Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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charmingdisaster 03/05/2013

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 about 2 years ago. I am recently married and we both very much want to start a family. I am on 1200mg lithium, 300mg lamictal, 80mg prozac, and 1.5mg risperdal. I have spoken to my doctor about the possibility of having children and I got a lot of information. I know my options and my husband very much would want me completely med free while pregnant. I just do not know what will happen if I go off the meds completely. I am feeling hesitant to start a family because of the bipolar. Does anyone have any personal experience or advice to help me out? Thanks!

deleted_user 03/05/2013

believe there are psychiatrists in US who specialise in this- medicating bipolar women who are pregnant safely- might be worth seeing if you can get a referral?

Think some women stay on certain meds.

deleted_user 03/05/2013

no meds has it's own risks (post partum psychosis, for instance)

deleted_user 03/05/2013

I was on heavy doses of LIthium, Lexapro, Klonopin, Clonodin and Vistaril when I had my 2nd child and I had to go off all of them. My first son was born with tons of serious medical problems, and that was before I was DX's and on meds, so there was no way I could be on meds during my pregnancy and risk anything happening to this baby. I gradually weened off and did just fine. I stayed in contact with my Pdoc 2 x a week, saw my OB/GYN 1 x month and did a lot of DBT and deep breathing/relaxation exercises to keep myself calm and relaxed. I also did not work during my pregnancy to keep the stress and BiPolar issues down. It was not the easiest time in the world, but with the support of my Dr.'s I did okay. My Pdoc was available 24/7, I had his work phone, home phone, email address, you name it, and he'd talk to me whenever I needed it, that was a lifesaver.

BiPolar tends to get better during pregnancy, the flood of pregnancy hormones makes it better, lifts the suicidal depression, calms the manicness, but the minute the baby is born, it all takes a nosedive. So as soon as my son was born, I was put back on my med regimen immediately.

I was actually diagnosed BiPolar after the birth of my first son 9 years earlier. After his birth the Suicidal Depression came on at full force.

Do what you and your Dr.'s think is best, it takes a group effort to get through a pregnancy without meds for a BiPolar person. But it can be done, quite successfully.

Take care,

Kat

justletmebe 03/05/2013

My pdoc recently put me on lithium but wouldnt do it until I was given a pregnancy test, he said lithium is very harmful for the baby

deleted_user 03/05/2013

depakote/epilim causes terrible birth defects.

It's weird, I could've sworn there was a person on here who was trying to get pregnant & was seeing one of these pregnancy/mental illness specialists- anyhow, I thought they were kept on a low dose of lithium? Must have remembered it wrong? hmmm.

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