Pregnancy + Effexor

[JLK]

I apologize if this topic has been posted before, but:
Has anyone on this board had children while on Effexor? If so, how long were you on the med before you were pregnant and what was the outcome. Thanks!

[Teresa]

I was on Effexor for 3 years before getting pregnant, The last year I spent trying to wean off and never coulld because of the horrible side effects!! I finally quit taking it when I was like 4 months pregnant. I could not imagine my new baby having the side effects I was having!!

[Clcty]

Been pregnant and continued taking 75 mg a day throughout pregnancy and short breast feed (< 2 months). Everything is fine, my child is 3. Have been taking Effexor for 10 years. However, having trouble getting pregnant again, as Effexor has drove my prolactin level up and I am not menstruating. If I ever get pregnant, I will not continue taking.

[Brigid W]

I have read several stories describing how newborns can go through withdrawal from effexor, paxil, and zoloft etc. shortly after birth. Having gone through the withdrawal myself, it is horrible. I wouldn't wish that misery on my worst enemy. Please try to gradually taper off well before your due date as this should make things much easier for baby. Prozac has a much longer half life and fewer withdrawal issues. It might be easier to switch to a low dose of prozac (5-10 mg daily) and then taper off of it. Talk it over with your psychiatrist and ob gyn. "The anti-depressent Solution" by Glenmullen has lots of helpful infor regarding tapering off anti-depressents. I wish you both luck!

[JLK]

JLK wrote:

I apologize if this topic has been posted before, but:
Has anyone on this board had children while on Effexor? If so, how long were you on the med before you were pregnant and what was the outcome. Thanks!

I have tried to wean off, but have been unsuccessful. I have been at 150mg for 10 years.

[Brigid]

JLK wrote:

<quoted text>
I have tried to wean off, but have been unsuccessful. I have been at 150mg for 10 years.

t took more than 1 try for me to get off. Sometimes you have to make very small dose reductions over time ( say 5-10%) then wait a couple of weeks to stabilize before the next reduction. This method takes awhile, but it usually works. Toward the end of the taper it helps to open the capsules and reduce your dose by a few beads every few days until you are off. It is quite painstaking, but it can be done. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[JLK]

Brigid wrote:

<quoted text>
t took more than 1 try for me to get off. Sometimes you have to make very small dose reductions over time ( say 5-10%) then wait a couple of weeks to stabilize before the next reduction. This method takes awhile, but it usually works. Toward the end of the taper it helps to open the capsules and reduce your dose by a few beads every few days until you are off. It is quite painstaking, but it can be done. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

How do I reduce by 5-10%? To do that don't I have to start by opening the capsules? Just wondering because you said I may have to do it towards the end. Also, are you from Milw? That is where I am from.:)

[Brigid]

JLK wrote:

<quoted text>
How do I reduce by 5-10%? To do that don't I have to start by opening the capsules? Just wondering because you said I may have to do it towards the end. Also, are you from Milw? That is where I am from.:)

Let me know if you'd like to get together for coffee. Maybe we could form our own effexor withdrawal support group in milwaukee. I think we could all probably use a little support through this process.
Brigid

[JRM]

That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Finally registered (formerly JLK from MN??) do you use any form of messenger or anything? I read you are 4 months off of this stuff. you have no idea how envious i am... congrats to you!!

[Donna]

I'm 5 months pregnant and I'm trying to get off effexor. I'm currently taking 37.5 once a day. Next week I will try to cut that in half for the next few weeks and then I want to be completly off. Right now I'm having a really hard time if I miss taking the pill by like an hour or so. Any advise you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[Brigid]

JRM wrote:

That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Finally registered (formerly JLK from MN??) do you use any form of messenger or anything? I read you are 4 months off of this stuff. you have no idea how envious i am... congrats to you!!

Thanks. My direct e-mail is [e-mail] if you want to drop me a line.

[JRM]

Donna-
I know it is four months away, but PLEASE keep me/us posted!! I'm the one that asked the original question and am very curious to hear how your pregnancy goes. Thank You!! also, are you on any other meds?

[Jackie]

Hi Donna,

I am currently 5.5 months pregnant and taking 37.5 mg Effexor. Have you had any success with tapering off? I am a wreck, but want to be off by my third trimester. Did you have your baby? Was he/she ok?

Jackie

Donna wrote:

I'm 5 months pregnant and I'm trying to get off effexor. I'm currently taking 37.5 once a day. Next week I will try to cut that in half for the next few weeks and then I want to be completly off. Right now I'm having a really hard time if I miss taking the pill by like an hour or so. Any advise you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[mum2b]

I am also 5 months pregnant and in my 3rd week of reducing from 225mg. I am only reducing 37.5mg but all the old symptoms are returning. I am so sick, fatigued and becoming progressively unstable again that this morning I returned to my regular dose. Of course I am worried for my baby but I can't go back to that horrible time. I have two other children and work. I just want everything to be ok.

[Jackie]

mum2b,
It is so hard to come off Effexor. My OBGYN and my psychologist told me to increase my does back to 75 mg, the dosage that seems to work for me. I still take 37.5 mg and it keeps me "slightly functional", but I don't feel great. I have decided to stay on it as I tried to get off it and it was a nightmare. I am worried for my baby too, but hopefully the withdrawal (if any) will be transient and short-lived. It's so hard not knowing.

[Breaking Free]

Hi,

I have been on effexor for 7 years for anxiety and panic attacks. I started at 75mg and was on the for years. I was finally down to 37.5/day (dec 2007) then opening the pill and taking 1/2 37.5/day (Jan 2008) then down to 1/2 37.5 every 2nd day (From Feb 2008 to 6 days ago....this took about 4 months total. I experienced no withdrawal until about day 3 off. I am now on day 6. I am 14 weeks pregnant.

Days 3-5 have been ROUGH. I had brain zaps, extreme fatigue, dizzyness, nausea, diarrhea (sorry TMI) headaches.... I tried to take my dog for a week and had to stop 3-4 times, thought I was going to die (day 3). I was happy to be free from morning sickness about 2 weeks ago, feels like it's back! I also have 0 appetite. I wanted so badly to stay on but trying hard to do what's best for baby. I'm feeling much btter so far on this day (day 6) and hope things will get better. I'm so scared to have another panic attack....one thing about effexor...I never had a panic attack on the meds...even 1/2 of a 37.5 every second day.

I'm on a prenatal V, 2 prenatal omega fish oils/day, drinking lots of water and juice, and trying to eat foods that contain tryptophan to make up for the lost seretonin. I haven't been able to go for a walk since day 3....little scared...

Anyways sorry for the long post! Hope you all feel better and please keep me posted on your progress!

[Jesica]

ugh. lol.
staying positive. doctor's advice- come off IF you can. i have been on 75mg for a year... years ago it was higher- so "i know"... let me tell you. anyhoo- so i stayed on 37.5 the first trimester (from the 75)... now the OBGYN said get off if you can. thus i did. feel a little cryie... but of course the brain zapoids/ heart palps are at their worst... YEY! hormones and withdrawal. i have done it b4 and i hope i can do it again.
i actually ended up in the ER when i first found out i was PG b/c (get this) i was also on klonapin (one tab only at bed) but since i was like 21. im 33. yeah. talk about racing no sleep, ANXIETY. i was in complete withdrawal and didnt know what to do. ladies (PG or not) and men, i know we can get through this... and NO... it is NOT fun, but we can do it.
hey- something about fish oil?????
let me know. does it help with the zapoids? i take a prenat vitamin and a folic acid vitamin. having trouble wanting to walk outside as well... just get nervous of the dizzies, etc..
keep in touch.
jessica

[Katie]

New here, I am so glad to know I am not the only one! I am 9 weeks pregnant, 3 child, first pregnancy while weaning off effexor. Been on 150mg off and on for 5 years. For 2 weeks now weaning down to 37.5 now im on day 2 of no meds. Very brain jittery, dizzy, and nausea. To make matters worse, I quit my job last week due to stress (nurse), couldn't handle preg.,quiting smoking and quiting effexor (was spotting as well). Need another job but too darn ill to get out there and look :( DH been a saint, all I want to do is lay in bed r/t dizziness and fatigue and nausea. I see ob fri., maybe he can prescribe zofran or something. I am hoping if I can get through next few days of no meds it will be out of my system. I did't want to keep prolonging this torture. BTW I am on no other meds other then prenatal vit. which I think are making me sick, and just got done with z-pack for bronchitis. When it rains it pours! I just keep praying and telling myself and dh this is temporary, as soon as meds are out things will get better. Isn't driving horrible! Can barely do it- I keep telling my husband there is has to be some sort of disablility coverage to compensate for this...how anyone can work and go through this is beyond me. How do you apply for a job? Oh forgive me 5 minute reaction time and dry heaves, I'm pg and coming off mental meds! LOL Well thanks for listening!

[Breaking Free]

Katie - your right, when it rains it pours...hope things get better for you fast....yes, driving is horrible! Driving is where my panic attacks used to happen so it doubley freaks me out.

Jessica - I've read all the posts here about withdrawal, and just heard that omega 3's can really help...of course I cannot remember exactly how....but i figured I'd try it and bought some prenatal omega 3. I'm actually vegetarian but am forcing the fish oil caps down my throat...as I've read about flax seed oil, its really hard for your body to convert flax seed oil into DHA & EPA.(the omega 3's that are found in fish are already converted for your body to use)

I just finished bawling for 2 hours. This is my first baby and I am really scared about the future. You name it, it scares me. I never really wanted children up until a year ago, then thought maybe one day....got married, went off the pill and bam....prego within 2 months....I thought I'd get off the pill, then slowly wean off effexor, then maybe in a year or 2 have a baby.....

Anyways, ramble ramble....:)

Hope you both feel better soon!!

[Katie]

Breaking free, its just the post effexor anxiety/hormones flaring up...You and the baby are going to be just fine, and when delivery day comes you will forget all the worries and be so delighted with the baby. I will not lie, it is scary, but you will survive! I was so worried, my daughter's pediatrican begged me to have a second one asap claiming it would chill me out! As far as crying...lol...I go from laughing to crying to being a b@!*h! I just keep saying it has to get better! Do you still have the dizziness?