Babble

Did your babies have any withdrawal symptoms when they were born and you were on 75 mg of Effexor?  That is a concern for me.  I know how I have felt when  I have tried to even wean off of the medication slowly, and hate to think of my baby having to experience that.  Also, you said your son is now 2.5 years and daughter is one.  Have you noticed any developmental problems or delays at all?  I am in need of reassurance as I'm in my first trimester and on 75 mg of Effexor.  I'm so worried, but it would be so much worse if I were not on this dose.

Thanks for you help.

Hi, I have been on Effexor for 3 years now and am 33 weeks pregnant.. I was told it was okay by my doctors to continue to take the Effexor while pregnant... not until recently when I was told I wouldn't be able to breastfeed have I considered stopping... My greatest fear is withdrawal symptoms that my baby could have... I have started weaning myself..and my symptoms are not fun... dizzyness, tired and physically sick.... I am now very concerned I will have a baby born with awful withdraw symptoms... Did either of your children experience withdrawal symptoms...????

I am reading your email way after the fact; but I wanted to give some reassurance.  I am 35 years old, and I have been having problems with Panic Disorder since I was 19.  Anti-depressants have made my life so much better (although I have done everything else necessary; education, exercise, relaxation..)  Anyway, I have had two healthy children while taking 100 mg of Zoloft.  There were no problems.  I am now trying to have a third child and I am currently prescribed Effexor.  I plan to take it during pregnancy as well.  Ideally, I would have had medication free pregnancies.  I tried to wean off of antidepressants three times before I had children; and each time I crashed and could not function.   It became clear that the best choice for me was to continue to take an antidepressant while pregnant; and it worked out just fine.  If this is the best choice for your daughter, then she needs to find a doctor who will be supportive of this choice.  They are out there.  Good Luck,

Nomopanic

I am just wondering what dose everyone was on when they had their healthy pregnancy. I took 40 g of paxil throughout my first pregnancy,  I took 60mg of Celexa through my second pregnancy, after baby was born my doctor put me on effexor.   Both of my boys are extremely healthy and smart, they certainly didn't suffer from the fact that I had to take the antidepressants.   I am taking 300 mg daily and think that i may be pregnant again and am wondering what the safe dose is.  I definately cannot go through a pregnancy without any antidepressant, this I know for sure.

I have read everyone's comments here, and am surprised to see that many well pretty well everyone is on a small dose of effexor. I am on 225mg/effexor daily. I was with the general idea that effexor was not safe during pregnancy, and doctor had switched me to 20mg of Prozac. However, 20mg was certainly not the equivalent of 225mg effexor. I had adverse reactions, dizziness, loss of words, stuttering. I was like a panicky beast to say the least. So i went back on the effexor. This all occurred just a cpl days ago. I am 5 weeks pregnant. The doc I saw at Emerg, spoke with a pyschiatrist who said effexor is okay when you are pregnant. So many decisions to make, I know that I do not want the same pregnancies as I had previously, especially my second one, when my son was born, i thought they had done a baby switch, and this one wasnt mine! No way could I have a child like that. He was collicky, and irritable, (I was not on meds the first two pregnancies.) I was envisioning running away...leaving everyone. As well informed i THOUGHT i had been on post-partum depression, I didnt even know this was happening. I would have constant panic attacks going into stores of any kind when pregnant. I want a happy pregnancy, but I dont know if I could function on anything less than 225mg.

There's a great book out there called "Medications and Mother's Milk," it's by Dr. Thomas Hale, PhD, and it's specifically designed to address the needs of the breast feeding mother who needs to be on some type of medication.  It gives the "lactation risk category," similar to a pregnancy risk category, for each drug, and then for most drugs it lists an alternative choice if the specific drug is not considered safe while breastfeeding.  In regards to effexor, Dr. Hale classifies the drug as an "L3" or "moderately safe" drug to take while breastfeeding.  He also recommends Zoloft and Paxil as acceptable alternatives to effexor if needed. 

I've had to be on Zoloft and  Klonopin or Xanax for each of my last two pregnancies and after the birth of my first, due to horrible post-partum depression (that actually manifested itself with anxiety symptoms).  I've continued on the meds while I was nursing all of my kids without any problems, I had way more problems with me off the meds than with me on them and nursing. 

 I agree whole-heartedly with everyone who has mentioned getting under the care of a good psychiatrist, OB's are trained to deliver babies, not psych meds, they just don't give as thorough enough care to those of us moms who need a little something here and there.  And definitely have a good therapist/counselor in the mix.  I just like to cover all my bases when I'm pregnant.  There's no way I'm going to have the same problems that I did with my first, how awful, no shame to taking care of your mental health and the subsequent health of your children.  My babies are better/safer with me on some anti-depressants throughout all the hormone shifts of pregnancy and post-partum life.

Hang in there, mamas.

That is so good for!!! Congrats!!!

i'm 27 years old and i'm on lexapro. I really want to have a baby but I heard that is too risky for the new born. What do you think?

Has anyone taken Effexor along with Diclectin (in Canada) for morning sickness? Are they okay to take together?  Doctor say's it is fine, but still worried.

Hi I am glad to hear some of the great stories.

 I am 39 and we are trying to start a family. I am taking Effexor my doctor said it was one of the safe meds to take. I am scared to death but do need to take it for my own well being. I just pray it turns out ok.

 Your stories are inspiring.

I just adopted a baby boy 5 1/2 months ago.  His birth mother was taking Effexor the entire pregnancy.  Last week he was released from the hospital for multiple seizures which may have been related to this medication.  Please reconsider taking this. 

I am 33 years old and have been on Effexor for 5 years. I am 5 weeks pregnant.  I normally take 150 mg a day. My OBGYN  is weening me off Effexor as follows; 75 mg a day for one week/37.5 mg a day for one week/37.5 mg every other day for one week. I am currently on the 2nd day of 37.5mg a day for one week. So far I am coming off of Effexor just fine.  My OBGYN said the first trimester was the most important for not being on the drug. He said that if I needed it after that we could go back on it. I pray eveyday that I can make it without going back on Effexor.  But I feel very good about reading all of the postings from the moms that have had to take it.  Depression is a true sickness that must be treated, I cannot believe that God would want us to go around depressed while we are creating new life for him. He will take care of you!

I am 27 years old and am currently switching from Paxil to Effexor, as I took Paxil 20mg for 6 years and it seems to have quit working. I did take Paxil 20mg through my pregnancy and my daughter is perfect. She had no problems. I suffer from Anxiety/Panic Disorder and with the help of God my Anti-depressant keeps me going. I plan to take Effexor for long term and will take it through my next pregnancy. As I feel its all in the Lords hands and he takes care of things. The benefits just out weigh the risk.

i am pleased that you have posted this because i too am continuing therapy with klonopin while pregnant and i think that most doctors would rather not engage in the treatment options available for pregnant women with anxiety and depression. going off the medication DID NOT go well gor me and although i worry about what will happen the day my baby girl arrives, i have to tell myself that right now i have to take care of me in order to take care of her. what dose of klonopin were you on? for how long? Thanks

Hi

i am in the same situation as you, i am trying to get pregnant and for the well beeing and safety of my baby i would like to be off the pill. There are not enough studies out there to say that it is or it is not safe to be on effexor while pregnant or breast feeding, but i think it is better to be off it if you can. Some people just can't. iam now skipping three days and taking it on the fourth and so on and the withdrawl symptoms are bad. It seems to be "normal" to have brain zapps and gain weight. I have been and still are thru all that. I still get dizzy too. My doc says that it is normal. As for the weight gauning that is normal too because effexor also acts as a appetite supressor. I wish you and me and everybody that goes thru this best of luck and a healhy baby!!!

 

Hi

i am in the same situation as you, i am trying to get pregnant and for the well beeing and safety of my baby i would like to be off the pill. There are not enough studies out there to say that it is or it is not safe to be on effexor while pregnant or breast feeding, but i think it is better to be off it if you can. Some people just can't. iam now skipping three days and taking it on the fourth and so on and the withdrawl symptoms are bad. It seems to be "normal" to have brain zapps and gain weight. I have been and still are thru all that. I still get dizzy too. My doc says that it is normal. As for the weight gauning that is normal too because effexor also acts as a appetite supressor. I wish you and me and everybody that goes thru this best of luck and a healhy baby!!!