregnancy can wreak serious havok on your illness so please consider that in your decision. Despite my medications and all of my help, I ended up hospitalized when my daughter was 8 weeks. It was tough. I wish you all of the best in your decision.

[Eliza Jane]

FWIW, last week I met with a psychiatrist that specializes in pregnant women. She was very strongly in support of me taking Lamictal again (but encouraged being more aggressive with the dose to get a better response than I did previously). Thought you'd find that interesting.

EJ

Originally Posted by Eliza Jane

This is a hot topic and I get frustrated with how many people get judgmental about other women's healthcare decisions. At the end of the day, this should be a collaborative decision with you, your pdoc, and your OB. In a perfect world, you wouldn't feel like you need to be on meds for your pregnancy. But that isn't realistic for everyone. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for either being on meds or going off of them. As an OB told me when I was struggling with this decision, maternal suicide is 100% fatal to the fetus. Sometimes being on meds is truly life and death. You are the one in the best position to judge this.

I took lamictal through my pregnancy. I only have a so-so response to lamictal, but I switched to it on the advice of a pdoc (from Abilify) because there is lots of favorable long-term data on it. Since lamictal is also used for seizures, there are many women who can't get off of it. They did a 25 yr pregnancy registry study which suggested that there is no increased risk of birth defects. I felt comfortable enough with that to try it. My little on is now almost 2 yrs old. If you have more questions, feel free to PM.

Good luck!

P.S. They are now saying Latuda is category B, so I may look into that next time. However, it is newish, so I imagine there isn't tons of research on it.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I really don't know what were going to do if were' going to try for another or not. But, I don't think I'm going to let the fact that I have this illness dictate whether or not we want more kids.
I spoke to my pdoc who said that I if I become pregnant (hubby and I are using the withdrawal method, so def not 100%) that it would be a safer drug to stay on.

Being pregnant is the only thing that kept me alive when I was preggo with DS a couple of yuears agp/ Sorry for typos. It's early.

Thanks for the responses. I really appreciate some of you sharing your stories with me.