I am new on psychiatric meds...please help

[hulahoop]

I am a 46 year old woman who has been married for about a year and a half. Both my husband and I are open to life, and have practiced no form of birth control whatsoever.

However, I have recently had a relapse of a long-standing panic disorder / obsessive-compulsive disorder which has left me mentally and physically debilitated. I am now on an anti-depressant, an anti-anxiety med and something for sleep.
Women are cautioned against taking these if they are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.

My question is this…while we are very open to life, we are not planning, per-se, for pregnancy. However, since we do not practice birth control, do we have to abstain from sexual relations while I am on these meds in the event I DID somehow become pregnant? Would it be a sin for us to have relations and risk conception knowing that the meds might affect an early pregnancy?

This concerns me, as I may have to be on some of these meds long-term. Please advise, as this is greatly troubling me.

Anne

 

[Schluns]

Look into Natural Family Planning. Used correctly it can be 99% effective in predicting your fertile times allowing for you and your husband to discern when the correct time for pregnancy would occur. This will help you avoid pregnancy while you are on these medications, and it will help getting pregnant when the time is right.

The bonus: you will become more aware of your natural cycle and in the case of pregnancy, allow you to know when you have likely conceived, allowing you to stop your medications and decrease the risk to your family.

www.ccli.org here’s a link for more information and an educator in your area.

God Bless and my prayers.

 

[AHapka]

In my opinion, it would not be a sin to use NFP to prevent pregnancy. I also don’t see it as necessary to abstain, as God might choose to bring life into the world through you anyway.

From an if you get pregnant point of view:
I understand where you are coming from my wife feels the same way. When she is pregnant (which she is again now), she is against taking any unnecessary medication. Even avoiding over the counter ones.

That being said, she is also on psychotropic medications as you are. She was contemplating going off of them during past pregnancies. Even though she has had severe depression issues.

However, my mom always had a saying “you’re no good to the baby if you’re no good yourself.” This means that if the medication is necessary for you to function in life, it is worth the risk. It’s an easy call for a physical ailment, but a little bit tougher for a mental one.

So look at it this way: if I don’t take the medication will that result in me possibly not taking care of myself to the point where that will hurt the baby as well? There isn’t just risk in taking the meds, there is also risk in NOT taking the meds. This is a discussion you should have with your doctor when you get a chance so that you have an idea of what to do in your case.

 

[hulahoop]

In my opinion, it would not be a sin to use NFP to prevent pregnancy. I also don’t see it as necessary to abstain, as God might choose to bring life into the world through you anyway.

From an if you get pregnant point of view:
I understand where you are coming from my wife feels the same way. When she is pregnant (which she is again now), she is against taking any unnecessary medication. Even avoiding over the counter ones.

That being said, she is also on psychotropic medications as you are. She was contemplating going off of them during past pregnancies. Even though she has had severe depression issues.

However, my mom always had a saying “you’re no good to the baby if you’re no good yourself.” This means that if the medication is necessary for you to function in life, it is worth the risk. It’s an easy call for a physical ailment, but a little bit tougher for a mental one.

So look at it this way: if I don’t take the medication will that result in me possibly not taking care of myself to the point where that will hurt the baby as well? There isn’t just risk in taking the meds, there is also risk in NOT taking the meds. This is a discussion you should have with your doctor when you get a chance so that you have an idea of what to do in your case.

Thanks very much for BOTH of the above replies…

Well, I just phoned my ob-gyn office and they assured me that there was minimal risk with my meds for fetus damage, and that if I did find myself pregnant, we’d make the needed changes very early on.

I still plan on getting the NFP materials as soon as I can, but I feel a bit better about the possibility of coming together with my husband before then.

 

[Schluns]

I am glad that you are on medications that are low risk to a fetus, and that you have spoken with your ob/gyn. Just remember for any med changes to tell all of your physicians that you are hoping to get pregnant and could potentially be pregnant at any time. This way therapy is gauged that way from the get go.

As a 40 year old hoping to get pregnant for the first time, I am right there with you.

 

[hulahoop]

I am glad that you are on medications that are low risk to a fetus, and that you have spoken with your ob/gyn. Just remember for any med changes to tell all of your physicians that you are hoping to get pregnant and could potentially be pregnant at any time. This way therapy is gauged that way from the get go.

As a 40 year old hoping to get pregnant for the first time, I am right there with you.

I will be interceding with St. Gerard on your behalf in your quest to conceive.
Good luck and God bless!