Effexor ’s Link to Birth Defects

I was reading about all the lawsuits filed against Wyeth (Pfizer) for the use of Effexor (venlafaxine) in pregnant women. Effexor is an antidepressant from a group of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). It is similar to Prozac and Zoloft that it is used to treat major depression and anxiety disorder. While Prozac works on serotonin, Effexor works on serotonin and norepinephrine by preventing both chemicals from being reabsorbed by the nervous system. This increases the electrical impulses to flow in the nervous system and throughout the brain.

Effexor Side Effects

The side effects for Effexor include amnesia, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, increased sweating, constipation and decreased sexual function. The black warning label is also tagged on this product for suicide regardless of age. Now, if you are using to treat children, it may slow growth or add weight gain. Childhood obesity wasn’t enough of an issue thanks to snacks. What makes it worse is the heightened risk of miscarriage in pregnant women along with a greater tendency for birth defects. If depression wasn’t bad enough, imagine birthing a child and having a birth defect due to Effexor. The thought is frightening and lawyers are on it.

Pregnancy

Let’s start with miscarriages which based on studies shows that pregnant women using Effexor are twice more likely to have a miscarriage than taking Prozac or Zoloft. I have seen first hand how miscarriages affect women, they do get depressed. So I assume, more prescriptions of antidepressants are needed and hence a greater opportunity for miscarriages. Looks to me like a vicious and self inflicting cycle. Imagine all that care used to nurture a newborn and make sure it is completely healthy is damaged by one little pill.

Birth Defects

When it comes to birth defects, they do range in size and scope. Based on studies, the types of defects seen are abdominal birth defects (intestine sticking out of the navel or a third nipple), cranial birth defects (premature closing of the joints in the skull before brain growth is complete), persistent pulmonary hypertension (underdeveloped blood flow to the lungs) and heart defects that cause a weakening of heart tissue. These side effects alter the life of children because they would need constant medical care.

Effexor (venlafaxine) is well absorbed by the body which is good and bad. The good part about it is the drug is very effective and begins to works quickly. The bad part about Effexor (venlafaxine) is that withdrawal is very hard and can cause bouts of fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache, insomnia, and nervousness. You can’t stop cold turkey; you have to slowly wean yourself off the drug over a couple of weeks. Most other antidepressants work in similar ways.

It will be interesting to see what comes of these lawsuits. Pharmaceutical companies have made billions of dollars on antidepressants but  chances are, the payouts will be small.

Have you been pregnant under Effexor?