Psychiatric Drugs and Pregnancy

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried getting off a psych drug before pregnancy? Specifically geodon? I've heard 1.5 months from psychiatrist and 3-6 months from OBGYN. Don't know who to listen to and can't find anything about it on the web.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to be going on another medication?

[Anonymous]

My psychiatrist knows way more about psych meds than my OB. I would get a second opinion from another psychiatrist if I were you. I had a consult at Johns Hopkins Womens Mood Disorders Center. Excellent place, highly recommend. They do pre-pregnancy consults. If you dont have a mood disorder, then perhaps another division of johns hopkins would be better.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply's. I have been diagnosed with a mood disorder.

So, my doctor tried putting me on prozac to get off the geodon because the first time I got very depressed this summer but then I thought the prozac was making me gain weight and I freaked out. I had gained over 50 lbs on a med a few years ago and wasn't willing to go through that again. So the doc took me off prozac. Then we tried going off geodon again and I had insomnia and anxiety so I'm back on. Doc says well have to try maybe another SSRI to take me off geodon before pregnancy. I'm also on Lamictal but don't think it is doing much of anything, but planning to get off that too.

The goal is to be off all meds during pregnancy.

Do you know if this John's Hopkins center takes insurance?

[Anonymous]

They took my insurance. Here is a link for more info:

http://m.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/moods/patient_information/clinic_women.html

[Anonymous]

Did you have trouble getting an appointment? I left a voice message and also emailed them and haven't heard back. Its been about a week.

[Anonymous]

Be careful with JH. At least a few years ago when I worked there, they were very cavalier about drugs and even frequent ECT in pregnancy. The ECT involves anesthesia, you're seizing. They were convicted it was ok for pregnancy but there's no data on it; I guess I never saw how anesthesia like 12x is ok for a baby, etc. it caused contractions, it was hard to watch. They are a little rogue in thinking they can do no wrong. They will likely tell you go stay in meds, tho maybe different ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with JH. At least a few years ago when I worked there, they were very cavalier about drugs and even frequent ECT in pregnancy. The ECT involves anesthesia, you're seizing. They were convicted it was ok for pregnancy but there's no data on it; I guess I never saw how anesthesia like 12x is ok for a baby, etc. it caused contractions, it was hard to watch. They are a little rogue in thinking they can do no wrong. They will likely tell you go stay in meds, tho maybe different ones.

*convinced

[Anonymous]

Geodon is linked to heart problems so you are wise to get off it. Err on the side of caution. Early pregnancy is exhausting. You want to have some time on the new meds to get comfortable with them first.