Is it safe to take Xanax while pregnant?
Jul 23, 2021 · Xanax is not safe to take during pregnancy. It’s a pregnancy category D drug, which means it can harm your pregnancy. The effects on a pregnancy depend on when in the pregnancy you take Xanax. It...
What drugs are safe for pregnancy?
Can Xanax Use Affect Pregnancy? Yes. Abusing Xanax while pregnant can lead to dependence, addiction, maternal and neonatal withdrawal, and birth defects. Research has found that Xanax can lead to birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome (withdrawal). Still, up to 33 percent of women receive psychotropic drugs like Xanax while pregnant.
Can you take Xanax while pregnant?
There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of using Xanax while pregnant. If you use Xanax (or drugs like Xanax) and are pregnant or plan to get pregnant, you should discuss this with your physician immediately. Typically, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of any prescription drugs you’re taking while pregnant.
What medications are safe to take while pregnant?
Apr 04, 2022 · Is Xanax Safe During Pregnancy? Xanax is not recommended during pregnancy because it can have an adverse effect on your fetus. It is a pregnancy category D drug, which means that Xanax is known to have adverse reactions in humans. Xanax reaches the fetus through the bloodstream and makes the baby addicted to this drug.
How to help mood issues?
Natural supplements and herbal remedies. Yoga. Acupuncture has long been touted as an appropriate treatment for mood issues. PsychCentral reports a 42 percent improvement in depressive symptoms in a treatment group compared to just 22 percent improvement in a placebo group.
Can you stop taking Xanax while pregnant?
If a woman is abusing Xanax and pregnant, the sooner she can stop taking the drug, the better off she and her baby will be. That being said, quitting Xanax abruptly is never advised, not even when a woman is expecting. Not only is withdrawal too intense for the mom; it is even harder on a developing child. Weaning off Xanax via medical detox is even more important while pregnant, and the duration of the tapering period may be extended somewhat to facilitate a calmer experience.
How many people were treated for drug abuse in 2009?
In fact, 1.2 million people who were treated in emergency rooms in 2009 had problems that arose from pharmaceutical drug abuse, whereas only 974,000 people were treated for similar problems stemming from illicit drug abuse, the White House reports.
Can pregnant women take Xanax?
Even when anxiety and depression are present, there are certain individuals who should not use Xanax. Pregnant women fall into that category. Xanax — a brand name for alprazolam — is a prescription benzodiazepine that works by calming central nervous system impulses. As neurotransmitters fire off in the brain, they cause emotional ...
Is Xanax safe for pregnant women?
When Is Xanax Not Safe? Mental health disorders that warrant the need for a medication like Xanax occur in around 500,000 pregnant women every single year, according to Harvard Health Publications. Women are more likely to receive a prescription for a benzodiazepine than men are, per EMedicineHealth.
Is Xanax safe for babies?
These babies often exhibit symptoms, such as irritability and trouble sleeping, when the drug use ceases. Xanax is excreted in breastmilk, so it is also unsafe for use in non-pregnant nursing mothers as it can be passed on to infants.
Is Xanax a controlled substance?
Xanax is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance and Category D risk in pregnancy. This means studies have been completed on the drug, and it has been proven to carry certain risks. Risks to a developing fetus are numerous.
What happens if a baby is addicted to Xanax?
If a baby is born addicted to Xanax, he or she will likely suffer from symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome. This could interfere with maternal-child bonding. Additionally, babies who suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome may also face long-term risks to their health.
Why do women take Xanax during pregnancy?
Even though Xanax use can put the baby at risk, many women continue to take Xanax throughout their pregnancy because they are dependent on the drug.
Can pregnant women go to rehab?
In an inpatient rehab center, pregnant women can detox in a safe and supportive environment. Medical care, addiction education, and parenting classes may be provided. Certain programs may take private or public health insurance, including Medicaid.
Can pregnant women stop taking Xanax?
Pregnant women who are struggling with Xanax abuse and addiction can find help in specialized treatment programs. Many inpatient rehab centers provide customized care to women who are pregnant and want to stop taking Xanax.
Can Xanax be taken under medical supervision?
depression. uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body. seizures. Withdrawing from a benzodiazepine like Xanax can be life-threatening, and should always take place under medical supervision. Medical detox programs exist in order to help patients through the difficult withdrawal stage.
Can Xanax cause addiction?
Additionally, abusing Xanax increases a person’s risk of physical dependence, tolerance, and addiction. These side effects can be especially risky for women who are pregnant and could have an effect on their developing baby. If a pregnant woman stops using the drug suddenly, she may experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms such as suicidal ideation ...
Can you take Xanax while pregnant?
Yes. Abusi ng Xanax while pregnant can lead to dependence, addiction, maternal and neonatal withdrawal, and birth defects. Research has found that Xanax can lead to birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome (withdrawal). Still, up to 33 percent of women receive psychotropic drugs like Xanax while pregnant.
What is Xanax used for?
Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine medication which is commonly used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and seizures.
Why does Xanax pass through the placenta?
Exposure occurs because drugs or alcohol are likely to pass through the placenta to the fetus. All psychiatric medications, including Xanax, travel through the placenta, and some research has shown an increased risk of specific types of congenital disabilities.
What are the symptoms of hypotonia?
Symptoms of hypotonia may include the following: Lethargy. Weak cry or quiet voice. Impaired respiration. Problems with feeding. Poor head control. Limpness and hanging limbs. It’s crucial to remember that there is still some controversy surrounding the safety of using Xanax while pregnant.
What was the clinical review of the 1970s?
Still, a clinical review from the 1970s proposed an increased risk of facial clefts and other malformations. However, the researchers acknowledged that many of the women examined in the study had complex psychological problems and were using multiple medications, which also could have contributed to defects.
Is Xanax bad for pregnancy?
There is also an increased risk of heightened anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Discussing the pros and cons of discontinuing Xanax with a medical professional is, ultimately, the best way to make an informed decision regarding the health of both you and your baby.
Is Xanax safe for pregnant women?
December 31, 2019. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of using Xanax while pregnant. If you use Xanax (or drugs like Xanax) and are pregnant or plan to get pregnant, you should discuss this with your physician immediately. Typically, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of any prescription drugs you’re taking while pregnant.
Can benzodiazepine be used in pregnancy?
Deciding how to navigate this difficult situation is one of the best reasons to consult with your health care provider immediately. Long-term benzodiazepine use can result in dependence in both the mother and the unborn child. This is especially concerning when used late in pregnancy and in high dos es.
What is Xanax used for?
What Is Xanax? Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine drug approved by the FDA. It is used for treating anxiety disorders as benzodiazepine helps in calming the central nervous system (1).
What happens if you have a low Apgar score?
Low Apgar score can lead to difficulty in breathing and variation in heart rates and body temperature. If you have been on Xanax medication when you got pregnant, then ask your doctor about how and when you should stop taking the drug. Back to top. [ Read: Medication To Avoid During Pregnancy ]
How to get rid of anxiety after taking Xanax?
Meditation. Massage therapy. Natural supplements and herbal remedies (probiotics, L-theanine – an amino acid safe to use during pregnancy) Yoga. Make sure to consult your doctor before going for any alternative remedies for anxiety. Also, you need to be prepared to face Xanax withdrawal symptoms.
How long does floppy infant syndrome last?
Floppy infant syndrome effects can last two to three weeks after the birth of the child. The baby will have: weak muscles. poor control over their head, arms and legs, giving your baby a doll-like appearance (5). a low Apgar score (a measure of the physical condition of your baby).
Can Xanax cause cleft lip?
Taking Xanax during the first trimester can lead to birth defects, such as cleft palate and cleft lip, in your baby (2). It could affect the baby’s looks, body functions, and development. Xanax is assumed to carry an increased risk of congenital abnormalities when administered during the first trimester.
Can you take Xanax during the second trimester?
During the second and third trimesters. Taking Xanax during the second and third trimester can lead to: [ Read: Stress During Pregnancy ] 1. Withdrawal syndrome lasting for several weeks or months (3): Anxiety.
Can you take Xanax while pregnant?
Xanax is not recommended during pregnancy because it can have an adverse effect on your fetus. It is a pregnancy category D drug, which means that Xanax is known to have adverse reactions in humans. Xanax reaches the fetus through the bloodstream and makes the baby addicted to this drug. Not just that, the drug can harm you in each stage ...
Alprazolam Pregnancy Warnings
This drug is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and the benefit outweighs the risk, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. AU TGA pregnancy category: C US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned. Risk Summary: Use may be associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations.
Alprazolam Breastfeeding Warnings
Use is not recommended. -Some experts recommend: A decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Excreted into human milk: Yes Comments: -The American Academy of Pediatrics considers this agent a drug for which the effect on nursing infants is unknown but may be of concern. -Chronic administration of diazepam to nursing mothers has been reported to cause their infants to become lethargic and to lose weight..
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
How to calm yourself while pregnant?
There are plenty of ways for pregnant individuals to calm themselves. You might try yoga or some other exercise, take up a hobby, or keep a journal. Someone feeling anxiety should be open to talking to their doctor about it to ensure the solution is healthy for both the parent and developing pregnancy.
Can you take Xanax while pregnant?
Xanax and pregnancy do not mix; namely, pregnant individuals should not take this medication. Doing so puts the baby at risk for withdrawal after birth.
Is diazepam safe during pregnancy?
Some studies indicate that diazepam (Valium) may be useful during pregnancy, as well as chlordiazepoxide (Librium).
Category D
The FDA has a special kind of category system used for medication. According to this, Xanax is of category D. This means that there is clear evidence showing that the medication has a negative effect on the fetus.
What should you do?
The truth is that women rarely need to take a medication of this kind and this is why the doctors say that it is best to avoid it during pregnancy.
When Is Xanax Not Safe?
Complications in Pregnancy
- Women who suffer from anxiety before getting pregnant may experience a steep increase in symptoms while they’re expecting. Even those who have never had issues with anxiety at all can develop them while pregnant. Anxiety isn’t just a consequence of worry or going through a hard time. It is often spurred by hormonal fluctuations. In fact, women can experience many sympto…
Alternatives
- If a woman does get pregnant while using or abusing Xanax, alternative treatments may be used to address anxiety, such as: 1. Exercise 2. Acupuncture 3. Diet changes 4. Meditation 5. Massage therapy 6. Natural supplements and herbal remedies 7. Yoga Acupuncture has long been touted as an appropriate treatment for mood issues. PsychCentral reports a 42 percent improvement i…
Effective Treatment
- If a woman is abusing Xanax and pregnant, the sooner she can stop taking the drug, the better off she and her baby will be. That being said, quitting Xanax abruptly is never advised, not even when a woman is expecting. Not only is withdrawal too intense for the mom; it is even harder on a developing child. Weaning off Xanax via medical detox is eve...