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Hi,
Can some one share the name of the PND medication they are taking or took in the past? The one my GP prescribed me was called Feverin 50, but the pharmacist told me it's not safe for breastfeeding. So I went back to my GP who gave me Toloft which again is not 100% safe for breastfeeding. Is there any medication safe at all? How about natural/ herbal things? Please share the information you have. Thank you very much.
Zoloft (Sertraline) has had the most research done and is therefore the one usually first precribed to women breastfeeding.
However I know women who have taken Cipramil, Lexapro and Effexor while pregnant and or breastfeeding. The only one I know if that is a dead no-no is Aropax.
I second that. Aropax is a definite no-no.
aropax is safe - I've just come off it.
i went on lexapro, did the trick for me...
I've been taking Zoloft right through pregnancy and breastfeeding, with no ill effect. My doctor was very happy to prescribe it to me. I'm on 100mg, but may up the dosage to 150mg per day.
In my opinion, while there are some unknowns about it, the risk to the baby is much smaller than the known risk to him of having a mother who is significantly depressed.
Lexapro is extremely safe, lots of studies done on it during pregnancy & bf.
Google "Dr Hale breastfeeding medications" and you will come across tonnes of info and studies about medications during pregnancy & bf. That is how i made the decision to take lexapro whilst i was pregnant & bf. My babies were both fine.
I agree with the above posters in that there are definitely medications that are quite safe to take when breastfeeding. The depression itself will probably be causing more problems to you and to your baby. It's very important to get properly treated for PND, and as soon as possible.
That said, if you are unhappy with the advice from your GP, I would ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. They are the specialists in antidepressant medications, and will have more detailed knowledge.
Do you know about the PANDA (Post and Antenatal Depression Association) organisation? You might be able to phone them for advice about the safety of medications.
Good luck with it. I hope you recover very soon. Depression, of any kind, is awful.
That's what my GP gave me. Does Zoloft cause anything to the baby? like sleepy or unsettled?:
I took and am still taking Ciprimil. Only took 20mg daily while BF and when finished BF am now taking 40mg. If the baby is gets overly sleepy or floppy, my psych says to stop taking it.
In terms of the natural route, more recent studies have discovered a distinct lack of EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids of Omega 3, 6 & 9) in mothers who suffer from PND as opposed to those who do not. EFA's are like a lubricant for the brain and skin- without which it cannot function optimally and various conditions such as depression, ADHD, and even alzheimers (sp?) are more likely, as well as skin conditions such as eczema.
Fish is a very rich source of omega 3, however due to the whole mercury issue - you may wish to opt for vegetarian sources of EFA's.
The richest forms are;
-Avocadoes (replace butter and marg with avocado - its also free of harmful saturated fat and cholesterol. Try toast or ryvitas with thickly slathered avocado topped with tomato and cheese for a healthy EFA rich savoury snack).
- Nuts (ie - Almonds, Brazil and Cashews - NOT peanuts). Try the balanced protein spread which includes the aforementioned 3 nut varieties by Melrose (health section of Woolies), or simply eat a handful of these nuts (unsalted) during the day.
- Seeds (ie Flaxseed/Linseed, hemp seed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc) Flaxseed Oil is arguably the richest and most balanced source of Omega 3,6 & 9. You can buy it in capsule form or liquid form from a health food store. The liquid form can be tossed through a salad or pasta, or added to some juice. A handful of mixed nuts and seeds a couple of times daily is a great way to ensure your EFA intake is adequate.
To increase your absorption of EFAs - taking a probiotic 'friendly' bacteria supplement is recommended (avail from the fridge of your nearest health food store - needs to be kept in fridge). This is particularly important if you have taken antibiotics or the contraceptive pill - both which kill off friendly digestive bacteria responsible for optimum nutrient absorption. Taking sufficient EFA's along with a probiotic supplement will also increase the nutrient quality and quantity of your breastmilk - and can prevent skin conditions and improve digestion in your baby.
HTH!
PS - from personal experince from having suffered depression in the past, and having tried both 'conventional' drugs and natural routes of medicine - I am now a very strong advocate for Natural Medicine (Naturopathy) for the treatment of depression.
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