![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by xoxstacey on January 20, 2006, at 16:19:58
Hello to all.... I am new to this forum. I was on effexor xr for aprox 1 year. I took myself off immeditatly when I found out I was pregers. I am 28 weeks pregnant now... I have had a horrible time. I have had nothing but irrational thoughts and panic attack this whole pregnancy. I feel like such a failure. I tried to be med free for this baby that means the world to me, but today I had a break down in the doctors office and he feels i cannot do this alone..... I am so upset. I just took my first pill today...37.5 and in a week will go up to 75.... I was on 75 with great sucess before the pregnancy and never had to up the dose. ....... So now my qusetion.... Anyone out there ever had been pregnant and taken Effexor xr during a pregnancy??? I would love to hear sucess stories as I am terrified I may be harming baby by taking the med........
thanks
Posted by Racer on January 20, 2006, at 20:53:18
In reply to Effexor xr and pregnancy, posted by xoxstacey on January 20, 2006, at 16:19:58
Sorry, can't say that I've taken Effexor during pregnancy, because I'm being treated now for infertility, but I have done some research on the subject.
The first place to check is http://www.rxlist.com. They show, on the warnings page, the category for each drug. Effexor is probably Category C, since most of the serotonergic drugs are. The good news is that most of the teratogenic damage to a fetus would be done in the first trimester. The bad news is that you'll probably want to taper off shortly before birth, but maybe not. Talk to your doctor.
Another good resource is http://www.motherisk.org. It's a good place to check for information about what drugs really are safe or dangerous in pregnancy.
Also, the risks of NOT treating depression during pregnancy can be pretty profound, too. It really does affect the fetus.
The only AD, by the way, that I know to be Category B, is Wellbutrin. I don't know if you've tried it, and it may not be for you, but it's probably worth talking to your doctor about it. Buspar, an antianxiety drug, is also Category B.
Good luck, and have a nice baby!
Posted by Racer on January 20, 2006, at 21:05:17
In reply to Re: Effexor xr and pregnancy, posted by Racer on January 20, 2006, at 20:53:18
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/158/10/1728
On point, linked from motherisk.org
Posted by summerflowers on January 23, 2006, at 4:58:41
In reply to Here's an article, posted by Racer on January 20, 2006, at 21:05:17
Wrong.Psychiactric medications cause permanant changes in the brains of adults.Whatever goes into your body during pregnancy also goes into your babies body.Im sorry but you are only pregnant for a little while.Stay clean.Straight after the birth of your baby,take the medication,but bottlefeed.Bottlefeeding is OK,dont feel pressured to breastfeed.Depression during pregnancy is the pits,but baby will be OK.Depression wont harm your baby.You will have your own body back soon which is such a relief!and you will have a buetifull baby in your arms.Bless you.
Posted by Laurie Beth on January 23, 2006, at 7:34:29
In reply to Re: Here's an article, posted by summerflowers on January 23, 2006, at 4:58:41
"Depression wont harm your baby."
And this assertion, which contradicts all available evidence, is based on......?
As to the breastfeeding, med safety varies. If you're on a low dose of Zoloft, for example, Zoloft won't even be found in your exclusively breastfed baby's blood; on a high dose of Zoloft, trace amounts may be found, but they don't accumulate in a full-term baby's blood. Other meds have varying safety records and amount of evidence supporting same.
Laurie (breastfed #1 while on Zoloft, from 3 months to 3.5 years - now a happy, extremely intelligent 6-year-old; took Zoloft throughout pregnancy, and Wellbutrin during first trimester, with #2, and have so far breastfed her for 12 months while taking first Zoloft, then Wellbutrin; happy, healthy baby reaching all developmental milestones at the appropriate times)
Posted by summerflowers on January 23, 2006, at 12:31:27
In reply to Re: Here's an article, posted by Laurie Beth on January 23, 2006, at 7:34:29
> "Depression wont harm your baby."
>
> And this assertion, which contradicts all available evidence, is based on......?
>
> As to the breastfeeding, med safety varies. If you're on a low dose of Zoloft, for example, Zoloft won't even be found in your exclusively breastfed baby's blood; on a high dose of Zoloft, trace amounts may be found, but they don't accumulate in a full-term baby's blood. Other meds have varying safety records and amount of evidence supporting same.
>
> Laurie (breastfed #1 while on Zoloft, from 3 months to 3.5 years - now a happy, extremely intelligent 6-year-old; took Zoloft throughout pregnancy, and Wellbutrin during first trimester, with #2, and have so far breastfed her for 12 months while taking first Zoloft, then Wellbutrin; happy, healthy baby reaching all developmental milestones at the appropriate times)
>everyone is different,and everybodys body handles psychiactric drugs differently.These scientific trails dont really know as much as they make out,because they keep coming up with new findings contradicting what they previously "thought".I was on prozac with 2 pregnancies and I miscarried which is not something iv usually done,so for me this was telling me something.An unborn baby has its whole life in front of it,it is our job to keep it safe,especially as it is growing,which is something you have done well so far.Im sure alot of babies are absolutly fine,but as everybody is different,there is still a risk which doctors dont say much about.I believe depression during pregnancy causing damage is a myth,how many pregnant mothers have suffered grief caused by a partner/husband that died,or sadness caused by natural disasters or other causes?I suffered SEVERE depression with my last baby,during the last few weeks a spiritual lady healed my feelings toward the whole situation,and me and my baby are the closest we could be (he is my 5th).He is so HAPPY,and so alert,cheeky,content,and intellegent,hes buetifull.I just think you should have both sides thats all.Everyones opinion varies,and in the end you have to decide.I feel if you can get through the weeks ahead,the most important time is after the baby is born,to treat yourself.Is it your first baby?
Posted by Laurie Beth on January 23, 2006, at 18:46:58
In reply to Re: Here's an article, posted by summerflowers on January 23, 2006, at 12:31:27
"I was on prozac with 2 pregnancies and I miscarried"
I am sorry for your losses.
I don't disagree that there's some risk in taking any med during pregnancy (although some of the antidepressants have apparently been more studied in pregnancy than any med other than acetominophen). I do, however, think it's well-established that the mother's depression and anxiety during pregnancy can cause harm to the unborn baby and even more established that a mother's depression and anxiety can harm her newborn's development. As you say, it's a trade-off, to make these decisions. For my part, the decision to take meds and breastfeed was much easier, because so very, very little of the meds I was on pass to the baby through breast milk (1-3% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose) and because I could monitor to see if there were obvious effects. (I was at least as worried about the Ambien and Percocet that she got from me during the first week after my C-section, since the amount of those drugs passing through milk is not known, and since clinicians seem to agree that receiving these drugs through breastmilk can cause a baby to be excessively sleepy.) Antidepressants during pregnancy can be more of a concern because the baby is getting through the placenta the weight-adjusted equivalent of the dose the mom is taking. I wouldn't have taken antidepressants during pregnancy for mild or transient difficulties, despite the fact I believed they were reasonably safe (probably as safe as the Zofran I had to take for persistent nausea and vomiting).
Posted by summerflowers on January 24, 2006, at 2:21:37
In reply to Re: Here's an article » summerflowers, posted by Laurie Beth on January 23, 2006, at 18:46:58
I hear what your saying.Some drugs pass through while others dont.I was breastfeeding with propranol.(Is that the spelling?) for anziety.My baby started getting purple feet and then he started having these choking episodes where he would cougth,but couldnt breathe in afterward.His face would go purple.It scared the hell out of us.The doctor kept saying it was this and that,then his legs went purple,and his feet swelled up like balloons,everything stopped when I stopped taking those damn propranols.So I see pregnany and breastfeeding as 2 very important times.Iv been studying intensivly on psychiactric medications,because iv seen my partner,and 2 friends flip out on meds,my partner survived,just.The friends didnt.Iv become very anti meds except for lithium,which seems to not only protect the brain but also seems safer.Though its not recommended in pregnancy.
Posted by summerflowers on January 25, 2006, at 2:06:07
In reply to Effexor xr and pregnancy, posted by xoxstacey on January 20, 2006, at 16:19:58
Hope your doing OK.Hows it all going?
Posted by Jess2906 on February 2, 2006, at 22:49:10
In reply to Effexor xr and pregnancy, posted by xoxstacey on January 20, 2006, at 16:19:58
Hi ~ I've just joined this forum :) I was on Effexor XR (75 dose) before falling pregnant with my first daughter. I spent hours talking to doctors and researching the internet for possible side effects as soon as i found out i was pregnant. There seems to be little information about the known effects. With the help of my doctor and husband, i chose to cease my medication. I had the most terrible time and at 19 weeks made the decision to resume the effexor. It basically comes down to a risk vs benefits decision, that only you can make. I then chose to bottle feed my daughter. I am pleased to tell you that I have 2 beautiful daughters who apart from the usual childhood cold and bug, have no other side effects, and we are expecting our 3rd child in May 2006. I have continued on the effexor throughout all my pregnancies. I wish you all the best with your decision, remember to work closely with family & your doctor with what ever you choose to do. Jess xo
Posted by Stepho+ on June 3, 2006, at 1:16:08
In reply to Re: Effexor xr and pregnancy, posted by Jess2906 on February 2, 2006, at 22:49:10
I have had the same struggle. I have often thought I would like to get off the Effexor because I know how horrible it is to have to go off of it suddenly. In my 3rd pregnancy I was told to abrubtly stop taking my Effexor XR. As soon as I did I became extremely ill and anxious. I described it as how one would feel if they were in a plane and were told that we were going down. Extreme panic all day long. As the pregnancy continued the anxiety diminished gradually. But there were a good 4 or 5 months of having a 10+ hour panic attack dail. I would see someone in a wheelchair and would grieve for them and intensely fear that I would end up in a wheel chair. I worried for the baby and for my other kids. Honestly there were many days where if I didn't have my other kids, I would likely have taken my life. Especially during the first weeks of the panic. Unless someone has experienced this extreme disorder, they can't understand. I have been depressed and could handle a pregnancy in that state. I just found out a few days ago that I am expecting my 4th child. This is a complete surprise. I thought I was done and this is a major adjustment for us. This time I have decided with my dr. to coninue my meds. I couldn't do it again. Yes, I am concerned that something could go wrong. But I know that the panic I felt before wouldn't be any better for my baby than the meds and I still have a family to care for. This is a decision that we are making that we believe is best for all of us! I know how difficult it is and I am so sorry you are going through this. Hang on to the hope that this will pass. I would also sit outside everyday and take in the sun and read my Bible. I grew so much during that time. I wouldn't trade it for the world but I would want to do it again. I feel pretty good about this choice and will have to continue to put my trust in the Lord to get me through the times when I doubt myself. He is in control and will take care of my baby and me. "My baby", I am still trying to get used to the idea. Wow. Well hang in there. It isn't forever and I needed to know that. Whatever you decide, be confident with it. You are the one who cares most about your child. Don't let what others say frighten you. You will make it!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.