Is Lexapro safe to use during pregnancy?

I took a low dose of lexapro throughout my pregnancy and didn't have any problems. My daughter is healthy and happy. I increased my dosage after I had her because I did start having some postpartum depression. Good luck!

The bottom line is obviously no one can say anything is safe to take during pregnancy. It becomes a cost benefit, risk vs. reward situation. Personally, I have had experience with the issue. I have a chiari brainstem malformation which cause a wide range of issues for me from horrific headaches, severe vertigo, sleep disorder, neck, muscle issues, depression, anxiety and that's just for starters. I have had two children, both pregnancies plagued with premature labor, bed rest and doctors were convinced the fluctuating horomones aggrevated the symptoms and assured me that taking medications for anxiety and pain were far less risky than the effects of the symptoms themselves on the baby.

Both of my children were born with severe reflux, with the first child it was so horrendous that I would never have planned to have a second. Of which doctors said the chances of another one with the same reflux issues would be very unlikey like less than 2%. Not the case. Just as it was not the case that despite having "true labor contractions" early on with both....I clearly was not in true labor. With the second child they were almost going to hospitalize me and give me a medication that would literally paralyze my muscles causing the contractions to cease, of course so would a lot of other important things for example my ability to eat and thus provide proper nutrition to my fetus. Instead of blindly assuming they were the experts and knew what was best.

Since I was the one who would be paying the consequences I figured I had a right to demand at the very least the information necessary to make the best informed decision. I demanded a fetal specialist to come and do an exam, take some measurements of my cervix, check the levels of things that would actually indicate that this "true labour" was in fact leading to a premature delivery. I was not at all shocked to find out that there was absolutely no indication of that in terms of cervical dialation, effacement, or even my fetal fibronectin levels. As a matter of fact other than the "true contractions" everything was quite normal. I took myself off of all the meds they had convinced me were needed even those to stop the contraction and low and behold the contractions continued consistenly even followed a daily pattern and not only did I not have to be on category 4 bed rest I was able to curtail my activity level around the contractions. I wish I had been so bold the first time around I wonder if my first child would have done better.

I am not saying that it was necessarily the meds that caused her issues as a matter of fact I took far more meds with the second and her reflux wasn't nearly as bad. We underestimate the value of our instincts and our thoughts and beliefs. My gut feeling is that pain (depression, anxiety etc) are all ways in which our body is saying hey pay attention something isn't right. I strongly feel that if we truly pay attention and determine what those things are, even when they are of physiological orgin for example, the herniation in my brainstem only in a small percentage of the time is medication necessary.

As a matter of fact, the use of medications for pain and anxiety lead to a great delay in my finding the answer (no a doctor did not figure it out...it took me years of keeping diaries and being persistent even having to ask despite Dr.'s opinions that certain tests be ordered all of which confirmed my hunches and hence the diagnosis). Point being my symptoms were actually my bodies way of communicating to me that hey somethings isn't right, suppressing them only lead to prolonged and increased suffering. Now that I know what the issue is I can more effectively manage it with out the abnormal levels of depression and anxiety, even pain. It's seems to be a combination of knowledge decreasing those excessive signals as well as increasing my ability to tolerate pain. I do on occassion have to utilize pain meds for pain which I believe comes from my failing to make the accomadations necessary to avoid it (sometimes life just doesn't permit) and there still seems to be some necessary discovery for me to make to control it (mostly related to hormonal cycles). Hands down the most effective tool you have your medicine chest is your brain. I would strongly encourage anyone to read the book called "The Brain that Changes Itself."

I practice self hypnosis which I was taught under the care of a very gifted healer his name is Bill Engel (Purpose Driven Hypnotherapy). I can hear the skepticism, believe me I was the first to object but out of desperation came the most wonderful gift of all. I still have my struggles and it has taken a tremendous amount of work but the herniation in my brainstem has decreased by 2 mm, the total reversal of the curve in my neck has begun to shift in the right direction and I have found that listening to my symptoms and facing my issues has definitely lead me to learn what it is those things are asking for ie. depression instead of sulking and isolating I force myself to go out even if just to the grocery store or for a walk at the beach and to seek out companionship even if just a friendly smile, a seemingly uneventful conversation and I can not even begin to tell you how each and everytime I have been sooooo blessed with more than just peace but actual gratefulness. You can not be angry and resentful and happy and thankful at once. There's a reason that we percieve ourselves as individual despite being made of essentially the same elements, that's a function of our brains and I do believe it is a God given gift and what we make of it will be our gift in return. During pregnancy I know that taking a prenatal vitamin based on whole foods rarther than the one your Dr. likely prescribed you will definitely make a difference.

Also, important to keep in mind that some depression during/after pregnancy is likely normal. Think about it what your body is going through, how uncomfortable you are etc. You are in no way at an increased risk of postpartum depression if you simply don't buy into that (likely because some Dr. told you that right)? You make those choices, don't let someone else's beliefs despite their reasons dictate what your reality is going to be! I'm sure the girl born with half a brain (true story read about it in the book I suggested) would have functioned far less effectively had it been known by some Doctor and had he instructed her on what her deficits would be based on what he had believed about what we thought we know about the brains functions and plasticity. Thank God that wasn't her case. It's amazing the value we place on knowledge Dr.'s appear to have, we accept it inherently as if it were fact, the law. It isn't and this mentalilty is likely our biggest obstacle. You are the expert in you, know that and trust your instincts!!!! Accept that it is okay to not feel 100% happy go lucky and then know that what you are sacraficing is literally going to provide the basis for any amount of happiness felt by this new little life and for that you are amazing and worthy of at the very least putting a smile on your face. I swear just try it for a day, especially one of those hard days where it will take literally all you have to put on this show...then go out into the world smiling, acting like that happy person you wish you were I think you will be amazed at the response. I did it and came home and said "Wow,the world sure is a nicer place when your pregnant." Read the book it too will share much insight into ways in which you can actually trick your brain into being happy and ultimately achieving that. Have faith...you will be rewarded. This approach allows you to reclaim yourself, you be in charge instead of letting some medication rob you of your uniqueness It takes persistence and hard work but doesn't everything that's worth something. I have come to believe the value of something is equal to the price you are willing to pay for it.

Good luck and if ever I can encourage you help you to walk through those hard places rather than around them..... I would be grateful for the opportunity. Reaching out is sometimes difficult, I used to think it meant not only that I was failing but that I was announcing as well. Once again, a very faulty couldn't of been more wrong belief. The truth is we are social beings, not only can we not survive without one another...would we even want to? I have been blessed with finding strength through wisdom, a gift of reciprocal sharing. It always lightens the burden. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and I know that you will find peace!!

Of course every doctor is different. But one of my friends who recently just had a baby has anxiety and depression as well. During her first few weeks she decided to stop taking it. This made her anxiety so much worse to the point where she couldnt go to work and everything. So when she went to the doctor she told him about it and he actually subscribed her to a higher dose of what she was taking prior. She was previously taking 10mg and he increased it to 20mg and she felt much better. So the rest of her pregnancy she was alot more compertable. So as far as her case her son is a healthy beautiful boy and there was no worries!