One mother faced such severe depression and anxiety during her pregnancy that she was unable to function. With her doctors’ assurance that it was safe, she began taking Lexapro. At the time, it was a lifeline—helping her make it through a pregnancy that felt unbearable without it.
Now, years later, she’s aware of lawsuits linking Lexapro to potential birth defects. Though she feels deep gratitude that her daughter was born healthy and unaffected, the new information brings complicated emotions.
Looking back, she says that if there were an antidepressant she could know with certainty was safe, she wouldn’t hesitate to take it again. Lexapro, despite the risks, helped keep her alive—and within minutes of giving birth, she finally felt like herself again.