Tips to avoid effects of withdrawal symptoms of anxiety medicines on pregnancy - Online Doctor Chats

Doctor :   hi
Doctor :  
how can i help you?
Doctor :  
please proceed with your health query
User :   Hi...I just found out that I am about 6 weeks pregnant. I have been on a low dose of anxiety meds for about a year (kolonopin and anafranil). My doctor, who prescribed these meds pulled me off of them cold turkey and I am having withdrawl symptoms...chills, fever, dizziness. Is this safe for me and the baby and how long will these withdrawl sypmtoms last?
Doctor :   ok
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please give me sometime to read through what you have typed
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the withdrawl symptoms can last upto a weeks time
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when were your medications withdrawn?
User :   just three days ago
Doctor :   ok
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what you can do is talk to your doctor about these symptoms
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and ask him to prescribe something in ultra low dose to counteract these symptoms
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which is safe to be taken in pregnancy
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in case he does not do that, then you can go ahead with following few anxiety combating tips
Doctor :   to help you come out of these without medication
Doctor :   the anxiety and depression medications should not be stopped all of a sudden, they should be tapered in dose and slowly the pateint should be weaned off them over a 15 days time period
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since yours was the case of pregnancy and these could harm the baby development, your doctor would have withdrawn abruptly
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such that the baby's development is not harmed
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have you followed what i have said?
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shall I proceed with telling you measures to be taken to combat these withdrawl symptoms and then the anxiety managing tips?
User :   yes, and one more question too... is it safe for me and the baby to have stopped the meds so abruptly?
Doctor :  
yes it is safe to stop them that is why they were stopped abruptly in you else the continuation could have hampered further normal development of the baby.
Doctor :   for your fever and chills, take Tab Tylenol one tablet two times a day after food
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for the other anxiety symptoms practice following tips
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1) Do deep breathing exercises. it should be diaphragmatic breathing, take about 10-15 deep breaths when you feel anxious
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2) the situation or the emotion that has acuse teh anxiety bout need not always be bad..think of it as something positive that will help you to be more strong in life..after all whatever God lets to happen to us..He lets it be done for our good in some or the other way.
Doctor :   3) if still continue to have the symptoms then report back to your doctor
User :   True, very true! And I already do the deep breathing exercises so that is good! And I will take the tylenol too.
Doctor :   4) Divert yourself to something that you always like doing...go out, speak to friends..keep yourself poccupied with something that will take you out of stressful situations
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you can follow a hobby, knit small mittens for your newborn baby, decorate and do up the baby room..
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do something that will delight you, but avoid harmful things and works that could cause you or your baby any harm
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5) Wear shades of blue...it has cooling effect on brain..and you tend to stay calm..you could use blue curtains, bedspreads etc to change the look of your room
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6) if you tend to have too many chores to worry about..shcedule a "worry hour" each day and make sure you worry only at that time telling out your worries to your trusted one who can help you solve them
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during the day avoid sitting and thinking on things that bother you
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7) Eat well balanced diet, cook your nutritious diet, now you have to eat for two and incorporate more of salads in diet that will keep you healthy thorughout the pregnancy
Doctor :   8) avoid alcohol at all costs now, as it could hamper proper blood supply to your growing baby and also cause you to have more anxiety
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9)sleep well, sleep at a set time everyday, sleep atleast 7-8 hours a day
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10) find out what are the stressors at home, family and work place, try and think about a solution to avoid them or cope up with them, dont think of them as negatives, try to turn them into positives and make most out of them
Doctor :   11) above all, be patient, control anger, count 10 with taking deep breaths with each count before you answer or think on any problem that is bothering you
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have you followed what i have said? please get back to me in case of having doubts
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Is there any thing else I can help you with?
Doctor :   are you there?
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have you followed what i have said?
Doctor :   Is there any thing else you want to ask me??
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are you there???
User :   I think that was all
User :   thanks for your help!
Doctor :  
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