Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Antidepressants in Pregnancy | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
Can you please share with me all that you know about the antidepressant Effexor? My daughter has been on this medication for some months now (taking the 150 milligram dosage). She is two months pregnant and just stopped taking the medicine. It is really difficult to get any answers from doctors. Even the nurses I work with are at a loss. Thanks for any information you might have for us.— Grammy to Be in Bremerton, WA | | | ANSWER |
September 17, 2001 | | | Dear Grammy to Be,
The reason you are having difficulty getting answers is probably because there isn't much information on venlafaxine (Effexor) in pregnancy. Very little research has been done. In animal studies, there was no evidence of any birth defects at levels proportionally greater than the dosages people take. But there was only one published study on use in pregnant humans, and only four babies whose mothers used Effexor were able to be checked. There was no evidence of a problem, but obviously this isn't a very large number to evaluate.
Often psychotherapy can be as helpful as medication for mild depression, and avoids exposing the baby to any chemicals. Many experts recommend switching to Prozac (fluoxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline) if an antidepressant is needed, since there is quite a bit of research on these two medications in pregnancy. In a registry of 1500 women who took Prozac during pregnancy, there was no increase in the risk of major birth defects, and studies of behavior in these children have also been reassuring.
While it is a good idea to try to avoid taking unnecessary medication in pregnancy, keep in mind that a history of depression is one of the risk factors for depression in pregnancy and particularly for postpartum depression. It's a good idea for your daughter to let her doctor know about her history, and for all of you to be informed about the symptoms of postpartum depression so she can get help if it is needed.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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