Medication during pregnancy

Okay.....I won't bore you with all the long details, but just wanting to know if anyone has been pregnant while using the medications I mention. Bearing in mind that I am now 15 weeks so past the first 12 weeks in which 'most' medication isn't recommended.

At week 10 I started having anxiety attacks at night and didn't get any restful sleep for 4 weeks. The doctor has prescribed me Efexor-XR which is for anxiety and depression. I've had them a week and still haven't touched them! She said that they will be fine for me to take. I also called the information centre on the box and was also told that they are ok. And by ok....its always with the usual 'there is always a risk'. Anyway...the doctor had said if I continued to have anxiety attacks that there could be effects to the placenta over time. I have done some research and read overseas forums where women have taken them. In America it is classed as C, but here, and Oz, its a class B2. I don't mind B2, but C scares me!
So.....has anyone taken any 'antidepressants' during pregnancy. I was prescribed it for anxiety, but the MMH nurse thought that depression could be creeping in due to issues in my past.

Then....today I have been given Metformin for gest diabetes. The doctor at the hospital said she is happy to prescribe to preg women, but does tell them that this medication does pass over the placenta,,,,whereas insulin does not, which I will probably be looking at in about a month or so. This medication is also sometimes given to women trying to conceive.
While there I was also given CAL.D.FORTE because blood came back I'm low in vit D and calcium. These are a once a month tablet.

And because I'm paranoid due to my heavy bleeding at 12 weeks, I asked to hear the heartbeat while there today, and it came through nicely on the doppler.
However, I am starting to spot and so starting to get worried again :(

Anyway....this was long lol

I know that taking the medication is a personal choice, and have been given the clear from doctors. But it would be nice to talk to others that have had to take medication while pregnant.

TIA :)

I took a tricyclic for the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy but it made me too sick and sleepy so I stopped it.

This on Efexor during pregnancy from Medsafe
Use in Pregnancy
Category: B2

The safety of venlafaxine in human pregnancy has not been established. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Venlafaxine must only be administered to pregnant women if the expected benefits outweigh the possible risks. Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy. If venlafaxine is used until or shortly before birth, discontinuation effects in the newborn should be considered.

Some neonates exposed to venlafaxine, other SNRIs (Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors), or SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), late in the third trimester have developed complications requiring prolonged hospitalisation, respiratory support, or tube feeding. Such complications can arise immediately upon delivery. Reported clinical findings have included respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnoea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycaemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyper-reflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability and constant crying. These features are consistent with either a direct toxic effect of SSRIs and SNRIs or, possibly, a drug discontinuation syndrome.

In a rat teratology study, venlafaxine was given orally at dosages up to 80 mg/kg/day (approximately 11 times the maximum recommended human dose). Foetotoxicity evidenced by growth retardation was slightly increased at 80 mg/kg/day, an effect which may be related to maternal toxicity at this dose level. Foetal survival and morphologic development were not affected. In another teratology study, rabbits were given venlafaxine dosages up to 90 mg/kg/day. Foetotoxicity evidenced by resorption and foetal loss was slightly increased at 90 mg/kg/day (approximately 12 times the maximum recommended human dose). These effects could be correlated with maternal toxicity. No venlafaxine-associated teratogenic effect was noted in either species at any dosage, though there was an increased incidence of 'W'-shaped apex of the heart in the rabbit study. In these studies, animal exposure to the main human metabolite ODV was less, and estimated exposure to venlafaxine was approximately 6-fold more than would be expected in humans taking the recommended therapeutic and maximum doses. In rats, estimated exposure to venlafaxine was more than the expected human exposure. No teratogenic effect was seen.

In a perinatal toxicity study in rats after oral dosing of dams with 30 mg/kg or more, decreased pup survival following birth was observed. This effect is secondary to treatment-decreased maternal care, and is also seen with other antidepressants.

And this on the Cal.D.forte
Use in Pregnancy:
Pregnancy - Problems in humans have not been documented with intake of normal daily requirements. Maternal hypercalcemia during pregnancy in humans may be associated with increased sensitivity to effects of vitamin D, suppression of parathyroid function, or a syndrome of peculiar (elfin) facies, mental retardation and congenital aortic stenosis in infants.

Overdosage of vitamin D has been associated with foetal abnormalities in animals. Animal studies have shown calcitriol to be teratogenic when given in doses 4 and 15 times the dose recommended for human use. Excessive doses of dihydrotachysterol are also teratogenic in animals. Animal studies have also shown calcifediol to be teratogenic when given in doses of 6 to 12 times the human dose.

FDA Pregnancy Category C

Hope this helps. This is the data for health professionals from Medsafe, they also have some Consumer Advice Sheets which are less technical.

Edited by Maya

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Edited by HUNTD

I am currently taking citalopram for depression/mood swings and my doctor (also my OB) has said he will take me off it for the 3rd trimester but hasn't explained why.
I assume for the reasons posted by Maya above. Very helpful by the way....

Apparently it is one of the safest SSRI's to be taken during pregnancy, but I hate to think what its really doing to mu baby. I just can't seen to do without it though, I sink really low again and get irritable.