Posted by SLS on July 10, 2005, at 9:59:15
In reply to Pregnant and quitting Effexor cold turkey, posted by momma_meg on July 9, 2005, at 22:18:48
> hopefully stopping by my 3rd trimester (when studies have shown the drug crosses the placenta).
Does the drug cross the placenta in the 1st and 2nd trimesters?
> I've been thinking of tapering until my first appointment with my OB and then see what he says.
I am partial to your discontinuing Effexor using a taper. You should be able to do this within two weeks. Even if the Effexor doesn't cross the placenta, stress hormones do (cortisol). Going through an intense withdrawal period might be as distressing to the fetus as it is for you.
Perhaps you can try combining a flexible-dose strategy to taper Effexor while adding some of the vitamins and supplements suggested by Rabble_Rouser.
A flexible-dose strategy gives you more control over your withdrawal symptoms. With Effexor, I think it is particularly important to take smaller amounts of drug more frequently during the day - perhaps 3-4 times a day. You might want to experiment to find the minimum dose that allows you to go 6-8 hours without experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. Once you begin to feel the withdrawal symproms return, only then do you take your next dose. It is sort of like taking aspirin only when you feel a headache coming on. I believe this method forces the system to re-regulate itself to normalcy much more quickly. I have submitted quite a few posts describing in more detail how to go about using the flexible-dose method. You should be able to find them archived on the board and by using the search function.
If you don't have tablets, you might have to do what others have done - count the beads located within the capsules and dividing them up into smaller doses. How about starting with 18.75mg (1/2 37.5 capsules) 3-4 times a day taken only when you need to? When this dose amount is capable of preventing withdrawal symptoms from appearing for over 8 hours, try reducing the dose size. Absolute precision in dividing the doses is not necessary because there is a 6-8 hour window of activity. Continue this way until no further reduction is able to last at least 6 hours. This is the point at which you discontinue the drug entirely. Again, it is important to allow the withdrawal symptoms to reappear before taking your next dose. However, don't let them persist for more than 30-60 minutes before taking more Effexor.
I can discontinue taking 300mg of Effexor in less than two weeks using this flexible dosing strategy. Without it, I, too, experience all of the familiar withdrawal effects. I am not somehow immune to a withdrawal syndrome.
Confusing? Probably. What questions do you have?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:525591
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050611/msgs/525710.html