OK, I am new here - just ordered my program today, so hopefully help is on the way. I began having panic attacks a couple of months ago and they are now getting worse and more frequent. I have not driven in about a month, feel very anxious, have feelings of not being real, feel dizzy and confused. I have begun talking to a therapist - I decided to try to battle this without medication. My friend called when she saw the infomercial for the program because she said it sounded just like me - I was relieved to see I was not the only one with these feelings. The therapist does not seem to help much, so I decided to order the program. Hopefully, the program will help and I will not even have to consider medication, but I was just wondering if there is anyone out there that has taken Zoloft or Paxil while pregnant? We are trying to have a baby (probably not helping with stress in my life) and I have heard that the drugs have not been tested on humans, so I was just wondering if anyone out there had any stories to share. Thanks - Gretchen

Gflstl Welcome

Hang in there... these forums are a good support for people like us. I've learned a lot since I started coming here.

You may also want to post your question in the medication forum. That way you'll get more of a response to your question. I know that there are a lot of individuals who have been on the two meds you are inquiring about.

I'm medication phobic, so I don't have the answers that you are looking for.

I just wanted to welcome you and tell you not to give up hope. There is help and plenty of it

Gretchen,

I am happy that you found help so quickly. I waited 20 years before finding the program.

One good thing is that sometimes after your first tri-mester for some reason the panic attacks go away. That along with more women having them always made wonder how much hormones play in this. A lot, I'm sure.

GOOD LUCK! Betsy

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Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)

Dear Gretchen

A friend of mine took paxil while she was pregnant. The Doctor was hesitent about giving it to her, but she had problems with alcohol abuse when she didn't take it. However, I personally wouldn't recomend it. They don't seem to know enough about anti-depressants and their effect on an unborn fetus. My friends child did have some birth defects but she thinks it was due to her inhailer she uses for asthma rather than the paxil. Of course, we can't be sure.

More importantly, I suffered with severe anxiety in my first trimester when I was pregnant with my daughter. But after the first trimester was over, it went away allmost as soon as it came. I know my hormones have played a big role in anxiety for me. Apparently, when women are pregnant or PMSing or on the pill, there hormonal imbalance can deplete there B vitamins pretty drasticly. Just to let you know, A doctor didn't point this out to me, I read it in a book about vitamins and minerals. Anyway, the B vitimins are what keep our central nervous system in good running order and sometimes a lack of them can cause anxiety and depression. So I went to the store and got myself some. A B complex to be exact. And boy did it ever help. Now I'm not saying that this is a magic cure, but if your anxiety is due to hormones, It sure should help. The program is also wonderful. I think you will find it very helpful to you. Another thing that you should know is anti-depressants can be great for the symptoms of anxiety and depression, but do nothing for the cause. A doctor would probably dissagree with me on this, they seem to think a pill will correct a chemical imbalence in the brain. They may but only for as long as you take them. If you don't change negative thinking paterns, a person may have to rely on them for the rest of their life. They can also cause some nasty side effects. I personally have had no luck with them. However, I have found that with things like vitamins and this program (which does treat the cause) I don't need them anyway.

Good Luck Mellie

[This message has been edited by mellie (edited 05-01-2001).]

Thanks for the replies. I really do not want to go on medication, but I need to get better somehow. I feel awful every day - tired/dizzy/spacey, etc. I am sure that trying to get pregnant is not helping with my stress.