irritated to the max
 

I need a straight answers. I dont want to hear well nothing is safe during pregnancy nonesense because it is all crap. there are plenty of moms out there who took bipolar meds during pregnancy and their kids were FINE!

Are there any experienced mothers out there who have taken any mood stablizers during pregnancy and can give me a short list of ones I ought to try.

These so called doctors are just poorly informed and a waste of time and money. I dont need a doctor to take care of me. only I can take care of me right now.

thanks for listening. sorry for expressing my frustration.

It is is going to be ok.
 

Hi,

Do you have a gyn? Some gyn's specialize in high risk pregnancies -- for example women who have bipolar and are pregnant. The doctor can work with you to provide appropriate care. Taking medications during pregnancy is a personal decision that you make based on the advice of those doctors, your own history, and how you feel about being pregnant. Who has been giving you non-helpful advice??

Most of the advice is to taper down before getting pregnant with a pdoc's help. Then the pdoc might help you titrate back up at a certain point in the pregnancy.

Everything has some degree of risk, including pregnancy with no bipolar and no need for meds at all.
What matters is how you feel about the amount of risk.

http://www.safefetus.com/fda_category.asp

Drugs for pregnancy are classified into categories of
A (very safe as far as researchers know)
B (Safety unknown, seems to have no bad evidence),
C (Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the baby),
D (There is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk -- e.g., if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation or for a serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective).
X ( Studies show no go. The drug is contraindicated in women who are or who may become pregnant.)

http://www.mcmanweb.com/mood-stabilizers.html Lithium = category C

Depakote = category D
Tegratol and Trileptal = category D
Lamictal = category C
Lithium = category C

http://www.mcmanweb.com/antipsychotics.html

The anti-psychochotics are usually in Category C or D.
The benzos fall into Category D or X

http://www.bcnc.org.uk/BZ_pregnancy.pdf


Who in real life is available for you to talk to?

M

The gyn said I was fine on lamictal and that i am at low risk. gave me prenatal vitamins with .8mg folic acid. I was on 200mg lamictal. I trust this gyn because she has at least 40 years experience. She bound to have dealt with special cases before right? She took good care of me and said go ahead your ready!

then my tdoc said well lets talk to the pdoc just to in case.
this tdoc was like oh no cleft palate and prenatal vitamins are not going to prevent cleft palalte from the baby. You need to see s reproductive specialist here go to this adress and tell them I referred you to such in such doctor.

She lowered my lamictal to 100mg and gave me abilify 5mg. Saying that abilify is safe for pregnancy.
I went to the place she told me to go and they had me talk to a social worker, they up my tdoc to ask a few questions about me, and then sent me on my way home. The place was very far away from my house. it was practically a waste of time. nothing got done and i still got no answers.

so i am under the impression that its my call on what i want to do. I say then take me off lamictal completely and put me on abilify. thats it. I am going to propose this idea since no one can help me apparently.

.8 mg folic acid doesn't sound like enough.400mg is the normal dose.
sorry you are getting the run around no wonder you are frustrated.
bizi

Hi,
I am sorry that you are getting hassled.

Abilify is in pregnancy category C . . . the same category as Lamictal.
We only have animal studies . . . no controlled data in human pregnancy for Abilify.
http://bipolar-disorder.emedtv.com/a...pregnancy.html

Likely your doc will recommend against breast feeding. Use bottles.

It is always your call.
Find some better doctors to support you during this time.

M

Bizi - units of measure for folic acid
 

:eek: :Noooo::Noooo::Noooo:

mg = milligrams

you are probably used to seeing the dosage in micrograms:
mcg = micrograms

.1 mg = 100 mcg.
.8 mg = 800 mcg

200-400 mcg folic acid is a common daily dose for non-pregnant women.

800-1000 mcg (i.e. .8 - 1.0 mg) for pregnant women/women wishing to conceive.

so that's fine.

hi there Sharla
 

Hello dear Sharla

i will take a look at abilify for you when i can here, in the next few days. Lamictal is indeed one of the lowest risk mood stabilizers. I am surprised at the Abilify recommendation since it does carry risk of metabolic syndrome (diabetes etc) ... seems... bassackwards just off the top of my head, but let me do some checking. not to mention you don't know how it will work for you.

i wish these so called doctors would get their act together it does sound so frustrating.

did i miss something - are you planning pregnancy, or are you pregnant?

sending lots of hugs :hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

my bad, you are right about the mcg for folic acid....sorry.
bizi

I seriously wish they get their act together. There are plenty of sucessful mom's out there who have the same situation, took meds like me, and had a beautiful baby with no problem. Why is this so complicated? It doesnt have to be complicated. This approach is completly unecessary.

something unrelated...

I thought I share that I might become an Assistant manager at my job soon. I ran the store twice by myself with no bosses around. I thought couldnt do it. But I was wrong I could do it. And the district manager talk to me saying that I was more than ready to run the store and that I just needed the confidence to do so. He said he knew I had what it takes. :)

In the middle of all this awesome chain of events, and meds being tampered and such, I am fully amazed I was able to keep it together, and not lose it on the job. I had moments where I alsmost did which can cost me my job.

tommorow I have to get meds settled once and for all because I had it up to here with feeling unstable. I work in a community where people tend to be stuck up. I need to be stable!

Good luck Starla

Sending hugs.

Donna:grouphug::hug:

I think this says a lot for your work. congratulations.
I just want to add as a precautionary mention...that if you are trying to get pregnant, that is stressful and then when you get pregnant your hormones will be different. The promotion I presume would be added stress for you. Is this the best time to be putting more stress on yourself?
bizi

Thank you Donna :)

I think things will settle tommorow when i see the pdoc once more.
I hope :):p

This is something to think about for sure Bizi. I am not trying to get pregnant. I decided to plan next month. That way it gives me time to take care of this medicine madness and any curve balls from work that might come my way. :) I want to start a family and I have waited a very long time for this opportunity. I finally feel ready to have a baby. the only issue is the meds, and being mentally stable at work. I will get pass that and I will be stable at work with the right medicine. I think the abilify needs to be higher in dosage for me and I will be all better. 5mg not enough
thanks Bizi

:wink:

I am taking 800mcg then in prenatal vitamin :)
I am not pregnant at the moment. Hubby and I have waited for this and now we are ready to start a family we have all this mess to sort out. My hubby has been so supportive and patient. He is looking forward to having a son or daughter with me. We even looked at names. Rei, for a girl, and Gabriel for boy.

I have a good feeling about Abilify. I think I be alright on it.

Mari,
thanks for researching the useful information on category C. It helped me think about what I can talk about with the pdoc. perhaps the doctor isnt aware of how some meds are at low risks for high risk pregnancy. or perhaps she is worried about me. I had a real bad melt down a week ago and she probably saw that in my record raising some medication concerns.


my melt down is a whole different story. But I am all better now so there is nothing to worry about.

Waves,

Thanks for your responses and your research. I cant help but to notice that lamictal and abilify are both in the same category of low risk medicine for pregnancy. and if so I think taking me off lamictal is completely pointless. But hey she is the doc not me. I have to trust her and give her a chance. But I am seriously getting tired of waiting. I will do my best to be patient with this.

Sharla

I'm sorry that you are in a complicated situation. The doctors are probably trying to avoid any lawsuits.

I see commercials on TV every night saying if you have taken this,that,or the other,(antidepressants),and your baby has been born with birth defects,call the lawyers that they say.

You are a victim of circumstances. I'm so sorry.:(:hug::hug::hug:

Dear Sharla,

Ask the doctors to explain category C.
C does not mean low risk.

C means "potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks."

If the lamictal is not working for you, then moving on to a different med makes sense.
Take your time waiting. Waiting is fine. You want to have a good medication plan for yourself and the baby.

Mari

BF! hi its been awhile :) You are right they are just trying to avoid lawsuits. Its rough to find the right solution to this kind of situation. I understand that but I am still impatient with the treatment plan. :)

Thank you BF for your kind words and empathy.
Sharla

Hey Sharla. It is a difficult situation,and I'm so very sorry that you are suffering. I would be upset if any of my meds where removed.

I'd be very worried about my baby also if I where a women. I can't imagine all of the thoughts,and feelings involved. Those commercials are frightening I'm sure. There are enough tormenting things going on in the world without hearing those commercials.

I saw your post early this morning that things are starting to turn around,and are becoming organized. Seek that sound advice from specialists. Please keep us informed.

It's good to hear from you to. Congrats on the baby that's on the way. That will be a new chapter in your world,and everything will change for the better. That is a true blessing. BF:hug::hug::hug: