[yehudit]

Hello friendly forum fellows,

We are trying to find a match, and have come across a "situation" (I'm learning to speak adoption LOL). Everything looks good, but the bmom reports having depression and is on meds for it (Zanax). I know that people run into depression issues from time to time, especially when a life-changing event like unintended pregnancy comes along. We also know that the birthfather is deceased, which might also fuel her depression.

So I have 2 questions:
1. Should we be concerned that child might inherit depression? Especially being a bi-racial child in an otherwise white (but swarthy) family?
2. Should we be concerned about the effects of the medication on the baby?

Thanks,

[cbrink7]

I would not worry about it at all. Yes, the baby could inherit it but it also sounds like there are a lot of situational things that are going on with Emom (poor thing) that may make it more pronounced (coming from personal experience). I would just be aware that this is something, that as the child grows, should be monitored to look for the signs so if there is some depression there can be early intervention, but other than that it would not worry me in the slightest (we are open to an Emom/Edad with histories of both depression and bipolar).

Also with her meds I would just google it and see what comes up. Usually in a pregnancy if a DR prescribs an Emom meds they are usually more beneficial than not (as in the Emom and baby would suffer more from not having meds than having them KWIM?)

Good Luck and Emom will be in my prayers.

Also wanted to mention that I have a lot of personal/educational experience with depression, so that is probably why it does not concern me-not that depression is not serious, but it can be managed I did not want it to sound like I think depression is minor

[mommieof2cuties]

I just need to add that if you hurt an arm you go to the doctor to get it fixed. Same with Depression, you need to go to the doctor, work on it and get it fixed.

Summer

[Stormster]

Xanax is a short acting anti anxiety med. I don't think a doctor would treat depression with Xanax. Personally I would look into the diagnosis and the meds. Doesn't really add up.

That said if it is depression or anxiety (which could easily be event related) I would not be deterred.

[yehudit]

Thanks, I totally agree about the arm analogy and do not hold treatment against anyone. Just trying to get myself educated. As someone with a serious chronic disease who's been in therapy I know well that things are better off treated than not and that includes mental health.

I will look into Zanax more as it sounds like this might illuminate things.

Thanks,

[ProspectiveSingleMom]

It is odd that xanax would be prescribed for depression, but if she had co-occurring anxiety (depression and anxiety do tend to go hand-in-hand), and if there weren't any anti-depressants available that both work for her and are safe during pregnancy, that might be the reason for the xanax. Also, one of my friends recently started on a controlled-release form of xanax that is not so short-acting (and thus less addictive).

[loveajax]

I am not an expert here but there is HUGE debate in the medical community about what is depression with anxious features and what is anxiety with depression features. Comorbidity, i think they call it, so I can see someone being treated with xanax (have a family member in fact being so treated!).

I am not sure why the child being biracial would cause him/her to be "more" depressed....? (My DD is biracial, her birth mom has a history of depression, and I would never think to "link" the 2?).

I think the only "concern" I would have would be the effect of xanax on the fetus which I would research/talk to a ped about. GOOD LUCK!!!

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by ProspectiveSingleMom

It is odd that xanax would be prescribed for depression, but if she had co-occurring anxiety (depression and anxiety do tend to go hand-in-hand), and if there weren't any anti-depressants available that both work for her and are safe during pregnancy, that might be the reason for the xanax. Also, one of my friends recently started on a controlled-release form of xanax that is not so short-acting (and thus less addictive).

Sounds plausible too.

[AS-NJ]

xanax is a C class drug is not recommended during pregnancy as it can cross the placenta and cause birth defects. generally depression or generalized anxiety disorders are treated with SSRI's and there has been a bunch of research done recently on the affects during pregnancy. basically you have to weigh the pro's of not being anxious or depressed and the possible affect the meds could have on the baby's lung devlopment with the damage being depressed or anxious can do to a pregnancy.
I would look into this situation further.
good luck.

[susie_book]

Obviously I can't know what's going on with this woman in particular, but xanax is popular with drug-seekers--people who try to get addictive substances from physicians. As PP mentioned, it is NOT recommended for use during pregnancy . . . if there are other indicators that this woman might be a substance abuser, I would be very wary.

[MoonlightLoveAngel]

Don't know about Xanax in particular, but my husband has both depression and anxiety, and is on an anxiety medicine only (always forget the name, even when it's sitting on the table in front of me!) because SSRIs gave him terrible side effects. So that may be a reason she's on an anxiety med and not a depression med...like the people said above, she may have both. I'd dig in a little more and find out.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

I suffer from mile OCD/anxiety and have taken different meds over the years. I was on Luvox (also class C) when I first got pregnant. As soon as I got a positive pregnancy test, I was taken off of it. I miscarried at 12 weeks and went on to miscarry two more times while off the medication. When I got pregnant with Sam, I insisted on taking it because my anxiety was so high. They lowered my dose to the bare minimum, changed me to a class B (safer) alternative in my third trimester, and Sam was born healthy and he is fine today. But MANY things got weighed in that decision. It was not taken lightly. There are always alternatives. They may not work as well, but can help cope during nine months.

That being said, with my first pregnancy, the doctor would NOT have written a prescription for me for Luvox or anything similar. It was too risky and there was no real justification like there was by pregnancy #4. I was a nervous wreck by that point.

I would first ask where she is getting her Xanax (who prescribed it?). It is possible she has not reported she is on it to her OB and is refilling an old script at the pharmacy, or a family medical physician is prescribing it not knowing she is pregnant, or she is getting it on the street because it is an abused drug of choice by many with addiction.

If her OBGYN is prescribing it, then there are obvious benefits that he/she have seen to overlook the possible risk. If that's the case, I would trust the OB and assume they are monitoring and aware of possible complications. If not, I would see it as a big red flag.

[m_adams86]

Xanax is for anxiety issues, and I have a few friends on it. If they didn't take their Xanax, they would be very self destructive people. I don't think Xanax can effect the baby. I don't think the doctor would have prescribed it if it could.

[mommmmy]

I know this isn't what you asked about...but you mentioned that you "ran across this situation". I would really check out the birthfather being deceased. I know this isn't going to be a popular thing to say at all. But there are those of us who have dealt with some major scams out there and unfortunately "bdad deceased" is one of the things that some will say.

As with any "situation" your come across...be very careful and make sure you get everything checked out.

As far as your concerns about a child inheriting depression and possibly having more issues in your family because the child will be biracial. That's something you really need to take a hard look at. Any child can be born with all sorts of different issues and/or issues can come up later in life.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Originally Posted by m_adams86

Xanax is for anxiety issues, and I have a few friends on it. If they didn't take their Xanax, they would be very self destructive people. I don't think Xanax can effect the baby. I don't think the doctor would have prescribed it if it could.

That is not true. You can look it up and it is listed as a class C drug which means it has been tested on pregnant women and has been found that it CAN do damage to a fetus. Class B means that it may or may not because not enough testing has been done on pregnant women. And Class A is found to be safe.