BlessedUnrest Concerned re: Pregnancies & Breastfeeding

[BlessedUnrest]

My two children were exposed to my (25mg/day) dose of generic Prozac (Fluoxetine) during our pregnancies and through years of breastfeeding.  My 8-year old daughter experiences severe mood swings and complains multiple times a day about stomach or headaches, usually in conjunction with dreaded activities like school. I found out my seratonin levels were half what they should be, and my dopamine levels twice that of normal during a urinalysis.  I'm considering testing her neurotransmitter levels, and am also needing advice on how else to support her.  I've taken her out of school and we are now homeschooling.  So many of her symptoms/complaints were mine as a child, which makes this situation extremely difficult for me.  Also, I'm worried about withdrawal symptoms when I wean my little boy.  

[bubble]

Hello BlessedUnrest and welcome to SA.

 

I've been thinking about your situation but don't really know what to say. Still I've wanted to let you know that you have been heard and hope other members will be able to give more opinions.

 

We are here helping people come off safely of antidepressants. I've noticed that we have recently had more members coming here wanting to stop medication while planning pregnancy or even being pregnant but they didn't really keep us posted with their developments.

 

I can only say that we don't believe in chemical inbalance theory nor has measuring neurotransmitters been found to be meaningful. Psychological states are not diabetes to be measured in such way.

 

I have a bit of my own experience with ADs and pregnancy or better to say a lack thereof. I'm 37,have been taking ADs for 14 years and have always been too scared to get pregnant while taking these drugs. While googling my drug I recently came across a site where women where discussing their experiences with ADs during pregnancy and they were quite optimistic. Still I would personally never dare to do it.

 

Why did you start taking ADs? I very much look forward to hearing other opinions from this community. How old is your little boy? On a positive note,human brains have proved to be very resilient and they can recover provided they are not further shocked with more meds.

 

Best,

bubble

[Narcissus]

Hi Blessed, 

I hear that you're worried and I hope you're able to find some answers.  As Bubble said, many people regard those neurotransmitter tests as meaningless.  I have no idea what your daughter needs in terms of support, but I hope you don't intend on putting her on any psychiatric medication.  

[mammaP]

Hi Blessed, I too hope that you will not take the medication route for your daughter.  

The chemical imbalance thing is now proven untrue after millions of people have been medicated 

wrongly believing this lie that the drugs companies came up with!  

 

If you search our current events topics you will find many scientific studies that have disproved the 

chemical imbalance theory. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/27-current-events/

 

You will also find topics covering the kind of testing that you are speaking of.  It makes very interesting reading!

You are a great mum who loves your children and wants what is best for them. I am so glad that you found us,

here you will find all the best research studies and up to date information that hasn't even reached doctors yet.

 

 

 Are you wanting to taper your prozac? If you start to taper then your little one will be tapering with you.

 

Here is the topic for tapering prozac  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/759-tips-for-tapering-off-prozac-fluoxetine/

 

I'm sorry I can't be more help, I looked for something on withdrawal on weaning but couldn't find anything, I think I 

will maybe have a hunt around so I can learn more about this. 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, BlessedUnrest.

 

Those urine neurotransmitter tests are meaningless for your purpose.

 

As mammaP said, reducing Prozac will also lower the amount in your breast milk.

 

However, the amount transmitted in your milk is small, and Prozac has a relatively long half-life of at least 2 weeks. This means if you gradually stop breastfeeding, the small amount of Prozac in your baby will gradually go down over much longer. It will be unlikely that he suffers severe withdrawal from this.

 

Regarding your daughter, all you can do at this point is teach her to be calm and take care of her self by listening to her body and doing more of what makes her feel better and less of what makes her feel bad. Being so young, it's highly likely she will heal over time, if she has been affected by the drugs you were taking during pregnancy.