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Is It Safe To Have Betacap For Depression During Pregnancy?
Question: I have been taking betacap 20 and cipralex 10 mg since three months for mild depression and anxiety. Now I am planning my pregnancy and hence decided to stop using it as I understand this drug is not tested for pregnancy. My doctor has not told me its compulsory to take as i just have mild depression and rather try meditation. I also understand that such depression relieving drugs should be stopped slowly and not abruptly so I have reduced the intake to half of both. Can you suggest me how to stop ? Is it ok if I feel dizzy if I stop taking it and what should I do to stop feeling dizzy and anxious when I stop taking these pills ? How many days after I stop taking these pills completely should I avoid trying to conceive so that there is no drug in my system and there is no harm to baby?
Brief Answer:
Drugs can not be stopped immediately
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for your question.
It is very intelligent and thoughtful on your part.
Psychotropic drugs are not tested in pregnancy and their side effects on baby are well documented.
The drugs you are taking can cause discontinuation symptoms, if you stop them suddenly. So half the dose in 15 days and then stop completely after next 15 days is the usual strategy, I suggest to my patients.
If you stop then gradually as suggested above, then there are less chances that you will face any problems. [dizziness and others] Another important point is you have mild depression and I feel when you have this much insight in your illness, you can manage the anxiety without drugs by meditation, yoga, relaxation exercises and other mild physical exercises.
I will suggest you to discuss all these issues with your prescribing psychiatrist.
My suggestion here would be to stop all the drugs before you try to conceive. I think you dont want to take any chance..
Keep in my do not stop drugs abruptly.
I hope this will be helpful to you..If you have further queries then feel free to ask,,...wishing you good health..
Drugs can not be stopped immediately
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for your question.
It is very intelligent and thoughtful on your part.
Psychotropic drugs are not tested in pregnancy and their side effects on baby are well documented.
The drugs you are taking can cause discontinuation symptoms, if you stop them suddenly. So half the dose in 15 days and then stop completely after next 15 days is the usual strategy, I suggest to my patients.
If you stop then gradually as suggested above, then there are less chances that you will face any problems. [dizziness and others] Another important point is you have mild depression and I feel when you have this much insight in your illness, you can manage the anxiety without drugs by meditation, yoga, relaxation exercises and other mild physical exercises.
I will suggest you to discuss all these issues with your prescribing psychiatrist.
My suggestion here would be to stop all the drugs before you try to conceive. I think you dont want to take any chance..
Keep in my do not stop drugs abruptly.
I hope this will be helpful to you..If you have further queries then feel free to ask,,...wishing you good health..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I understood that for 15 days I should half the half the dose and then stop completely. Please confirm. Is this true for both drugs betcap20 and cipralex 10.
What if I feel withdrawal symptoms even if I stop like you have said ? Is there anything i can do about it ?
I also did not understand what is recommended days to wait after I have stopped the drugs completely before trying to conceive as I don't want to take any chances with y baby
I am asking these questions online as I am not able to visit prescribing psychiatrist due to location issue currently. And my belief is my questions are answerable online. I hope I am right.
What if I feel withdrawal symptoms even if I stop like you have said ? Is there anything i can do about it ?
I also did not understand what is recommended days to wait after I have stopped the drugs completely before trying to conceive as I don't want to take any chances with y baby
I am asking these questions online as I am not able to visit prescribing psychiatrist due to location issue currently. And my belief is my questions are answerable online. I hope I am right.
Brief Answer:
Wait for at least 10 days before conceiving
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Yeah, the schedule,what you understood, for discontinuing is right. follow that. If you find some discontinuation symptoms then you can take anxiolytic drugs as and when required initially but not after conception. This can be a benzodiazepine like clonazepam 0.25 mg.
though the drugs will wash out from your body completely within 3 to 4 days, I will suggest you to wait for 10 days after stopping drugs and then try for conception.
Hope this will help you. If you have further query feel free to ask. Wishing you good health and motherhood.
Wait for at least 10 days before conceiving
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
Yeah, the schedule,what you understood, for discontinuing is right. follow that. If you find some discontinuation symptoms then you can take anxiolytic drugs as and when required initially but not after conception. This can be a benzodiazepine like clonazepam 0.25 mg.
though the drugs will wash out from your body completely within 3 to 4 days, I will suggest you to wait for 10 days after stopping drugs and then try for conception.
Hope this will help you. If you have further query feel free to ask. Wishing you good health and motherhood.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I plan to wait 1 month ;) Looking at your experience information I believe you can also answer one more question of mine. I have smoked few times with my husband so will you be able to tell how many days or months should I wait from last day I smoked before trying to conceive and also for my husband.
Brief Answer:
You can try within next 2 days
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
After smoking, the nicotine has not long lasting effects on the body, it is usually washed out rapidly from the body. effects last for 3 to 4 hours only. complete wash out requires 1 day maximum.
So you can try after 1 or 2 days.
Smoking during the pregnancy particularly initial 12 weeks is very dangerous, it true for every drug you take, because during initial 12 weeks there is organogenesis of the baby [different organs are formed and differentiated], so you have to particularly cautious about that. do not smoke, drink or take take drugs without doctor's consultation.
I hope this will be helpful to you..wishing you a good health..
You can try within next 2 days
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
After smoking, the nicotine has not long lasting effects on the body, it is usually washed out rapidly from the body. effects last for 3 to 4 hours only. complete wash out requires 1 day maximum.
So you can try after 1 or 2 days.
Smoking during the pregnancy particularly initial 12 weeks is very dangerous, it true for every drug you take, because during initial 12 weeks there is organogenesis of the baby [different organs are formed and differentiated], so you have to particularly cautious about that. do not smoke, drink or take take drugs without doctor's consultation.
I hope this will be helpful to you..wishing you a good health..
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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