Posted by Cam W. on April 24, 2000, at 7:31:48
In reply to Has anyone successfully quit effexor? how?, posted by Anne on April 23, 2000, at 17:26:10
Anne - I haven't answered your earlier post, as the situation with having a baby while depressed is a very complicated issue. I do not feel fully comfortable with giving advice in an area that there are no absolute rights and wrongs.
*Work very closely with your doctor throughout any pregnancy (with or without antidepressants.*
I can tell you how others have been able to stop Effexor. One way is to decrease the dose as low as possible (I believe that the XR version does come in a 37.5mg dose). Once you get to the lowest dose possible, without getting the withdrawl effects, your doctor can add 10mg of Prozac daily for 1 week. Then try to stop the Effexor. If you can tolerate this, take the Prozac for another week and stop it. Prozac's long half-life will take the edge off of the withdrawl symptoms by gradually leaving your system.
But, because Prozac has a long half-life, you will have to wait 5 weeks before you consider trying to get pregnant, if you want to be drug-free.
Also, there are issues around if it is better to be depressed and have a baby, or to be treated for depression while having a baby. Is it better to have some drug in your body (and your baby's) and not be depressed or to be depressed (with high levels of cortisol in yours and your baby's body) and be antidepressant-free? I cannot answer this question for you. You and your doctor have to come to that decision. Book a long appointment with your doctor to go over these issues.
Antidepressants have been used in pregnant women for years. The "Prozac babies" (babies whose mothers were taking Prozac while pregnant) are now reaching adulthood and, so far, there are no, out of the normal problems presenting themselves.
Sorry that I cannot be of more help than this - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000420/msgs/31143.html