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Effexor Xr and pregnancy
I am recently married and want nothing more than to start a family. I know the risk involved with being on effexor and I am TERRIFIED of coming off my medications. Effexor saved my life in regards to anxiety and panic attacks and now I am afraid to get pregnant. I know I want to be pregnant more than anything and to have a healthy baby but i'm not sure what to do. I take 37.5mg (the lowest dose) and don't know what to do. Anyone else been here?
wantsAhealthybaby
wantsAhealthybaby
Best Answer
I am actually in a very similar situation to you. I was taking heavy duty meds for anxiety and depression...Klonopin and Celexa. Within the past month, I stopped taking both because I didn't like what they were doing to me. I lost who I was and really didn't want to be stuck taking these heavy meds for the rest of my life.
Since then, I've been suffering with extreme anxiety. I can hardly drive anywhere and barely leave my house anymore. I try to drive short distances, just so I don't completely lose track of myself. All in all, it is quite a struggle.
Relating to you, though, I want nothing more than to have a baby. My boyfriend (who has 3 kids from a previous relationship) wants to have one with me, but won't even entertain the thought if I am taking heavy medication...or any medication for that matter. I agree with that, too. I don't want to risk harming my baby with any drugs I am on. But the problem then lies with how to control my anxiety while I am taking nothing for it. I have yet to find the solution to this problem. I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way you do. I have only ever wanted 1 thing in life and that was to be a mother. I cannot wait until the day comes where I can do that.
In the past, I have also gone to therapy for my anxiety, but always ended up quitting because it did nothing for me. I am at such a lose right now.
I wish you the best of luck and would like to hear if you do find anything that is 100% safe to take for anxiety and being pregnant.
Since then, I've been suffering with extreme anxiety. I can hardly drive anywhere and barely leave my house anymore. I try to drive short distances, just so I don't completely lose track of myself. All in all, it is quite a struggle.
Relating to you, though, I want nothing more than to have a baby. My boyfriend (who has 3 kids from a previous relationship) wants to have one with me, but won't even entertain the thought if I am taking heavy medication...or any medication for that matter. I agree with that, too. I don't want to risk harming my baby with any drugs I am on. But the problem then lies with how to control my anxiety while I am taking nothing for it. I have yet to find the solution to this problem. I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way you do. I have only ever wanted 1 thing in life and that was to be a mother. I cannot wait until the day comes where I can do that.
In the past, I have also gone to therapy for my anxiety, but always ended up quitting because it did nothing for me. I am at such a lose right now.
I wish you the best of luck and would like to hear if you do find anything that is 100% safe to take for anxiety and being pregnant.
This is a tough question. I have been where you are. During my first pregnancy my OCD went off the charts and I was told to try to make it to 3 months without medication because that is when everything is forming. I made it to 3.5 months and by then I was a complete wreck, couldn't eat, big time insomnia, etc. At 3.5 months I went on 20 mg of Prozac and as little klonopin as I could. My son turned out okay.
I stayed on 20 mg of Prozac for the entire pregnancy of my second son because I was like you and terrified about being back in that OCD/anxiety off the chart mode. He has ADHD. I do not think that came from taking the Prozac but who knows, it is not something I researched.
Back when I had children, 1994 and 1996, there really was not much literature out there on pregnancy and these medications, if any. I think I was the first for my OB/GYN. There were only a couple medications available. I also had a very good team of my psychologist along with my psychiatrist.
If I were you, I would do some research. Look up the trials on pregnancy and the different medications. Talk to a specialist that deals with pregnancy and anti-anxiety medication. I'm sure they are out there and can give you guidance. I know you saw the commercial on TV about calling some law firm if your child was born with a birth defect while taking some of these medications and Prozac was included on that list. That is very disconcerting to be sure. That is why I would do as much research as I could prior to getting pregnant. You need to feel good about your choice because stress as you know is also not good for the baby. Not eating is not good for the baby. Insomnia makes it so you cannot even function after a while.
Best of luck and post what you find so that others in the same situation can benefit. Even jot down the websites you have found to be useful. In the end it is a personal choice.
I am in no way advocating the use of medication during pregnancy, only relaying my own experiences.
I stayed on 20 mg of Prozac for the entire pregnancy of my second son because I was like you and terrified about being back in that OCD/anxiety off the chart mode. He has ADHD. I do not think that came from taking the Prozac but who knows, it is not something I researched.
Back when I had children, 1994 and 1996, there really was not much literature out there on pregnancy and these medications, if any. I think I was the first for my OB/GYN. There were only a couple medications available. I also had a very good team of my psychologist along with my psychiatrist.
If I were you, I would do some research. Look up the trials on pregnancy and the different medications. Talk to a specialist that deals with pregnancy and anti-anxiety medication. I'm sure they are out there and can give you guidance. I know you saw the commercial on TV about calling some law firm if your child was born with a birth defect while taking some of these medications and Prozac was included on that list. That is very disconcerting to be sure. That is why I would do as much research as I could prior to getting pregnant. You need to feel good about your choice because stress as you know is also not good for the baby. Not eating is not good for the baby. Insomnia makes it so you cannot even function after a while.
Best of luck and post what you find so that others in the same situation can benefit. Even jot down the websites you have found to be useful. In the end it is a personal choice.
I am in no way advocating the use of medication during pregnancy, only relaying my own experiences.
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The best thing to do is have a talk with your OB and involve both the prescribing doc AND your OB in the decision making process. In the end, the decision is solely yours...you have to carefully wiegh the benefits and risks. It's definitely not an easy task...so rely on the medical professionals to help you where they can.