Successful Pregnancy taking Wellbutrin

[Questionqueen]

I have a 4 year old and a 6 month old and just found out I am pregnant again.  I have been on a variety of antidepresents for 3 years and took Effexor during my second pregnancy. I have been on a combination of Effexor and Wellbutrin for 6 months.  Since finding out I am pregnant I have quit taking the Effexor all togeher and continue to take the Wellbutrin.  I am feeling fine at this time.  I have tried on several occasions to function without any medication, but found it not to work. I would like to hear from anyone who has taken Wellbutrin and/or Effexor during pregnancy.  Is there any research available regarding this issue?  What is the safest antidepressent to take during pregnancy?  Is a single type rather than multiple types safer?

[Still_AndiJ]

If it would make you feel any better, the books that doctors use "Drugs and Pregnancy in Lactation" states that Wellbutrin is a category B, which is considered very safe. I myself stopped Effexor, Buspar, and Ativan when pregnant with my son. I am thankful I made that decision because as you can attest to, going off of Effexor cold turkey can be quite painfull and you wouldn't want to do that to your baby : ) My doctor has stuck with allowing me to take EITHER Prozac or Wellbutrin and I am high-risk (just lost a baby last week, not related to meds)Good luck, hope this helped!!

Andrea
angel baby 6/03
Jonathan Avery 12/7/01
angel baby 8/00
angel baby 1/96
angel baby 11/92

[skwerlmomma]

Hello!  I took both Paxil and Wellbutrin during my last pregnancy which ended after 5 months.  The baby had severe hydrocephalus which basically prevented brain development.  At that point in my pregnancy, there was nothing they could do to remedy the situation.

My doctors do NOT think that our baby's problem was in any way due to the medication I was taking.  I'm not convinced the antidepressants had anything to do with it either.  However, I am now pregnant once more and have decided to stop taking the Wellbutrin.  I'm going to continue with the Paxil (only 10 mg per day) for at least the rest of the 1st trimester.  My decision is based on the fact that there is simply less known about the effects of Wellbutrin during pregnancy.

I don't want to scare you with my story because Wellbutrin may very well have had nothing to do with the terrible end to my last pregnancy.  But since so little is known (and I tried very hard to find any info I could before even attempting to conceive) I thought I should at least offer my experience so you can take it for what it's worth.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy pregnancy and birth!