Can You Take Xanax While Pregnant? Effects on Baby And Mother Explained

Pregnancy is a stage that brings both emotional and physical challenges for women. During this time, coping with storms of overthinking can be much more difficult than on normal days. It can become so miserable and it makes one search for medications to get relief. We know Xanax is famous for giving relief from a busy mind. But even if you have relied on this medication before pregnancy, it is still a concern whether taking xanax while pregnant is safe or not, because during this time, even familiar medications can cause risk. So, can you take xanax while pregnant? Or should you avoid it altogether? Come along, as by the end of today’s blog, you will gain general knowledge on this question.

Understanding Xanax During Pregnancy: Risks, Alternative & Natural Ways

Information On Xanax

One of the extremely strong and potent drugs to calm the racing thoughts is xanax. Also widely popular by its generic name, Alprazolam. It completes its work by enhancing the usual activity of the neurotransmitter GABA. It comes with a short onset time lasting about 15 to 20 minutes. This medication is more suitable for short-term use rather than long-term. It works wonders in managing panic issues with or without agoraphobia. It has a very high chance of developing tolerance, which means that misusing this drug can result in dependence. This is why xanax addiction treatment options are available almost everywhere. However, one should look after proper xanax dosage to avoid the chances of dependence.

Can You Take Xanax While Pregnant?

As we want to make it clear at first, it is still not very clear if a pregnant woman can take xanax or not. However, some say you can take Xanax as your anxiety pill during pregnancy. One thing to remember is that this medication is potent and it does bring some risks such as fetal harm,  extreme drowsiness and the chances of neonatal complications during this time. So, you can have an idea of what it can do or what it can not. But to particularly know if you should go for this medication in this critical situation or not, you should talk to someone who is an expert. Since it includes a lot of concerning things like the health of the fetus, the mental and physical well-being of the mother.

Is It Safe to Take Xanax While Pregnant?

In general, it is not recommended to take a strong substance like xanax in a sensitive phase like pregnancy. It is known that the FDA has labeled xanax as a pregnancy D drug, meaning taking this medication during pregnancy should be avoided as it can cause harm to the fetus. In this section, we will try to have a proper discussion on how xanax canbring trouble during and after your pregnancy.

Xanax and birth defects

Unfortunately, yes, consumption of a potent drug like xanax can have non-negligible risks in birth defects. Even though the risk of birth defects and xanax are not direct, still the background risks cannot be neglected.

Miscarriage

Well, in the early stage of pregnancy or even in the first trimester stage miscarriage risks are mostly high. So, at this time, it would be better not to take this medication as it can accelerate the risk of early pregnancy miscarriage.

Low Weight In The Fetus

Alprazolam during pregnancy can enhance the chances of neonatal complications in the newborns. Not all studies have certainty of this, but this drug can indeed bring the chance of low body weight in your newborn.

Other Adverse Effects Of Xanax

As you try to understand xanax pregnancy, it is also important that you acknowledge the other effects of this medication. The effects of xanax on the body and brain are wide. We are going to understand both the physical and mental negative effects it can bring.

Physical Effects

• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Liver disease
• Trouble breathing
• Changes in sex
• Headache
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Blurred vision

Mental Effects

• Depreesion
• Agration
• Dementia
• Confusion
• Tendency to self-harm
• Hallucinations
• Mental dependence

Alternatives For Anxiety Treatment In Pregnancy

As we have discussed, taking xanax during pregnancy risks. Now, let us see some alternatives to xanax which can make your pregnancy smooth and help you to prevent your anxiety conditions. But remember, no medication is risk-free during this crucial time, so talk to someone who is an expert. Some alternatives are as follows.

• Vistrail
• SNRIs
• SSRIs
• Lexapro
• Zoloft

Prevent Anxiety Naturally During Pregnancy

Taking medications during pregnancy can show negative impact on the mother or the baby. Many try to find ways to cope with these issues during their pregnancy. This is why we are starting with this section, so that you can find some natural, harmless ways to get relief.

• Regular exercise
• Maintaining sleep hygiene
• Quality time with close ones
• Avoidance of caffeine, alcohol
• Medication
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Deep breathing
• Use lavender or camomile only if an expert says so.
• Avoid benzos for the first few months

Closing Note

To conclude, we want to make sure that you take this health tip for general knowledge purposes, not as medical advice. Everyone’s body is different and reacts differently to medications especially while carrying a baby in the womb. So we recommend having a discussion with a clinician on this topic before jumping to any solution on your own.