EFFEXOR in pregnancy

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

Help plz

Iam 19 weeks and 3 days and have been taking Effexor 150mg daily for the last 2 years.
My doctors and mental health team are telling me its safe to continue to do so while pregnant but everything i have seen and read on the internet tell me otherwise.

Has anybody done this or know of anyone who has done this and gone on to deliver healthy baby?

CONFUSED:confused:


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[Gruffalo]

I was on the same as you when my bubs was only a few weeks old. I was breastfeeding and was told it was one of the safer ones, and so it was ok. Unfortunately though it didnt sit well with me. So as long as they know and they say it is ok, then I am sure everything will be fine :)

[lau]

Just wanted to reassure you. I have been on efexor for about 10 years now. I had a very healthy little girl in April this year. I let every doctor/nurse etc that i went to during my pregnancy know that i was on it, and not one even slightly reacted to that, they werent worried by this at all .
I continued on my regular dosage right through my pregnancy.
Any other questions regarding this, please feel free to pm me.

Oh, and find for breastfeeding too :)

[Blueberry Crumble]

It is safe to take during pregnancy.

Stay away from Google! lol

[lau]

I totally agree- stay away from google!!!! :yes:

Good luck!!:hugs:

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

Thanks to all who replied.
I have spoken with my doctor and midwife again this morning and we had a huge discussion about this and they both reassured me that it was all ok to take this and i will continue to do so.

Lau Congrats on ur little princess. You told me exactly what i wanted to know.

google has now been banned LOL:yelclap::yelclap:

[Ocelia]

I'm the same as you 19 weeks pregnant and on 150mg. I've come off them because I keep forgeting to take them everyday so I am in constant withdrawal which I swear is like heroin! Not what I want for my newborn and also it doesn't sit right with me. Also being pregnant the dosage didn't seem right as I was ok and then over the top emotional but I know any higher makes me suicidal (nasty side affect for me) not a risk I wanted to take. I'm struggling emotionally but physically glad the nausa and headaches have gone (side affects).

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

:yelclap:Congrats Ocelia:yelclap:

Ocelia i understand fully where you are coming from with the higher doseage thing im the same.
Atleast you were able to sort this out before anything major happened. Mine was realised after several attemps were made and a very close call and a stay in ICU.
Isnt it weird how some meds that are ment to help us can make us worse on rare occassions.
Glad you have found one that can work for you at the right dose.:)

Broni

[Mrs Molly Coddle]

Mummy2kobi - I stopped taking my effexor when I found out I was pregnant and went downhill very quickly. I was concerned, as you are, and my GP said "you know what? It's worse for that little baby if you are this stressed and upset all the time than it would be to take these pills." So there we go! In fact, it is one of the safer options
He is happy and healthy and so am I :)

Have a wonderful, happy, joyful pregnancy! Congratulations :goodvibes::goodvibes:

[anniemum]

This is interesting as I'm taking Effexor, but only 75mg, and I had a chat to my doctor about wanting to TTC no 2 (and therefore wanting to wean off the Effexor), and she convinced me to stay on it for a bit longer, and then I'll try to wean off with her supervision, and if it doesn't go to well she'll put me on a different brand of medication, one that would be safe during pregnancy. But from what I'm reading here, I should be right if I stay on the Effexor 75mg? I feel I'm doing quite well on the Effexor 75mg, and don't really want to change.

[anniemum]

PS....Sorry for asking my own question in someone else's thread :o

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

Anniemum dont be sorry bout askin questions in my post it is all related to the same medication in question.

After loads of discussions with Doctors, midwife and my Hubby I decided that i was best to stay on this medication coz like lambkin said in her post its better for baby that way as im not stressed out and all that.

My doctor said that if i was on the higher dose then they would look at droppin my dose but 150mg was considered ok so 75mg would be fine.

My Doctor/OBGYN has told me that my baby "maybe" a little unsettled for the first day or 2 but would be fine otherwise.
(How im ment to know if they are unsettled or just bein normal i have no idea coz they will be brand new and not in a routine yet).

[crusadersgirl]

I just replied in another thread about efexor and again i thank god for BubHub i feel; so much better about it now - it is hard when there is conflicting information.

[Myztik]

I was on Effexor 150mg when pregnant with my DS1. My doctors all assured me it was fine. DS1 was/is fine also :)

[Mumma_Duck]

This is just the thread I was looking for!!

I too am on Effexor and TTC #3. I was on 150mg but when Hubby and I wanted to try for another bub my Doctor reduced my dose to 75mg, which I am happy with coz I feel that I would better cope being on Effexor rather than not being on it at all. I also googled and was worried but after reading this thread I feel much more comfortable with continuing it.

Thanks Mummy2Kobi for this thread..

[lau]

Anniemum; i think you will be just fine sticking with the 75mg. I always told my nurses, doctors, midwifes that i was on it during my pregnancy and not one even flinched at that. No one asked ooooh, are you aware of the effects, or anything, so i think that shows that no one was worried at all. (i asked specifically about it as soon as i found out i was preg too, and the dr said it was fine)

Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy :)

[phiona]

hi guys thankyou u so much i have been reasearching the net all week stressing while talking effexor during my 4th pregancy and u have hepled me get over my anixety over it i feel 100% that its safe during pregnancy i was on 75mg but gonna go back to 37.5 as the side effects r not agreeing with me on 75, do any other ppl find the higher the dose the more side effects please help me:yelclap::confused:

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

I found the higher the dose the more side affects i got and the less useful it was for me.
I was lowered from 375mg to 150mg and found to be copin really well and then fell pregnant and even though i have had a rough pregnancy i have been stable right through pregnancy.

[lau]

So glad so many people have found this thread helpful.
Mummy2kobi- just wanted to pop in and wish you well for your birth- i know its not far to go for you now.
Can wait to hear that your little munchkin has arrived.

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

Lau thanks for the check up. Im over bein pregnant at the moment as we have had a heatwave here in adelaide and its ment to get back up to 41 in next day or 2.
Have had a few admissions to hospital due to high blood pressure but it isnt pre eclampsia so thats a good thing. they think it is all heat related.

Will let you know for sure when she arrives.

Thanks for caring

[phiona]

:yes::yes:hi guys just wanna say a big thanks spoke to my gp yesterday about my effexor she totally backed up what all u guys said, and that it will be fine and i am back on 37.5 again si am excited that i or we do fall this month now with number 4 . i can now try with releif and enjoy.

[mamastrength]

I am glad I found this forum to balance all the scary stuff I have been finding on Google. I am on 75mg and just entered into my second trimester. I was on 150mg with my son and he did not have any noticeable problems at birth. I am just so afraid but would rather stay on it if possible. I have been on it for years and years and I feel just fine right now, I would hate to mess that up.

[Hokey Pokey]

I am also of effexor and have been told it is fine to take during pregnancy and feeding.
I remember the first time I took them a few years ago and stopped ( I thought I was better :o) and the withdrawel period was awful (severe vertigo).

[aprileviesmum]

Does anyone know if it is safe to take effexor and telfast together?
I am on 75 effexor once daily.
Thankyou.:D

[Hokey Pokey]

Does anyone know if it is safe to take effexor and telfast together?
I am on 75 effexor once daily.
Thankyou.:D

I take quite a few different allergy relief medications with mine and telfast is one of them.

[Tinkers]

I was on effexor 75mg also and was advised to try and cease taking it prior to conceiving if it was possible. I have been off it for 2 wks now, the side affects of not taking it were not pleasant but I feel that if I can manage without taking it then it should be better for bubs well being and mine too!

[aprileviesmum]

I take quite a few different allergy relief medications with mine and telfast is one of them.

Thanks OopsieDaisy.:D

[Kayleys Mom]

I have been on Effexor for the past 4 years. And for the past 2 years have been on a dosage of 187.5 mg a day. I have recently found out I was pregnant, and was wondering about the effects it might have on my unborn child. I have had 3 miscarriages, and when I read some of the stuff online about the effects it could have on my baby, I started freaking out and crying. After reading this thread I feel a little better, but I think i'll always be a negative ninny, and it'll always be in the back of my head. What if my baby is born and there's something wrong with it? It'll be my fault :( I have a 7 year old daughter who is so excited about having a baby brother or baby sister, and if anything happens to my baby because I was sick and needed the pills I'm taking, i'll never be able to forgive myself. I don't know what to do! Even tho my doctor said it was okay to continue taking them IF the benefits out weighed the risks. And it's the "IF" that has me worried. I'm so stressed out right now, and I know it's not good for me or the baby, but I seriously can't help feeling this way :(

[over excited]

I'm almost 18 weeks and on 150mg daily and bubs looks fine! my doctor said its fine to be on it and that my mental state is more important for bubs.

[Indy8411]

Some babies can have withdrawals on effexor (they dont feed very well early on, they can have tremors, high temps, excessive sucking, increased muscle tone etc). I work in a nicu and see it often. In saying that though you need to discuss with your doctor what is best for you.

[MamaC]

The most important thing to remember is that you have to weigh up benefits vs. risks. Yes, bub *might* have withdrawals, but if you're worried about even surviving off the meds, let alone giving birth then the meds are worth the negative effects IMO.

Obviously the key is to be 100% upfront with your health care professionals about your past history, treatment that has worked in the past, current treatment and how you are feeling throughout your pregnancy.

:hugs: Good luck!