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xanax in early pregnancy

by Tremaine Kilback MD Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Xanax is not safe to take during pregnancy. It’s a pregnancy category D drug. That means it can harm your pregnancy. The effects on the pregnancy depend on when in the pregnancy you take Xanax. It can cause serious problems throughout your entire pregnancy, though, so you should avoid it during all three trimesters.

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 can cause serious problems throughout your entire pregnancy, though, so you should avoid it during all three trimesters.

Full Answer

Is Advil safe during early pregnancy?

It's unlikely that one dose will harm your baby, but taking ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) is generally not recommended when you're pregnant, especially during the third trimester. Several studies have been done on the effects of ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and naproxen, during pregnancy.

Can you take Xanax while pregnant?

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.

What medications are safe to take while pregnant?

COMMON MEDICATIONS SAFE IN PREGNANCY Clindamycin ACNE: Benzoyl Peroxide Topical Erythromycin . Salicylic Acid. AVOID: Accutane Metamucil. Retin-A . Tetracycline . Minocycline

What is the pregnancy category for Xanax?

Xanax is not safe to use during pregnancy. It’s considered a pregnancy category D drug, meaning it can harm your pregnancy. It should be avoided at all costs. With that being said, if you’re using the drug, speak to your doctor about safely stopping as it can cause potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms.

Does Xanax affect implantation?

How could these drugs be harming pregnancies? “Benzodiazepines are anxiolytics and signaling molecules,” Berard said in an email. “It is believed that they disrupt binding and implantation when used in early pregnancy.”

Can Xanax cause early miscarriage?

WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnancy is often a time of heightened worry. But researchers warn that taking anti-anxiety drugs like Valium and Xanax may increase the risk of miscarriage.

What can I take for anxiety while pregnant?

SSRIs are generally considered an option during pregnancy, including citalopram (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft).

What pregnancy class is Xanax?

Safety of Psychiatric Medications During Pregnancy and LactationDrugFDA pregnancy category*Alprazolam (Xanax)DChlordiazepoxide (Librium)DClonazepam (Klonopin)DClorazepate (Tranxene)D62 more rows•Sep 15, 2008

Can anxiety cause pregnancy?

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.

Does Xanax cause mood disturbances?

As neurotransmitters fire off in the brain, they cause emotional and behavioral reactions. When levels of certain neurotransmitters known as GABA are too low, they can cause mood disturbances. Increasing those levels often works to mitigate emotional and behavioral side effects. Xanax is a powerful drug that can be highly effective in treating ...

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.

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.

Benefits Of Taking Xanax While Pregnant

When you’re pregnant, hormonal changes and the stress of planning for a new baby can cause serious anxiety.

Risks Of Taking Xanax While Pregnant

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Xanax as a Category D pregnancy drug.

Alternatives To Xanax During Pregnancy

If you’re concerned about the above risks but still want to treat your anxiety while pregnant, talk to your doctor about creating a treatment plan that doesn’t include Xanax.

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 long do benzodiazepines last after birth?

These symptoms have been reported to persist for periods from hours to months after birth. This correlates well with the pharmacokinetic and placental transfer of the benzodiazepines and their disposition in the neonate.

Does clonazepam excrete into breast milk?

There is evidence that clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, and oxazepam are excreted into breast milk. The published data indicate that the levels detected in breast milk are low; therefore, the suckling infant is unlikely to ingest significant amounts of the drug in this way. ...

Can benzodiazepines cause facial clefts?

There is evidence from studies in the 1970s that first trimester exposure to benzodiazepines in utero has resulted in the birth of some infants with facial clefts, cardiac malformations, and other multiple malformations, but no syndrome of defects.

Is diazepam a malformation?

Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide are amongst the drugs most frequently implicated in the earlier studies. However, data from later studies provide no clear evidence of significant increase in either the overall incidence of malformations or of any particular type of defect.

Can benzodiazepines affect the brain during pregnancy?

The prolonged use of benzodiazepines throughout pregnancy raised the concern that there may be altered transmitter synthesis and function, leading to neurobehavioural problems in the children.

When Is Xanax Not Safe?

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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. Sometimes women suffer from anxiety prior t…
See more on americanaddictioncenters.org

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…
See more on americanaddictioncenters.org

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…
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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...
See more on americanaddictioncenters.org

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