PPD treatment

[DivineLotus]

I'm going to start some meds for my PPD. My doc gave me Paroxetine generic for Paxil. My doc also wants me to see a psychiatrist. I'm pretty nervous as to what to expect with the pills and over all treatment. Any side affect I should be aware of or expect?

[phaerelastra]

It took almost no time at all for me to be diagnosed with PPD after having Kathleen. I don't think she was even a month old when I started meds. I was prescribed Sertraline, generic for Zoloft, which only had to be increased once since then. Every medication is different, but the side effects are pretty standard... weight gain is the biggest one, but dangerous ones include suicidal thoughts or wanting to hurt others. That's usually a sign that you're on the wrong medication and it's time to try something different. I was on Effexor many years ago and I actually attempted suicide. After that, my doctor switched me to Prozac, which I responded very well too. I don't usually talk about that suicide attempt, but I know now that it was mostly the adjustment to the meds after being really down with depression as it was. Zoloft works well for me, and there aren't any risks for being on it until the third tri, so if you decided you wanted another baby, you don't have to come off it right away.

There can be a lot of stigma with taking medication for PPD or any other mood disorder. More people than you think are on medication, but because you feel better once you're on it for a while, no one would really know the difference. The first thing I noticed was an elated, happy feeling during the first week. It's like a honeymoon phase because your brain is being flooded with all the happy chemicals, but it is NOT a sign that the meds are really working yet. The first month or so you'll be on a low dose, and maybe you'll stay on that. I thought I was on the right dose, but it was just the placebo effect that made me think I was better. I had the dose doubled to 100 mg, and that's what I've been on.

Therapy is really important after HG, because my DH is sooooo tired of hearing me panic about nausea. Some doctors have never heard of HG, so really the only place you can be understood (besides here) is in a therapist's office, where you can talk about not just the disease, but how you felt as a person with a disease. I'm glad you're getting help, because I know you really struggled to get your LO here, so I hope everything goes well for you.

[Brynn1984]

I also took Effexor for generalized anxiety disorder a few years ago (before ever becoming pregnant) and reacted pretty badly to it. I am currently on Zoloft 150mg, which both my OB and psychiatrist are happy with while I am pregnant. Zoloft has always worked really well for me, and I think it is supposed to be one of the oldest SRIs on the market, so lots of research has been done on it. Congrats for getting the help you need!

[DivineLotus]

Thanks ladies. I'm happy to say that they are working. I have 9 pills left out of the month but I want to continue taking them. I'm also at 20mg. Since I don't have insurance now I can't really see a therapist. Hopefuly things stay great. Also I don't have any side affects thank god.