AboutTrey McGowan Expertise My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it.
Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience I am 14 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
Question Hi Trey, I was wondering if you have ever come across any links between taking effexor ( SSRI anti-depressant) during pregnancy and links to autism or PDD in the developing child. Thanks very much, Julie
Answer Hi there, Julie!
None.
Sincerely, T-....
Well, I suppose that would be an unsatisfying answer, just in itself. And I don't know if the AllExperts list would even let an answer be that short. :) Therefore, I did a skim through the ites that I usually use about the drug you're mentioning. And not once in the read-through of those links did I come across a single link between the two. Effexor, when taken in pregnancy, does seem to cross the placenta (in other words, the drug will get into the baby's system), but in trials, there has been some sign of various difficulties in the child, likely caused more by withdrawal than by the actual drug itself. However, the difficulties do not seem to be a lasting 'birth defect', so much as reactions: hypertension, trembling, difficulty feeding, and the like.
Hopefully that helped answer your question and reassured you at least a little bit! Or if not, educated you. Questions, comments, feedback, follow-ups, are quite welcome!
