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"Every Wednesday Dr. Sandy, an Atlanta-based internist, will answer reader-submitted health questions. Submit yours here and read her responses. Reader Question: I&amp;#039;m taking medication for depression and I&amp;#039;m thinking about trying to get pregnant. Do I need to stop taking them?  On Call Response: You&amp;#039;re smart to think about this before getting pregnant. There are pros and cons to staying on these drugs during pregnancy, so talk to your doctor now and come up with a plan. According to a new study from the American Medical Association&amp;#039;s Council on Science and Public Health, taking newer SRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) drugs during the first trimester did not seem to hurt the baby with the exception of paroxetine (Paxil), which was associated with an increase in birth defects including heart problems. By the time you get to the third trimester, however, many of these drugs increase the risk of your baby being born with a lung problem called pulmonary hypertension. And if you keep taking antidepressants throughout the entire pregnancy, your baby will need to be monitored for the first few weeks of his life for symptoms such as irritability, jitteriness and agitation (signs of being exposed to too much serotonin). On the flip side, women who go off antidepressants during pregnancy are five times more likely to have a relapse, compared to those who continue taking their medication. These are issues you and your doctor will need to weigh carefully. Read about constant cold hands and keeping track of prescriptions after the jump. Reader Question: My hands are always cold. Does this mean I have bad circulation? On Call Response: Maybe, but it could also be a sign of an underactive thyroid or a condition called Raynaud&amp;#039;s, in which the vessels of the fingers and toes constrict in response to cold or stress. Your best bet is to get it checked out. Your doc will probably review your medical history and do a physical exam, and she may also give you a blood test to check your levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). In the meantime, keep your hands toasty by stashing gloves in your purse and in your car. Reader Question: I&amp;#039;m having trouble keeping track of all the meds that I&amp;#039;ve been prescribed by different doctors. What can I do? On Call Response: Make a list of all your medications and allergies and keep it in your wallet. (Remember to update it whenever any of the info changes.) The list should include the brand and generic name of the drug (check the label), the dose, how often you take it, when you take it and the name of the doctor who prescribed it. Show this list to each of your doctors whenever you see them, and use it as a handy reference for yourself so you don&amp;#039;t get confused. You might also want to pickup a pill box with separate compartments for each day of the week and/or different times of the day. There are also high-tech pill boxes with built in alarms\u2014but you have to remember to set them! I want to hear from you, so email me your questions at dailywd@womansday.com.  Disclaimer: Your seeking information on health related topics and/or Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D.&amp;#039;s providing such information herein constitutes neither the solicitation of nor the provision of medical advice, services, care or treatment. Communication with Dr. Fryhofer on this website does not create a doctor/patient relationship. For concerns about your own particular medical condition, you should consult your own medical professional, who can examine and evaluate you. Communication on a website is not a substitute for taking an active role in your own medical care and treatment and being personally seen by a physician of choice in your area. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/a40636/antidepressants-pregnancy-6671/>