venflaxine & pregnancy

[mrsmacmc]

I don't know who else to speak to without being judged. I'm on venflaxine for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and hubs and I would like to dip our toe in starting to try for a LO. We've been married for just over 2 years. I'm worried that becoming a mum will either kill or cure me as I know it's best to not be on medication when pregnant.

Sorry if I'm not making sense a lot of decisions and things to take into account

L x

Can you speak to your GP about the meds and whether they are suitable to take when pregnant, there might be alternatives. Also speak to your GP about implications of being pregnant and your mental health. I think you are being really responsible thinking about this, before it happens.

Hi Floo

Thanks for your reply. I've got my review with GP next month so will ask about alternatives and also about the mental health V pregnancy debate I'm having in my head. Will update when I've been for review. My gut feeling is she will say off meds and that she can't advise about pregnancy v mental health as that's a personal choice

I did take venlafaxine throughout my third pregnancy (different anti-ds on my 1st and 2nd).

Wizzy do you find it helped you and was baby ok too? I'm worried that pregnancy will kill me rather than cure me. I want to be a mumma and hope that Mother Nature will bless us. I don't want to become a burden on my husband and leave him looking after me and a little one

I'm not only on Venlafaxine, by also on a secondary drug, Lamotragine. This is my third pregnancy on medication, and my older kids are fine.

I discussed taking drugs at length with my psychiatrist, and she maintained that it is better for the child to have a well mother (on meds) than to have someone who is struggling constantly. (I believe her view is grounded in research - she is quite a recognised researcher, but that it is also coloured by being a woman and a mother of 3). Also, it is unlikely that any anti-depressant drugs will ever be officially approved for use during pregnancy, as there are too many ethical issues that may come up during the testing protocols.

I was initially very uncomfortable with the thought, but then I realised that my own well-being is essential for being a good mother (especially in the 2nd and 3rd pregnancies).

My GP said I had to come off venlataxone ASAP when I found was pregnant. Coming off it was very hard- it's a really difficult drug to stop. to be honest, if I had known just how awful it is to wean off I would have insisted I was put on any other drug apart from that in the first place. If you have a choice of other medications I would very much recommend you do that instead- it was hell coming off, especially alongside preg symptoms- I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

*venlafaxine

Ps. According to my GP, ven is one of the more dangerous drugs for preg than other types- if you need to stay on, swap to something safer