Antidepressants | Autism PDD
Yes. This is my biggest "secret" fear and concern. I was so worried when
I got pregnant (unplanned), as I was a "lifer" on anti-depressants. I found
a women's mental health clinic at UCLA and went to great lenghths to get
medical counseling about depression and meds during pregnancy. After
many examinations and asessments, they "reccomended" I stay on meds,
at a much lower dose. I put that in quotes because they emphasized that
it was MY decision, and they could not tell me how to proceed. I felt
confident enough to lower my dose, and even joined a study to help
future mother's in my same situation. As my pregnancy continued to
develop, I found myself to be too distracted to keep up with the protocol
of the study (serious pregnant brain) and had to drop out of the study.
When I was about 8.5 mo along, I recieved a phone call from the Dr who
was heading the research. She told me it was her ethical responsibility to
tell me that 3 mothers from the first goup of women in the study who
were taking the same med that I was on, had sons who were dx'd with
autism by the age of three. She felt a responsibilty to advise all the
mothers-to-be. There wasn't much I could do , as I gave birth by the end
of the month. He was suspected at 2.5, formally dx'd at 3.
I'm glad you posted this, because this topic exposes my deepest guilt
about my son's autism.
There is a clear family pattern, as well. Aspies, non verbal learning
disorder, and ADHD. So did I cause it? or not? I have only discussed this
with my closest friend. i am taking a huge leap of faith to mention it
here.
I have been wracked with guilt, so I can relate. However, I dont think you
could possibly be doomed, damned or otherwise.
Did anyone else take antidepressants while pregnant?
I did, and my four-year-old has PDD-NOS and is just now beginning to speak.
I often wonder if I did this to him. I wonder too if I'll go to hell for having hurt a child who otherwise would have been NT.
I realize this is flame-worthy but I wanted to get it off my chest.
I took Zoloft while I was pregnant. While I realize it could have contributed to my sons autism, I also realize that without the antidepressants during my pregnancy there's a good chance I never would have made it to the end, and I truly mean that. Also, I have a fifteen year old who is dx'd NVLD (mild Asperger's according to some) and major depressive disorder severe and recurrent with a rule out on bipolar and I didn't take anything at all while pregnant with him.... not even cold medicine or tylenol. Could the antidepressants have made a bad genetic situation a little bit worse? Yeah, sure. But, I'll never really know. I'm not going to waste my time beating myself up over it. Adam is doing so well, and I'm going to continue devoting all of my time and energy, mental and physical, to him instead of to woulduv-coulduv- shouldvs.
I didn't. I didn't need them until he was 4y!!
But I did take alot of Benadryl for helping me sleep. I always wonder if that had something to do with it. My wife was NEVER on any antidepressants during her pregnancy... yet we still got an autistic child. So can taking antidepressants lead to having an autistic child ? I DO NOT BELIEVE SO !! p.s. Holly_WA, I always thought Benadryl was prescribed to those having cough though I know of it's sedative effect from its antihistamine. boobear-- Benadryl is an antihistamine used for allergies or to help sleep. I used it to help me sleep. I became quite "addicted" to it and had a hard time getting off. It's not an "addictive" drug, but I guess it was for me. Here are it's uses: PRESCRIBED FOR: Diphenhydramine is used for the relief of nasal and non-nasal symptoms of various allergic conditions such as seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is also used to treat patients with chronic urticaria. Although antihistamines are the preferred class of drugs in allergic rhinitis, they only reduce symptoms by 40-60%. Diphenhydramine also is used for allergic reactions involving the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), to prevent or treat active motion sickness, and for mild cases of Parkinsonism, including drug-induced Parkinsonism. The last two uses (motion sickness and Parkinsonism) are based on the anticholinergic effects of diphenhydramine, and not its antihistamine effects. Diphenhydramine also is used as an aid for insomnia. I found this too!! I feel better! PREGNANCY: Diphenhydramine has been used extensively in pregnant women; the incidence of fetal malformations is the same as that which would be expected in women who are not taking medications. Additionally, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus. Diphenhydramine, therefore, can be used in pregnancy if the physician feels that it is needed. NO NO NO NONE of this casued it! I ate 100 % natural organic foods without a drop - not a DROP -of chocolate OR sugarOR junk food of ANY KIND - and walked miles every day and exercised - and had the healthiest pregnancy in the world! I took Zoloft during pregnancy- and researched it with my MD and OBGYN well before trying to get pregnant. I and my MD agreed that it would be better to stay on it than to stop while hormonal, pregnant, moving cross country, and buying a house for the first time! I agreed- so I stayed on it. My father committed suicide two months before Lucas was born- I often wonder if the stress had any effect..... I have often wondered about the what ifs..... but I know that NO ONE knows why, so us moms continue to beat ourselves up about it and feel guilt. I don't feel guilt- all I know is that ASD is here, we deal with it daily, and we trudge forward from there. I don't really care if the chicken was here before the egg...... all I know is that we have to make the best out of what we have. ...I invite anyone to find a single family that does NOT have anxiety/depression in their family. ASD or not. I think linking anxiety/depression to ASD is too broad as there are so many people that suffer from one or another... BRAVO - well said! I go back to my original point - NOTHING we did caused this - it was the 'luck of the draw' per say...it is a fallen world and disabilities and deformities and diseases will happen to a lot of us. I also took Zofran for about 12 weeks of my pregnancy for "hyperemesis gravidarum" = all day morning sickness/uncontrollable nausea/vomiting of pregnancy (Along with home IV, bedrest, and very shortened working hours when I was able). I have kept a close eye on all research regarding that drug and ASD has not been mentioned. But even if there was a connection, Andrew and I may not have survived without it! Yes, I think it's possible that there are some other loose associations with ASDs, and I suspect that depression/anxiety is one... I certainly am NOT trying to make people angry or feel bad here but....even before this post I had noticed how many of us had anxiety/depression problems. I know not everyone here has had the same experience, but seems like enough of us to create some wonder....Even if it's not the meds, maybe some kind of brain chemical predisposition? interesting.. I certainly am NOT trying to make people angry or feel bad here but....even before this post I had noticed how many of us had anxiety/depression problems. I know not everyone here has had the same experience, but seems like enough of us to create some wonder....Even if it's not the meds, maybe some kind of brain chemical predisposition? interesting.. [/QUOTE] This is something Temple Grandin discussed in one of her books (Thinking in Pictures ?). She said that she has found that there is often someone in the family (not necessarily the mother or father) who had anxiety issues. In my family, my mother suffers from panic attacks. On my husband's side of the family, I believe MIL has issues with depression, although she is not on meds. [QUOTE=Holly_WA] Benadryl Diphenhydramine also is used as an aid for insomnia. I found this too!! I feel better! PREGNANCY: Diphenhydramine has been used extensively in pregnant women; ...Diphenhydramine, therefore, can be used in pregnancy if the physician feels that it is needed. [/QUOTE] THANKS Holly_WA for the info.... I really didn't know about its usage for insomnia !!! And good also to see the statement that it is safe to be used in pregnancy. THANKS AGAIN !!
I did not take Zoloft w/ my #1 son--he has PDD-NOS. I DID take Zoloft w/ my #2 son and he is so friggin' NT it's amazing. [QUOTE=woodsman25] doubt medication has much to do with it... genetics definitely contribute at least 50% of the variables that may be the cause.......I have heard over the years just too many different causes, too many variables, I'm sure its a combination of many, but genetics is probably the #1 variable in the equation. Well said, woodsman25. Instead of thinking of antidepressants for a psychiatric condition.... what about pondering about the psychiatric condition itself !!! Do we have a strong family history of Psy illnesses; Schizopherenia, SchizoAffective, Bipolar, Depression etc....?? I know I have.... and I believe this gives an unfortunate strong predisposition or link as AndrewsMommy put it (on another thread abt vaccines) to our child having ASD. What do the rest of you think ????
He is not officially diagnosed but his therapist is utterly convinced DH is Aspergers.
I do beleive a study should be done tho, although pharm companys spend years doing research on these drugs b4 thr FDA approves them it should be more like decades before conclusive results can show if its true or not.
The fact is, that rates for autism, to my knowledge, in developed nations their is always an similar incidense of developmental dissabilities no matter what. Even in deveolping or underdeveloped nations, although their is worse health care in those, theirfore less are diagnosed.
I have heard over the years just too many different causes, too many variables, im sure its a combination of many, but genetics is probably the #1 variable in the equation.
No I dont beleive there is a link at all!!!
I took no antidepressants, heck I barely took any medicine except Tums
I ate organic food
I did not go anywhere with raw soil ( like flower beds for fear of toxoplasmosis)
I peeled strawberries before I ate them for fear of soil
did not even look at luncheon meat or mayo or egg based sald dressing or wine or any of the No Nos
And my son has Classic Autism
[/QUOTE]
I invite anyone to find a single family that does NOT have anxiety/depression in their family. ASD or not. I think linking anxiety/depression to ASD is too broad as there are so many people that suffer from one or another.
9.5% of Americans suffer from depression. 13.3% of Americans suffer from anxiety (obviously there is some overlap). I can't imagine with 20% of all Americans suffering from them that you can find any family across all of America that does NOT have at least someone.
I have never doubted that the medications were needed, though I stopped taking them 6-8 weeks later (I found out I was pregnant at 6 weeks).. I worry more about the overdose having affected Daniel. But I definitely don't worry about the safe doses of medication. Many anti-anxiety and anti-depressant have only a B class rating if taken safely..
I really don't believe meds cause autism. I have 2 kids on the spectrum. I thought I did everything "right" in my first pregnancy, yet my oldest son is AS. Because I knew my oldest was ASD, I was even more conscientious during my second pregnancy. Guess what - he's on the spectrum too! Moms - please don't beat yourselves up.
I did, and my four-year-old has PDD-NOS and is just now beginning to speak.
I often wonder if I did this to him. I wonder too if I'll go to hell for having hurt a child who otherwise would have been NT.
I realize this is flame-worthy but I wanted to get it off my chest.
[/QUOTE]
I've often wondered this myself, but no, neither time was I on anti-depressants. However, their father was as well as psychotropic meds.
Interesting.
I was on Prozac for 6 months before I got pregnant with Brendon. I also had alot of UTI's and took alot of antibiotics. This has always secretly been a fear of mine also. I always wonder if I did something wrong to cause this to happen to my baby. Also when I was pregnant, I could only eat chicken for the first 5 months. Nothing else would stay down. Did the hormones in the chicken cause any effect? I will always wonder.I was on Zoloft during part of my pregnancy as well. Was on when I found out I was prego, then stopped. Then in my last trimester, started having severe panic attacks, so my dr put me back on. I'm glad I saw this post because I often think about the meds and wonder......I have had anxiety/depression issues for a long time and my dh also has some depression. There are also people in our immediate families who suffer from these. My stepdaughter was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For the parents who don't have any of these issues themselves, is there anyone in your family who does? Kids, parents, siblings, ect?
[/QUOTE]
Copyright Autism-PDD.net