Anxiety Disorder & Pregnancy

I've been receiving medical treatment for panic disorder, and now I've learned I'm pregnant with my second child. I'm quite happy about the pregnancy but concerned about the effects my medication might have on the baby. Are there other treatments for panic disorder?

The most important thing you can do immediately is to be sure that the doctors involved in your care - your family doctor and your obstetrician - are fully aware of your condition and the medications you are taking. Many women with panic disorder feel as you do, and some of them have been successful in doing without medication for the course of their pregnancy. You should not try to "go it alone," however. Your doctor will want to see you frequently to check on your status, and you might ask if this is a good time to be referred to a psychiatrist who can help monitor and advise you. Whether or not you need medication will depend on the severity of your symptoms. The effect on the baby depends on the type of medication you are on. As noted in Chapter 11 of "Shouldn't I be Happy?", though the long term effects of medication on the baby are not known, there is little danger to the baby if short-acting benzodiazepines are taken with caution. Also keep in mind that if you were already on medications at the time of conception, stopping them now will not change the fact that the baby was already exposed, and an abrupt stopping of medications may make your
symptoms worse.

You can also make some lifestyle adjustments that are thought to minimize the intensity of panic attacks, and, coincidentally, are healthy choices for pregnant mothers in general. For instance, panic attacks can be brought on by consuming excessive sweets and caffeine, by drinking too much alcohol, and by heavy smoking. Of course, most pregnant women make efforts not to smoke or consume alcohol or excessive amounts of sweets or coffee. For the rest, it is helpful to get adequate rest, avoid cola soft drinks and excessive tea or coffee, and follow a sensible exercise routine. Keeping stress levels down helps control panic attacks. It's a good idea to discuss with your partner the contribution that extraordinary stress makes to panic disorder. While we can rarely control life's major events, we can control the minor ones. Remember, pregnancy is not the ideal time to renovate the house!