safe detox of effexor while pregnant

I just found out I'm pregnant and Im curently weening off effexor. Is this safe? What could possibable happen to the baby?

It is better to be weening off the drug than to continue taking it when you're pregnant. Effexor is harmful to a baby, especially when you are in the later stages of pregnancy. Here is a quote from a site:
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Quote:

Effexor may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

I think it is good to call your pharmacist if you want to know more. They should know!

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Hi, I have the same question. I'm going to wean off slowly, so I don't have awful withdrawal. I think it's safer for my body and baby to keep my sanity and go off over a couple months. Then any dose to the baby will slowly go down too, so as not to shock it. This is just me opinion.... but you have to do what's right for you and be healthy, body AND mind.

hello to answer you worried question everyone is different but i took 150 mg of effexor everyday when i was pregnant the whole time and my baby was very healthy and nothing was wrong with her. she is ahead in everything she does i hope this helps a little

I am pregnant and I've made the decision to go off my effexor and, hopefully, switch to a lower dosage of another antidepressant that has been studied better during pregnancy. I've been on 225mg effexor daily for over 8 years now and I'm terrified of the effects that ssri's and snri's can have on the newborn: seizures, uncontrollable crying, pulmonary complications, longer neonatal icu stays, and more. I have had a horrible time with withdrawal the times I missed doses - these were due to lack of money. I had horrible shiver-things that just took over my body. Headaches. Disorientation. I just can't imagine putting my baby through that kind of withdrawal.

My psychiatrist believes that the mother's emotional stability is extremely important during pregnancy and that it is in my best interest to just stick with the effexor during the pregnancy. Due to hormonal shifts in pregnancy, it is better to wait until after the pregnancy to begin experimenting. Regardless, she has set me up on a taper plan for the effexor and starting zoloft. I remember taking zoloft in college. It left me a little flat (flat affect) and my libido was nil, but it was not a problem going off the zoloft. This way, I can at least say that I have made my strongest effort to ensure that my baby will have a healthy start.

This is week #2 of the taper. Week #1 was 200 mg: 150mg extended release and 50 mg direct release. 4 hours after my morning dosage, I crashed for a full 40 minutes - I think that was the direct release dose doing that. This week, I'm taking 175mg: 150mg extended release and 25mg direct release. 4 hours after my dose, I'm crashing, but it's not as severe, thank goodness. I'm scheduled to take a total of 2 months to taper off the effexor. I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit down. I'm not supposed to start the zoloft until next week, but I may start a little sooner.

I wish there was a support system for pregnant women trying to come off anti-depressants.

jaylynn wrote:

I just found out I'm pregnant and Im curently weening off effexor. Is this safe? What could possibable happen to the baby?

A lot of mothers to be actually end up having healthy babies with no effects. I think it's possible but if you can go off the Effexor prior to your third trimester that is even better, sadly not everyone is able to do that.

But if you are able to taper off, likely the better.

I took 150mg effexor during pregnancy, and strongly recommend NOT the drug. We all know how we feel if we forget it for a day or two. Just imagine the withdrawl that baby would feel. I was never told about the excessive crying etc. by my doc. Just that the pro's outway the etc..The uncontrollable crying is really mind blowing. Its hard/exhausting as a parent to enjoy your last child (3rd) when your constantly trying to figure out what might be causing this excessive crying. My son now 2 1/2, still has excessive crying/whining, sensitivity to clothes etc. Needless to say after trying everything imaginable I know it was the effexor that caused this!