Pristiq

Pristiq is basically the next generation of Effexor XR, but unlike Effexor (a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), Pristiq is a SNRI (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor. It works on 2 chemicals in the brain vs. the one that most depression medications affect. The only other SNRI on the market is Cymbalta.

I'd talk to your OB/GYN. They'll prescribe the medication if the benefits of its use are greater than the risks to your baby. It is Pregnancy Category C - it means that the manufacturer has either not studied it in pregnant women (or the studies have not been evaluated by the FDA). There may be data available to your OB or pharmacist on how it may affect your baby while you're pregnant.

Women are commonly on anti-depressants during pregnancy, but only when it's vital for them to get through it. I've worked in the pharmaceutical industry for the past decade, and I would not personally choose to take a medication during pregnancy for which there is no data available. Just my personal preference as a mother and a biologist.

Here is the information that the FDA has approved Pristiq for. You may want to print it off and discuss either with your OB or a pharmacist. Don't take anyone's advice here as the gold standard - each medication will react in each person differently.
http://www.wyeth.com/content/showlabeling.asp?id=497

I agree with Dana...do not count on us for answers to this...only your OB/GYN and Pharmacist should be giving you advice on this!!! Personally, I would tend to really listen more to your Pharmacist...because he/she is trained in all of the drug interactions and precautions. (I work for a Pharmacy so I am predjudiced...lol) I see that you also asked another question about another medication...same advice holds for that.

change med's if you can. my husband and i tried this medication (after going thru 3-4 each...finding the right one is hard!) and it made us, um, not well! after talking to my shrink (he knows this stuff) i have heard that a lot of people have a hard time taking it, once it kicks in...hold on!...and they have a HORRIBLE time getting off. We actually took our old pills and tried to flush them down the toilet...8 days later, they were still undissolved...think what that does to your body!!
Hope this helps! Send me an e-mail if you want more info :)
Good Luck!

My OB prescribed it for me when I had some depression last summer. I'm pretty sure that I read on the info sheet that it was OK to take while pregnant, but check with your prescribing doctor to make sure it's OK for you to take. I wasn't pregnant, but was breastfeeding at the time, so it seems like it could be OK. If you DO have to come off it, your doctor will work with you on weaning you off it so you don't have the crazy reactions you do if you miss a day. There's a right way to do it. Stopping cold turkey is NOT that way. Good luck!