Pregnancy + Effexor

[redrose]

Has anyone tried to take the beads out of the capsules to wean off? I heard that this works and helps the weaning process?

[Katie]

I read this last night and thought I would come back on today and add my comments about going off. I am in the process of going off (wanting to get pregos within the next couple of months) and so far so good. It has only been a week. The first two days I decreased my in-take a did feel dizzy, a bit emotional, had a night of hot flashes and tired. The rest of the week went well. I am doing this with the lead of a doctor. I was on 150mg for two years...last week I started 75mg. I am to do that for two weeks then down to 37.5mg for two weeks then I have 25mg that I will get in half (25mg generic you are able to split) and then I will be done with it. I would strongly suggest working with a doctor. I really enjoyed reading all the comments and knew I was not by myself. I wish you all the best of luck and I will update you as I progress.

[redrose]

jfyi - i just recently spoke with my doctor about coming off the meds if I should become pregnant. she stated that it will be very hard, however if i take prozac at the same time, it'll ease the transition.

[kristine]

thankyou for all of your posts, i really appreciate them. i am 5 weeks pregnant and just started weaning off i am really scared, but i need to do it, then i plan to go on something natural if the dep and anx come back. i heard about a detox something i am going to talk to my family friend about it tommorrow who is a nateral path. good luck everone i guess if people can get off herroin we can all acheive this. thankyou

[TLF]

so glad to have found this post. we have been talking about having a baby and were not sure if it would be safe since i have been on effexor for over a year. i will talk to my doctor on my next visit (and before trying) but this post has sure helped to let me see that it "IS" possible..to get/be pregnant, but also to get weaned off possibly..i'm worried about the side affects, but i dont want to be on meds forever!(im hoping)
so thank you ladies, i look forward to reading and learning more at a later date.

[princesspatton]

I am about 8wks along and trying to wean off of venlafaxine. I've been on 75mg for about 7 yrs. My GP told me to stop altogether once I found out I was pregnant. I went 3 days and was a disaster. So, I just cut myself down to 1/4 of the tablet (about 18mg) until my first OB appt. My OB told me to go ahead and quit altogether as well- they both said it shouldn't be that hard since I was on a low dose. Well, I"ve now lost my job because I've missed so much work. Between the side effects of trying to come off this drug and the morning sickness. I'm a disaster. The vertigo, headaches, crying spells and irritability are almost unbearable. I haven't been able to sleep for several days now. I went against my OB's advice and cut the venlafaxine tablets down even further (about 1/8th) and took one this morning. I felt better within about an hour. This is the only thing I can think to do.

Between the stress of being unemployed and of not knowing if this drug, which I am completely dependent on, is going to hurt my unborn child- I'm a wreck.

I am currently trying to find a local OB who specializes in patients on antidepressants. So far, no luck. My husband is frustrated because I haven't tried very hard to find another job- but I don't know how I can possibly perform a new job in this state of mind. And because I'm pregnant- there are so many things I can't take (natural therapies) that seem to help others get some relief when coming off this drug. I'm trying to just push thru it with the hope that in a few weeks- I'll be past it all. I am so tired of just laying in bed all day and feel completely useless.

Is there anything that helped any of you get thru this while you were pregnant? Tyelonol PM doesn't even help me sleep these days and Emetrol barely controls the nausea....

[kristine]

I was 5 weeks pregnant when I started weaning myself off. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard about just stopping especially with this drug. I don't know if this will help, but I was on 150mg so I took that for a week then I dropped down to 112.5 for a week then I dropped down to 75mg for one week, then 37.5 and then completely done. I felt light headed more dizzy just felt a little out of it for about a week and a half, but I am really proud of myself because it wasn't easy you just have to keep telling yourself it could be worse and you can also take tylenol for headaches. I still get headaches, but it's so much better you having the withdrawls then your baby when there born. Good luck and I really hope it helped. Stay strong and you can do it.

[princesspatton]

Kristin- How long were you on the drug? Did you get support from your OB while coming off this drug during pregnancy? Thanks for your story-my newest issue is the anxiousness. I am so restless and my mind is going at 100 miles an hour which has made it hard to sleep the past few nights and tylenol PM does'nt help that. All I keep telling myself is I'm one day closer to it being over.

[kristine]

I think that's the best that you can do. I do have my anxiety back mine I think is different though it more so happens when I am out shopping or something like that, but it could be worse. I was on anti depressents for about three years, but on effexor for about 6 months. I haven't been to my first ob yet I am only nine weeks, my apt is tommorrow. I went to my family doc since that is who I was perscribed the drugs by. Well good luck and the withdrawls should be coming close to being over.