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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Neicy on July 2, 2002, at 21:19:27
I need some help please. My sister just found out she is (5-7 weeks)pregnant and was told her MD to go cold-turkey on her Effexor and Tofranil for the sake of the baby.
Doctor told her the w/d would be awful but she didn't understand what "awful" was. But she has just had what she described as the worse day of her life. She is also confused if the symptoms she is experiencing is from being pregnant or from w/d. She has had 3 children before and says this is worse than any pregnacy-related sickness she's had in the past.
She was taking 300 mg Effexor and 150 mg Tofranil a day for Bi-polar situation. Found out she was pregnant yesterday and stop all meds that morning.
Any help you can give would be appreciated about what is "normal" w/d patterns for either/or Effexor/Tofranil. As well as any advice about how to reduce symptoms of w/d from these drugs.
Posted by judy1 on July 2, 2002, at 23:13:28
In reply to w/d from Effexor / Tofranil - pregnant, posted by Neicy on July 2, 2002, at 21:19:27
Most ob/gyns will give that advice- quit cold turkey. But in a lot of cases that is worse for the fetus then the actual drug itself. Your sister needs to get a dialog going with her shrink and ob-gyn so that he understands that she needs to taper. Effexor is a very difficult med to quit 'cold-turkey', sorry I'm not familiar with trofanil. I just had a normal baby girl, am diagnosed bipolar 1 and stopped some meds gradually and stayed on one throughout my pregnancy. If I can help in any way let me know. Congrats to your sister!- judy
Posted by Neicy on July 2, 2002, at 23:28:18
In reply to Re: w/d from Effexor / Tofranil - pregnant » Neicy, posted by judy1 on July 2, 2002, at 23:13:28
Thanks Judy1,
Both sister's pdoc and obgyn want her off this NOW!! Am very familiar with her pdoc (is mine also) and trust him with my life.
Sister is sort of out of her head at the moment ~ definate w/d going on here. She can't even remember phone numbers and doesn't have energy to walk to kitchen to get phone list!! The kid is way sick!
I will pass on your thoughts to pdoc and to sister's husband ... hopefully these wise guys will see that cold turkey might not be the best option in this case.
Posted by chiron on July 7, 2002, at 20:29:46
In reply to w/d from Effexor / Tofranil - pregnant, posted by Neicy on July 2, 2002, at 21:19:27
Yes, she needs to go off slowly!!! My Effexor withdrawals were hell too. Miserable & agitated. Lasted for about 3 wks until I popped some Prozac, which seemed to help. Good luck to her.
This is the end of the thread.
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