Comments on: Treatment of Insomnia During Pregnancy http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/ MGH Center for Women's Mental Health Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:16:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Rebecca http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/comment-page-1/#comment-4375 Rebecca Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:27:05 +0000 http://womensmentalhealth.com/wordpress/?p=59#comment-4375 Ditto Shannon! My doc just took me off the trazodone yesterday after I found out I was pregnant last week. I just spent a horrible night of tossing and turning, and don't know how I can do this for a prolonged period. Before trazodone I never slept, and if I missed a pill, I didn't sleep... and now I have 9 months to look forward to of this? There has to be something that I can take. I can't do the benadryl thing either... it gives me restless leg syndrome and makes me extremely anxious. Ditto Shannon! My doc just took me off the trazodone yesterday after I found out I was pregnant last week. I just spent a horrible night of tossing and turning, and don’t know how I can do this for a prolonged period. Before trazodone I never slept, and if I missed a pill, I didn’t sleep… and now I have 9 months to look forward to of this? There has to be something that I can take. I can’t do the benadryl thing either… it gives me restless leg syndrome and makes me extremely anxious.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/comment-page-1/#comment-3658 Shannon Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:19:48 +0000 http://womensmentalhealth.com/wordpress/?p=59#comment-3658 I've had primary insomnia (idiopathic) since childhood. I have worked with my doctors for 15+ years on proper medications for sleep. I've spent years of my life on Ambien and other sleep medications, but about five years ago was able to go off all of those and simply stay on Trazodone. I have also spent years refining my sleep hygiene, doing biofeedback and behavioral therapy to do everything possible to try and ensure good sleep (which I am generally able to do now, though it's still hard). My husband and I are now trying to get pregnant and my OB says no to Trazodone. I have gone off of it and gone back to my horrible insomnia of 2-3 hours of sleep a night. I can't live like this - I can't take care of myself properly in this state and can't imagine nurturing a baby in my womb when I am like this. But over the counter sleep medication (Tylenol PM, Unisom, Benadryl) simply keeps me awake and prescription sleep medication is off limits, according to my doc. What are my choices if I want to have a baby? For all those suffering out there, I hear you! I’ve had primary insomnia (idiopathic) since childhood. I have worked with my doctors for 15+ years on proper medications for sleep. I’ve spent years of my life on Ambien and other sleep medications, but about five years ago was able to go off all of those and simply stay on Trazodone. I have also spent years refining my sleep hygiene, doing biofeedback and behavioral therapy to do everything possible to try and ensure good sleep (which I am generally able to do now, though it’s still hard). My husband and I are now trying to get pregnant and my OB says no to Trazodone. I have gone off of it and gone back to my horrible insomnia of 2-3 hours of sleep a night. I can’t live like this – I can’t take care of myself properly in this state and can’t imagine nurturing a baby in my womb when I am like this. But over the counter sleep medication (Tylenol PM, Unisom, Benadryl) simply keeps me awake and prescription sleep medication is off limits, according to my doc. What are my choices if I want to have a baby? For all those suffering out there, I hear you!

]]> By: Daphne http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Daphne Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:50:59 +0000 http://womensmentalhealth.com/wordpress/?p=59#comment-150 I am 24 weeks pregnant and prior to pregnancy have taken Ambien. I held off taking it during my first trimester, but just can not fall asleep at night. Is is safe to take Ambien again? I am 24 weeks pregnant and prior to pregnancy have taken Ambien. I held off taking it during my first trimester, but just can not fall asleep at night. Is is safe to take Ambien again?

]]> By: cwmh http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/comment-page-1/#comment-36 cwmh Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:28:54 +0000 http://womensmentalhealth.com/wordpress/?p=59#comment-36 The information regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy is growing and is actually a little conflicting. But I think it is really important for you and your wife to develop a relationship with an OB and psychiatrist who are familiar with this area and know the available info re: the safety of these medicines. Also, a great resource is our Perinatal Information Resource Center at http://www.womensmentalhealth.org ; see the extensive library and columns across the website, including our most recent newsletter. The information regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy is growing and is actually a little conflicting. But I think it is really important for you and your wife to develop a relationship with an OB and psychiatrist who are familiar with this area and know the available info re: the safety of these medicines. Also, a great resource is our Perinatal Information Resource Center at http://www.womensmentalhealth.org ; see the extensive library and columns across the website, including our most recent newsletter.

]]> By: concerned_husband http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/treatment-of-insomnia-during-pregnancy/comment-page-1/#comment-37 concerned_husband Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:58:40 +0000 http://womensmentalhealth.com/wordpress/?p=59#comment-37 My wife and I are TTC. It's taking longer than we hoped, though the outlook right now is pretty positive. The problem is that she's suffered from anxiety and depression in the past, and went off of Prozac (20 mg) because we're TTC. Due to the stress of it taking awhile to conceive, plus other things (job-related, etc) she's having quite a bit of insomnia. Her symptoms certainly don't fall in the "severely/extremely depressed" category, but having been depressed myself in the past, I think in a relative sense that she's suffering quite a bit. Looking at the literature, I think it might be reasonable for her to go back on Prozac. Will she be able to discuss the pros and cons off that treatment option rationally with her providers (gyn, etc), or will she be repeatedly met with "no, you can't take SSRIs during pregnancy"? My wife and I are TTC. It’s taking longer than we hoped, though the outlook right now is pretty positive.

The problem is that she’s suffered from anxiety and depression in the past, and went off of Prozac (20 mg) because we’re TTC.

Due to the stress of it taking awhile to conceive, plus other things (job-related, etc) she’s having quite a bit of insomnia. Her symptoms certainly don’t fall in the “severely/extremely depressed” category, but having been depressed myself in the past, I think in a relative sense that she’s suffering quite a bit.

Looking at the literature, I think it might be reasonable for her to go back on Prozac.

Will she be able to discuss the pros and cons off that treatment option rationally with her providers (gyn, etc), or will she be repeatedly met with “no, you can’t take SSRIs during pregnancy”?

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