{"id":1673,"date":"2021-10-18T18:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T22:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/?page_id=1673"},"modified":"2022-05-26T13:35:09","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26T17:35:09","slug":"benzodiazepines-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/benzodiazepine-addiction\/benzodiazepines-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Benzodiazepines in Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using benzodiazepines during late-term pregnancy can increase the risk of side effects in your baby, but each mother should weigh the benefits and risks with their doctor.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Article at a Glance:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepines formerly carried a Category D rating in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pregnancy Categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drugs can cause sedation and withdrawal symptoms<\/a> in a baby after birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepines were formerly believed to increase the risk of malformations like cleft palate. However, newer studies do not show an apparent increased risk of malformations, so the relationship is unclear.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepines and Pregnancy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepines<\/a> can include medications such as Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Valium (diazepam). Most doctors strongly discourage taking benzos during pregnancy because of the risk<\/a> of sedation and withdrawal in a baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are using any of these medications and become pregnant, schedule a meeting with your doctor. Ideally, you should consult your psychiatrist or obstetrician before you attempt to conceive or if you are sexually active and do not use birth control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What We Know About Maternal Use of Benzodiazepines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepines formerly carried<\/a> a Category D<\/a> rating in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pregnancy Categories. A Category D rating meant that there is evidence of risk<\/a> to a baby. This rating was largely due to older studies<\/a> that indicated that benzodiazepine use in pregnancy may increase the risk of fetal malformations like cleft palate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the FDA started to change its pregnancy rating system in 2014, removing the old pregnancy categories<\/a>. This coincided with more studies being done on benzodiazepines in pregnant women. These newer studies showed that there is not a clear link<\/a> between benzodiazepine use and fetal malformation. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that any increased risk for fetal malformations may not be due<\/a> to a benzodiazepine but instead to the mother\u2019s medical condition that the benzodiazepine is used to treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benzodiazepine use is still noted to carry risks to an unborn baby, however, especially when they are taken in the late third trimester<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects Of Benzo Use on the Unborn Baby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a pregnant woman is using benzodiazepines, the fetus may be at risk for side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, benzodiazepines are prescription medications that should only be used with a prescription from a doctor. Do not take this medication if you have not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adverse Outcomes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adverse outcomes for the baby are especially a risk if the benzodiazepine is taken during the late third trimester<\/a>. Babies born shortly after benzodiazepine exposure have shown signs<\/a> of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n