Want to switch from Effexor while PG

[heathergirl67]

I was pregnant for ten weeks early in 2009. While I was pregnant I was on Effexor and everyone (psychiatrist, OB, nurse-midwife) said that it was fine and it shouldn't be a problem. So I kept taking it. I was also on Neurontin and I dropped it like a hot potato. That led to a couple of weeks of misery, but it turns out that I didn't need it after all, so that's one less med that I need to take now. I tried stopping the Effexor but that was NOT happening.

We are TTC again and I would like to take something more-pregnancy friendly. These are the meds that I've taken that haven't worked for me:
Zoloft
Remeron
Zyprexa
Lithium
Depakote

There may be others, but I can't remember them off the top of my head. Effexor has been working beautifully for me for the past ten years, so I haven't had the need to try anything different. But I'm willing to take the leap if it will mean a healthier environment for my future fetus.

My questions:
1. If you were on Effexor (and it worked for you), got pregnant, and switched to something safer, what was it? Did it work for you? What ended up working for you during your pregnancy?
2. Do you think I should stick with trying out another SNRI?
3. Are there any SNRI's that are safer during pregnancy than others?


Thanks in advance!

P.S. I will, of course, ask my psychiatrist about this. I just won't be able to see him for a few weeks and I'd like to do some research.

Also, I'm confident that the death of my baby had nothing to do with the medications I took. It had a poor heartbeat, difficulty growing, etc. There was obviously something wrong with it.

[sunyata]

I was on Effexor when I got pregnant with my dd a few years ago, and I stopped taking it. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on Effexor throughout a pregnancy. From what I've read, there isn't enough research to conclude that it causes problems, but the results of a study of 150 women who were taking it while pregnant weren't exactly promising (higher rates of complications, but not high enough to prove that the med was related to them). Perhaps you already know this.

Anyway, I was ok without meds while pregnant and my psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin afterwards, when I was breastfeeding. Wellbutrin was pretty decent for my depression, but definitely increased my anxiety (a common reaction--I'm not sure if you deal with anxiety). I managed ok with this until dd weaned and am now back on Effexor, but had to go to a higher dose. I was previously on 75mg and had to raise it to 150mg for it to work.

FYI, I've seen others mention on here that they would not take Wellbutrin while pregnant because not enough is known about the drug. My psychiatrist told me it was a Class B drug (presumed safe during pregnancy based on animal studies), while all other SSRI's were Class C drugs (possible safety concerns during pregnancy). I've read lately that Wellbutrin is Class C--not sure if it's changed or if that's misinformation.

Prozac is one medication that is usually considered safe for pregnancy, I believe, and isn't on your list of meds that you've tried.

Other than that, I don't know a lot about the other SNRI's.

[jillmamma]

Hope this is not too much delay for me to post, but I also was on Effexor for clinical depression before my last pregnancy, and had taken Prozac in the past (worked for awhile, then stopped working which was why I was then on Effexor). So my midwives recommended I see a psychiatrist for my depression and to manage my meds during preg/bf. She switched me back to Prozac starting at a low dosage (20 mg), then tried 30 mg and finally 40 mg which was working well for me for the last part of pregnancy/immediate postpartum period. I go back tomorrow, and may need another adjustment because I am dealing with PPD again the last month or so. With both my other two it hit hardest at about 3-4 months too, so I am not all that surprised. I had a very healthy pregnancy and drug free vaginal birth to a 7 lb 4 oz healthy baby girl who is growing well on mama milk (3 months today). So that is my experience if it helps. Also, to switch me, I literally stopped Effexor one day, and started Prozac the next. I had a few side effects (some nausea, dizziness, tiredness), but not NEAR as bad as when I did not get Effexor refilled in time once and skipped a few days.