Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken venlafaxine?
If the father uses venlafaxine, we wouldn’t anticipate that your baby will be at any greater risk.
According to the studies examined, it is unknown whether venlafaxine can result in additional pregnancy-related issues, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). When venlafaxine is used during pregnancy, some studies have suggested a higher risk of preterm delivery, while other studies have not. Depression during pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy complications if it is not treated or not treated properly. Please see our fact sheet on depression and pregnancy at https://mothertobaby.com for more details. org/fact-sheets/depression-pregnancy/pdf/.
Venlafaxine passes into breastmilk. Rarely have side effects in nursing children been documented. Contact the child’s healthcare provider if you think your infant may be experiencing any of the following symptoms: unusually high levels of sleepiness, difficulty gaining weight, dizziness, restlessness, and excessive perspiration. Infant blood levels can be taken if there is a concern.
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect This is called the background risk. It is unknown if venlafaxine raises the risk of birth defects above the background risk, according to the studies examined. Some studies suggested that taking venlafaxine while pregnant may increase your risk of having a child with birth defects. Other studies have not confirmed these findings.
No human studies have been conducted to determine whether venlafaxine might affect fertility or raise the baseline risk of birth defects. In general, fathers’ or sperm donors’ exposures are unlikely to raise pregnancy risks. Please visit the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.com for more details. org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.
Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. According to one study, venlafaxine users may be more likely to miscarry. Other studies have not reported an increase chance of miscarriage. It can be difficult to determine whether a medication, the condition it treats, or other factors are the cause of a miscarriage because depression itself may increase the likelihood of miscarriage.
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
It’s crucial to properly treat mental health issues in order to ensure your wellbeing during pregnancy and while caring for your child. Venlafaxine should not be abruptly stopped as this increases the risk of relapse and the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Only when absolutely necessary will your doctor prescribe medication, and he or she will be more than willing to discuss any worries you may have with you.
Please consult your doctor or a specialist before stopping venlafaxine.