EFFEXOR XR and pregnancy

[Lerry]

I've been taking Effexor XR for at least five years, and before that I was on another brand of anti-depressant.
      I have tried to wean myself off this medication before, as I hope to become pregnant, and it's effects on the unborn child were/are still unknown.
      I decreased from 150 mg to 75 mg, then spent about two weeks on 37 mg then stopped, but terrible withdrawl symptoms forced me to take it again 150 mg. I also kept taking the contraceptive pill.

       Recently, I tried to wean off it again, more gradually this time and spent over a month on 37 mg.
       The first and second days off it I suffered short 'eye-shakes' in one eye only. It was like everything was vibrating.
      The third day off I was extremely tired all day, kept going back to bed, felt depressed, fought with my parents, cried and had what other people describe as 'brain-zaps', (like sudden static electricity shocks).
      The fourth day off I went shopping and came home because I was feeling dizzy, as well as the other symptoms previously described.

       Should I go back on the 37 mg dose and have one every 2nd day, and then every 3rd or 4th day, and wean off it more gradually?  I no longer see that psychiatrist, who increased her fee dramatically and did nothing to improve my moods except prescribe me this shocking medicine, with no warning!

       Is anything known about the effects of this drug on unborn babies?  I am 39.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes you should wean yourself slowly on the scheudle you described.  You are also right about the risks being unknown, which means you should not be taking a chance.