Is anyone taking or took Venlafaxine/Effexor during pregnancy and was there any impact to your baby(ies)?

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Is anyone taking or took Venlafaxine/Effexor during pregnancy? Was there any impact to or any issues with your baby(ies) when born? I am currently on 150mg effexor XL.

I read that babies when they are born may have breathing problems and most of them are born jittery (and have to be given valium) due to the withdrawn symptoms.

Are you pregnant, or trying to get pregnant? You should speak to the Dr for advice.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/venlafaxine/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-venlafaxine/#:~:text=Venlafaxine%20and%20fertility,want%20to%20review%20your%20treatment.

Not either of those but am currently on sertraline. I was told by the midwife the risks are only small to baby and they would much rather you take your ADs and continue to treat your mental health as it can obviously be affected by pregnancy. Would be better to talk to your midwife and doctor, they can support you moving to other medication if needed

I was on 75mg when I got pregnant and slowly weaned off it over the course of the first trimester. My baby was fine. I didn't need it though or I wouldn't have come off it. I had recovered from depression already I just hadn't gotten around to coming off it before then due to lots of big life changes so it didn't seem the best time. Then when I was pregnant it didn't seem sensible to continue taking a medicine I didn't need.

I’ve had two babies on 225mg daily venlafaxine, both are completely fine, my eldest is 4 and is hitting five year old milestones in terms of physical and mental skills. I was put on this medication many years ago by a top psychiatrist who works also as a government advisor, he said he had never seen any adverse effects in women who were pregnant but this is always a little risk,but that mainly the drug company just like to cover themselves in terms of being sued to say there could be a risk if say one person has reported these side effects, but he said it was one of the safest to take. Each time I gave birth I stated in hospital a day or two so they could monitor baby for withdrawal effects, each time- no problem. I never reduced my dose as we thought on balance the risk was too small compared to the greater risk to my mental health by reducing the dose. Please don’t worry.,

I was on venlafaxine for both of my pregnancies and have two very happy and healthy children.

My eldest did spend time in NICU and had breathing difficulties when she was born but that was due to a difficult labour and delivery not due to my medication (she had an infection and a seizure which was scary at the time but 10 years on you would have no idea of her first few days being so fraught).

I breastfed them both which may have mitigated any potential withdrawal and we had to stay in 3 days with my son for observation to check for any withdrawal but he was absolutely fine and as I'd had a c section anyway it was only an extra day longer. They were not given any valium or other medication for withdrawal.

My GP liased with a psychiatristwho specialises in ante and post natal women and his view was that he had no concerns to continue the medication. There was a very limited study done of women who became pregnant while on Venlafaxine and it found no increased risk to mother or baby. This was pre 2013.

For me my mental health being stable during pregnancy was crucial and not taking the meds would have put me and my babies are far greater risk.

If you haven't already you could ask to be referred to mental health midwife to talk it through. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

Hello,

I know this is an older post but I am hoping for some answers. I am also currently on 150mg and pregnant. Did you end up tapering off or staying on during your pregnancy and how did that affect you?

I am thinking of getting off becauae I am worried about baby having withdrawals but worried about how I am going to feel tapering off as well.

Don’t change your dosage without discussing it with your doctor.

I was on 187.5mg/day during my pregnancy with my DD. She was completely fine when she was born with no withdrawal symptoms. My doctor and an obstetrician agreed that any possible risk to the developing baby was far outweighed by the advantages of having me taking my medication and being mentally healthy. Much better for the developing baby to have a happy and calm mum than a stressed out, anxious, depressed one. Frankly without the medication there was the possibility that me and the pregnancy wouldn’t make it to giving birth.

My maternity hospital had absolutely no issues with me taking the medication. Compared to a newborn withdrawing from illegal drugs, they weren’t worried at all about possible withdrawal from prescribed medication. They much preferred that I kept my mental health managed and stable.

Another reason for me to continue to take my meds throughout pregnancy and afterwards was to decrease the likelihood of PND/PPD. My doctor said that a depressed mother would be more detrimental for a newborn. I was able to enjoy my baby and interact with her and care for her and didn’t develop PND.