Babble

Hi, I wanted to let those out there know that I made the choice to stay on effexor during my pregnancy and am now in my 39th week with no complications.  My baby has been active the entire time.  I am 40 years old, I have a 21-year-old daughter & a 17-year-old son.  This will be my husband and my first child together and we are so excited!

When I found out I was pg, I was about 6 weeks along and was on 150 mg of effexor for ADHD & obsessive compulsive personality disorder. I quit taking my meds cold turkey.  No need to say, our life was not the same after that.  I did MUCH research to see how dangerous it was to take effexor while pg & found a few clinical studies done on women taking 75 mg after the first trimester.  There was no difference really in women that were on and women off.  We, along with my doctor, decided that our quality of life and happiness during pg, was at risk if I was not medicated.  So, at 16 weeks, I went on 75 mg of effexor.  Our life changed for the better within a few days.  I was happy, more comfortable and had a whole new outlook on my pregnancy.

I have had a great pg, with virtually no hormonal changes, mood swings or cravings.  It's actually been great!  I have been very happy and upbeat the whole time.  I have only gained 35 lbs & the last 2 times I gained 60lbs.  I don't know if there is a correlation (sp) but I don't have cravings.

At 36 weeks, I went down to 37.5 mg of effexor.  The studies did say that you should be off of effexor by the last month, because the baby could suffer from withdrawl and have side effects at birth such as lethargy, crying, not sleeping or feeding well. 

At 38 weeks, I went down to 1/2 the 37.5 (it's in pill form with a 1/2 mark through it).  I now feel like I am totally off of the meds - and that is not good for our family.  But, I need to do this for the baby.  Although my dr. said I could stay at the 37.5 until I had the baby, I wanted to make the withdrawl easier for my baby.

The studies said you could not take effexor if you breastfeed.  That is a huge priority to me, so I will learn to deal with it, or my doctor said there are other anit-depressants that were safe if it isn't working out for us.  If anyone has any questions, please ask, I feel I can give facts about this that might help others that feel they would be bad parents if they feel the need to stay on anti-depressants.

I was also on effexor during my first pregnancy; I just found out I'm pregnant with number two, and will be seeing my doctor soon about my meds.

 What my doctor told me is that, at least in cases like mine (and presumably yours), it's safer for the baby to be exposed to the medications than it is for it to have a mom going through withdrawal and/ or depression. Even on the Effexor, I had trouble with the depression, so going without wasn't an option.

My son was born without complications; he was slightly lethargic for the first little while after he was born, but he's not a healthy, happy, smart 22-month old. I was able to stay on Effexor while I was breastfeeding; at that time the most recent studies had shown (according to motherisk) that the amounts in breastmilk were not high enough to harm the baby.

 I assume you've had your baby, and I hope that everything is going well. I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one who's had to be on antidepressants during pregnancy!

 BTB, did you have trouble going off Effexor? I know that it's almost impossible for some people.

Hi

I am wondering if you can tell me how your pregnancy turned out. How is the baby doing with breastfeeding. Were you able to stay on effexor.

I may be pregnant and I am concerned.

Thanks

I have been on Effexor for almost one year. My husband and I are wanting to get pregnant. I want to be completely off of it in order to get pregnant. I am actually taking a really small dose. As in, opening up the 37.5 mg and making it 15 mg. However, I started skipping a day,and I have been getting brain shivers and started gaining weight. It's so hard for me to get off it. So you are saying it's okay to be on the pill while being pregnant? Just the thought of it makes me nervous.

 Hi i am 29 weeks pregnant and i am trying to get off effexor.   I have been on 37.5mg now for only a week and all i am donig to crying. All i feel is that i am letting my son  (4 years old) down when i am in this state of mind. I scare myself sometimes being like this too. My doctor has told me that it is totally safe to have effexor while pregnant and breastfeeding but all i hear is different. I just want the best for my baby and for both my son and i and i dont know what i am doing. I dont have any support from my partner and i really want to get through these.Do you have any suggeswtions i can do?

Reply to Kylzster21@yahoo.com.au 

while all these various mothers post how they have had  no problems with effexor and pregnancy, the FDA has not approved of any anti-depressants to be safely used during pregnancy.  As a indiv therapist who works closely with my client's psychiatrists, it appears that any meds that are not approved to be used by pregnant women should be avoided during the 1st trimester to not interfere with any organ development, etc.  Also from my experience women who are taking meds do not breastfeed.

 in the end every women has to do what's right for them.  is crying all day, and being sad while pregnant and trying to maintain a relationship with the fetus' father, other children, etc. helpful?  is going off meds doing more harm to one's self or the safety of others?  a mother's health has got to be the #1 priortiy, due to the fact is mom isn't healthy, the baby is not going to be healthy, as well as the people around them.

 if one is going off meds to get pregnant or because onen is pregnant one should taper off meds as perhaps get additional support through counseling, more frequent visit with one's doctor/psychiatrist, etc.

~expecting father in '08, and practicing psychotherapist

Hi,

I occasionally peruse this website and was struck by your email message re: Effexor & pregnancy.  

I am not a physician, but a mother of a healthy, intelligent & vibrant baby who recently turned a year old. I have been under the care of a psychiatrist & psychologist for several years & took Lexapro & Klonopin during my pregnancy & while breastfeeding (I nursed for about 8 mos.).

My daughter was full term & healthy.

I am saddened by the misinformation out there about medication, mental health & pregnancy.  I too was concerned about the meds & their effect on my baby, both during pregnancy & afterwards.    I did very well during the pregnancy & so did she.

The bottom line is that the most important thing is a healthy Mom, both physically & mentally, during pregnancy & beyond, so you can deal with the challenges...... pregnancy, marriage, raising your young son & your baby on the way. 

I am not familiar with any data on harm to organ development in the 1st trimester while on meds.   Personally, I think that is misinformation, to a certain degree.

The problem in this area, is that it is difficult to conduct a study with pregnant women & the use of meds & there is limited data & a lot of misinformation. 

I recall that while consulting with a specialist in reproductive psychiatry, http://www.drsharilusskin.com/,  there was some data to indicate some possible shakiness after birth for the infant, but I don't recall the exact details.  I would have recalled a discussion on negative affects on organ development, and I simply do not recall that to be the case. 

Prior to conception, I tried, under medical supervision, to titrate off my meds, for a number of reasons ---- one reason was a simple lack of understanding of meds & pregnancy. 

  I would do well for a few months off the meds, but both times relapsed & had to go back on them.

 In a perfect world, you need to assemble a good psychiatrist, psychologist, & hopefully seek out a reproductive psychologist who can give you FACTS & realities & not hearsay. 

I was & am fortunate to have had the resources in place & the access to Dr. Lusskin, but there are other resouces out there I'm sure.  It looks like you may be in Australia? by your email, but I'm not sure. 

My OB-GYN was very supportive, but also saw that I had done my homework about this & was doing my best to take charge of the situation.  Still I encountered a number of raised eyebrows along the way.

For instance, during an ultrasound, a very highly regarded Maternal Fetal Medicine MD suggested that I titrate off the meds during the final trimester.  That is exactly what you SHOULD NOT DO, particularly b/c of the hormone fluctuations in the third trimester & other factors which an expert in this field would be able to better explain. 

Please take a look at Dr. Lusskin's website...... I think you will find it helpful. 

Good luck & hang in there. 

I hope this message is helpful.

I am on Effexor, I am at 187.5mg dose.  I am at 38 weeks and am crossing my fingers that everthing goes well after delivery. He is very active right now and hopefully that will remain the case afterwards.  This is my fourth child (and last) and I can't imagine my family dealing with me if I wasn't on effexor but my doctors didn't really act like it was a big deal to be on it now or later.  And I guess now is too late to be weaned off of it. 

I am on 150 mg of Effexor twice a day for severe anxiety problems AND a mother of a beautiful and healthy 7 month old girl.  I talked with my OB/GYN and my Psych. and they said coming off of Effexor and being pregnant would have done more harm to the baby then staying on it.  Effexor from my own experience and talking with other is one of the hardest meds to come off of.  The physical as well as mental side effects are honestly horrendous and just the stress of putting your baby and yourself through that can hurt the baby more then help it.

 That has actually been the best news i have hear so far about being pregnant and on effexor and also so with best feeding. I have been told to go back up to 75mg and havent wanted to because of the baby. I am not managing though and i guess if i am not happy then the baby isnt either. I am going to stay in touch though because i really needed someones help.

So are you off your meds now? If you dont mind me asking but what mg where you on when you had your child? 

 My daughter is 28, married and has been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for maore than 10 years. She was on Paxil for almost 10 years. She was married in 5/06 and in Sept 06, they decided that she would try and wean herself off the med. in anticpation of getting pregnant within a year or so. The withdrawal was awful. She became very depressed, anxious, irritable, weepy. The dr prescribed Lexepro 20 mg. She seemed better again. With her dr, she wanted to try and get off that. They gradually reduced the dosage to 10 mg for a month, then 5mg daily, then 5mg every other day, then 2.5 daily, now 2.5 every other day.  She's back to feeling very depressed, anxious, irritable, etc.  Her gyn says she should be off all before getting pregnant. Her primary care dr says she can be on the low dosage of 5mg (where she feels ok) and get pregnant. She wants to do what's right for her baby. Everything we've researched says there MAY be complications at birth for the baby. I called the drug co and they can't say anything definitive, of course.

So, we're trying to get some feedback from others who went thru a pregnancy and find out their experience.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Joanne feels that she's being selfish and a burden to everyone. I just want her to feel good and have her life as she wants it.

dianem0425@yahoo.com

HI :)

This really helps me, since I am on Effexor 75mg. And I would like to become pregnant after 6 months. Going off the medicin is not an option.

 Thanks

I was on Effexor 75mg on both my pregnancies. My son is now 2.5 yo and my daughter is 1yo. I also breast fed both of them. They are the most perfect, happy, normal kids and thanks to Effexor I am the mother I am and had great pregnancies. Hang in there and good luck!

Hello-

At this point you have had the baby, are you still off the effexor?  Effects? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Hope you and your family are well!

Kim

I'm in my third trimester now and I'm on Lexapro. I had been on the drug for years and gone off it cold turkey as soon as we started talking about getting pregnant. Then I had a horrible depressive relapse in my second trimester, where I couldn't stop crying and couldn't get out of bed. My doctor encouraged me to go back on medication, saying she'd seen lots of patients on anti-depressants have perfectly healthy babies, though they're sometimes more lethargic than normal at first. I did lots of research online; it's not hard to find medical studies about antidepressants and pregnancy. The good news is that no study has shown serious or consistent adverse effects. The bad news is that this is a fairly new area of study, so there's no major long-term study yet. 

I personally feel confident about my decision. Everything changed for the better when I went back on antidepressants. I could function like a person again. I'm glad to hear stories of other moms whose kids turned out just fine. Becuase I don't think I could have gotten through the pregnancy without the help of meds.