Can the anti-depressant Effexor harm fetal development?
A. Most women and their doctors try to avoid using medications during pregnancy. Of greatest concern is that a medication used during pregnancy may in some way harm the developing fetus or, at the very worst, cause a birth defect. But what happens when a pregnant woman needs to take a medication? There are now data to support the reproductive safety of certain antidepressants, including Prozac (fluoxetine), the older tricyclic antidepressants, and to some extent Celexa (citalopram). Over 2500 women have taken Prozac during pregnancy, and there has been no reported increase in risk for birth defects among exposed children, even when medication was taken during the first trimester. Another study reported good outcomes in 375 children exposed to Celexa during pregnancy. In contrast, we have less information available on the reproductive safety of other antidepressants, such as Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Effexor (venlafaxine). Recent studies suggest th
