Effexor and Pregnancy

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

Effexor (venlafaxine) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), an antidepressant. It is available in tablet form and in an extended-release capsule. Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Effexor is not approved for use in bipolar disorder. Effexor is prescribed for adults 18 years old and older and is not approved for pediatric use. Sufficient studies have not been performed to determine Effexor's safety for use during pregnancy.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Effexor can be prescribed for off-label uses, which means that the FDA has not approved the medication for these conditions. Some of the more common off-label uses of Effexor include peripheral neuropathy, prevention of migraines, hot flashes (both as a result of menopause and resulting from breast cancer treatments), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, many patients have been shown to lose weight when taking Effexor. Large scale studies supporting these and other off-label uses of Effexor have not been done.^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Contents 1 Effexor and Pregnancy Category C 2 Effexor and Breastfeeding 3 About Drug Side Effects 4 References

Effexor and Pregnancy Category C

The FDA has rated Effexor as Pregnancy Category C, which means that animal studies have shown some risk. There are inadequate human studies to determine safety. Doctors may prescribe Effexor for pregnant patients if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the infant. Antidepressant medications are known to cross the placenta and reach the fetus.^{[3] [10]}

Two studies have been performed which show that the use of Effexor during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.^{[11] [12]} There are also studies which show that pregnant women who use Effexor late in the third trimester may deliver newborns who have complications requiring hospitalization, breathing support, and tube feeding.^{[1] [13]} Some patients taper off Effexor during pregnancy, stopping it completely during part or all of the third trimester, to begin again immediately after giving birth to address the potential problem of postpartum depression.^[10]

Effexor and Breastfeeding

Effexor has been shown to pass into human milk. Taking the lowest possible dose has been shown to reduce the amount of Effexor in the milk, and to reduce side effects. It may be necessary to adjust the time of day the patient takes the medication, to reduce the patient's dose, or to discontinue breastfeeding.^{[3] [10]}

About Drug Side Effects

Also See: Effexor XR Patient Assistance Programs, Effexor XR Coupons, Effexor XR Free Samples, Effexor XR Side Effects, Pfizer Patient Assistance Programs, Trazodone and Pregnancy, Lexapro, Pristiq, Abilify, Cymbalta

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000947/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} http://www.effexor.com/effexor-xr-treatment.aspx
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} http://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=100
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=11631
5. ↑ http://idahodur.isu.edu/leaflets/2006/Neuropathic%20Pain%20Treatments.pdf
6. ↑ http://depression.emedtv.com/effexor/effexor-and-migraine-headaches.html
7. ↑ http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/menopausal/facing/hot_flashes.jsp
8. ↑ http://www.cfids.org/archives/2001rr/2001-rr3-article01.asp
9. ↑ http://depression.emedtv.com/effexor/effexor-and-fibromyalgia.html
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/complete-index.shtml
11. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19863482
12. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900326/?tool=pmcentrez
13. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm154975.htm