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Can Effexor Cause Birth Defects During Pregnancy?
Posted on
Fri, 5 Jun 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 5 Jun 2015
Answered on
Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I take 375 mg of effexor xr is it true it can cause health risks to an unborn baby? Im 4 weeks pregnant and plan to terminate it for this reason and many others. What are the chances of going through ppd a second time ?
Brief Answer:
risks and benefits have to be weighed, its a cat-c drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, its true that effexor or venlafaxine can cause serious birth defects in foetuses of women who have been on effexor continuously before or during pregnancy. This is a category C drug and recommended to weigh the risks against benefits before use. There have been multiple birth defects documented in women who have used effexor during pregnancy, so FDA warns against its use before pregnancy. However the chances of birth defect is unpredictable.
A withdrawal from this drug after prolong use can initiate a withdrawal syndrome or discontinuation syndrome, suicidal thoughts and behaviors and serotonin syndrome. Therefore it would be wise to discuss with your treating doctor and weight the pros and cons of using it. Sometimes mild to moderate depression can be managed with psychotherapy, including counseling or other therapies. If your depression is moderate to severe or you have a recent history of depression, the risk of relapse might be greater than the risks associated with antidepressants.
Deciding how to treat depression during pregnancy isn't easy. The risks and benefits of taking medication during pregnancy must be weighed carefully.
Regards
risks and benefits have to be weighed, its a cat-c drug
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, its true that effexor or venlafaxine can cause serious birth defects in foetuses of women who have been on effexor continuously before or during pregnancy. This is a category C drug and recommended to weigh the risks against benefits before use. There have been multiple birth defects documented in women who have used effexor during pregnancy, so FDA warns against its use before pregnancy. However the chances of birth defect is unpredictable.
A withdrawal from this drug after prolong use can initiate a withdrawal syndrome or discontinuation syndrome, suicidal thoughts and behaviors and serotonin syndrome. Therefore it would be wise to discuss with your treating doctor and weight the pros and cons of using it. Sometimes mild to moderate depression can be managed with psychotherapy, including counseling or other therapies. If your depression is moderate to severe or you have a recent history of depression, the risk of relapse might be greater than the risks associated with antidepressants.
Deciding how to treat depression during pregnancy isn't easy. The risks and benefits of taking medication during pregnancy must be weighed carefully.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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