I’m looking for a natural anti-depressant that would not be harmful in early pregnancy.

Modern anti-depressant medications were first made available in 1987. Known as SSRIs – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors – these are medications that are only available with a prescription. They were originally formulated to relieve both depression as well as anxiety disorders.

However, over the course of time doctors began to prescribe them for a wide variety of additional psychiatric and physical maladies. This conditions included alcoholism, bulimia nervosa, obesity, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and borderline personality disorder.

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Stablon is an antidepressant medication, consisting of Tianeptine, used to treat people suffering from depressive disorders as mood or panic disorder, dysthmia [adjustment disorder], post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], or major depression.   Stablon is a pain-reliever as well, isn’t as addictive as mu-selective opioids, and doesn’t sedate.  It doubles up as a fast-acting bronchodilator – the ideal choice for alcoholic asthmatics undergoing depression, as it makes the patients feel well without making them feel intoxicated or leaving a hangover that accompanies alcohol.

Stablon for stability:  Stablon containing Tianeptine, is beneficial in treating the entire range of depressive illnesses afflicting people.  Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, is believed to control moods, sleeping pattern and body temperature, and works by transporting signals from one nerve cell to another, but when it gets re-attached to the parent nerve, it upsets the chemical balance in the brain.  Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors [SSRIs] inhibit the work of serotonin, by not letting it get re-attached to its parent nerve, thereby correcting the chemical imbalance in the brain.  Tianeptine is a selective serotonin reuptake accelerator yet, surprisingly, it does not have an adverse impact on the brain; in ways not understood by scientists, it works towards maintaining the brain’s chemical balance!  It is used to treat severe or chronic depression, dysthmia [adjustment disorder], mood or panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD].

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I’m bipolar and 20 weeks pregnant. Right now I’m seriously in the low end of the spectrum. I’m really worried about post partem depression considering that I’m already prone to having manic/depression episodes. I’ve taken the meds before and I can’t function even on the low doses. Anti-depressants don’t work at all. I just wanted to hear other people who may have been bipolar during pregnancy.

And yes, I will be speaking to my doctor, but that doesn’t do any good without hearing some other opinions on the matter. I’ve tried going non-medicated and I really don’t believe that it’s very healthy for me to go without.

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I’ve had issues with depression since I was a little kid. Although I’m 23 now, I’ve never actually been on anything to help it. I’m 30 weeks and some odd days pregnant (almost 31 weeks). For the last 3 weeks or so, my depression has gotten really bad. I don’t really know why it’s gotten like this because there doesn’t seem to have been any kind of trigger for it. I’m sure that, at least to a certain extent, pregnancy hormones are probably having some effect on the actual depression. It’s just been hard to sleep or really function in my everyday life with my brain sabatoging me like this. I’m just curious if there are any anti-depressants that are fairly safe to use while pregnant.

I’d also like to point out that I have an appointment with my doctor on the 23rd, so I will be asking him about this as well.

I have had 7 pregnancies, 5 live births and 2 missed miscarriages in the second trimester. With my first 3 children I wasn’t on any anti-depressants, then with #4 I was and gave birth to a healthy baby. Pregnancy #5 was on them and miscarried, #6 on a different one, and gave birth to a healthy baby. Then was on a different one again and miscarried. The prescriptions I was on were Zoloft, Paxil, Welbutrin, and effexor…at different times. I am having trouble accepting that 2 miscarriages in second trimester is just a coinincedence….just wondering if anyone has any insight on these medications while pregnant. Doctors have had no problem prescribing them to me, infact have recommended them. But really I wonder how much have these drugs with pregnancy been studied? Any help would be great! Thanks! Sorry if this was confusing.
I would like to add to save some ignorant people time, yes I’m aware I have a large family. I have 4 kids from a previous marriage, which by the way I am still very good friends with my ex, and I have 1 with my husband now. I am deeply in love and only wish to have 1 more child with him. We have a wonderful family and my husband is great, he comes from a family of 9 kids and we both share the desire to have one more child together. I suffer from depression mostly while pregnant, so this is why this is an issue….Thank you:)

My serotonin is totally out of whack, I asked the doctor to prescribe Zoloft and he did on Friday. He told me to start with 25mg for one week and 50 mg throughout the pregnancy. I am almost 5 months pregnant. Zoloft has always helped me tremendously but this is the first time I take it while pregnant. WHat are your experiences with anti-depressants during pregnancy? Will the baby be born with major defects although the Sonogram and amnio show everything to be fine?

I am 28 weeks (Sun) and my OB prescribed Lexapro for me today. I have battled with depression off and on for years but it has taken a serious toll on me throughout this pregnancy. I stopped taking anti-depressants upon learning of this pregnancy and I have steadily sunk deeper and deeper into a severe depression since. I finally got enough courage to tell my OB about it today and she immediately suggested medication. I was somewhat suprised at her not thinking twice about putting me on an anti-depressant during pregnancy. She assured me that the baby will not be affected and that it is for the best for both me and baby. I would like to know some of your stories of anti-depressants and pregnancy. Are your babies healthy? Any complications? How far along were you when on meds? What med were you on? What was your level of depression? Would you do it again? Any info on your personal story please!

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had ever taken the anti-anxiety anti-depressant drug Citalopram during their pregnancy. The doctor has given it to me for severe panic attacks and anxiety which is making me feel terrible. I am 29 weeks pregnant. So far I have not taken it as I do not want to harm my baby, but I am so anxious I feel permaneltly sick and short of beath and do not know what to do. I am sure the doctor is right and it is safe, but the instructions inside paint a rather ambiguous unknown picture of the effects upon both the unborn foetus and a newborn baby.

What should I do? Has anyone else taken this or suffered terrible panic attacks, anxiety and paranoia during pregnancy? I feel like I am going mad, I used to be a normal girl, and I was so happy when I first found out I was pregnant. Please advise me.

I’m on anti depressants for anxiety… could that prevent me from getting pregnant. One of the warning labels on the bottle says “can cause birth defects if used in 3rd term of pregnancy”.

If I do get prego while on it I plan to stop until the doc says otherwise, but should I stop now while trying too?