Science Direct Topics: Anxiety Medication While Pregnant

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Anxiety Medication While Pregnant

If you are pregnant and currently take anxiety medication it is best to first speak with your OBGYN family physician and also your therapist to determine a safe and effective treatment plan. The risks associated with taking SSRIs during pregnancy are considered small.

What Medications Are Safe To Take During Pregnancy

The rate of antidepressant use at some point during pregnancy more than doubled between 1999 and 2003 to as many as 1 in 8.

Anxiety medication while pregnant. While the more obvious question might seem to be whether a woman should continue anxiety medication once she gets pregnant the truth is the presence of. Anxiety drugs like Xanax Klonopin and Ativan are potentially dangerous during pregnancy. Lemon balm tea is also said to be effective in treating anxiety.

Another option would be herbal therapy although herbs and supplements can be unsafe during pregnancy so. And more pregnant women are taking medication. But research suggests they can also help with anxiety.

Two studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC found that a small number of women reported taking benzodiazepines or atypical antipsychotic medicines during pregnancy. It has showed positive results and no side effects in pregnant women. Researchers disagree about the safety of SSRI use during pregnancy.

Some women may not be able to remain symptom-free during pregnancy without medication and may instead elect to continue treatment with anti-anxiety medications. Hence Prozac is a safe choice of drug to take during pregnancy. Valium and Xanax and the SSRIs eg.

Ad Get Quote Frictional Force Pinch Test Machine Of Hydrophilic Coatings Catheters. If you must take anti-anxiety medication during pregnancy this one is a safe choice. Also studies have found that it does not affect the health of the baby and the risks of malformations are not increased either.

Those with severe anxiety will want to discuss their options with their doctor. Ad Get Quote Frictional Force Pinch Test Machine Of Hydrophilic Coatings Catheters. One published last year in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that women who take benzodiazepines like Xanax or Ativan for anxiety in early pregnancy are anywhere from 60 to three times more.

Types of medication often used to treat anxiety disorders include. Some studies have found no long-term effects but others have found evidence of possible neonatal problems for babies exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy. While most sources suggest lemon balm is a safe tea for pregnancy remember to check with your doctor before trying this or any other herbal teas as they are not regulated by the FDA.

Still women should not assume it is safe to stop taking their anxiety or depression medication as soon as they find out theyre pregnant. Doing so can lead to a relapse of symptoms which may do greater harm to the child and mother than taking medication. When choosing a medication for use during pregnancy it is important to choose an effective treatment with a good safety profile.

If youre still taking anxiety medication during pregnancy however you may want to stop. This is true even if an anxiety medicine is considered to be probably safe Some alternatives to anxiety medications while pregnant can include cognitive behavioral therapy or another type of non-drug therapy. They inhibit brain function by enhancing the potency of the neurotransmitter GABA.

According to a study published in the November 2007 issue of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety benzodiazepines increase the risk of low birth weight preterm birth and congenital malformations 1. The least safe anti-anxiety medications during pregnancy are benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Like depression anxiety during pregnancy is usually treated with drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs.

If you arent a fan of lemon balm other soothing teas include chamomile and peppermint. Never stop taking a medication before consulting your OBGYN or general practitioner. The medications that are most often used to reduce anxiety in pregnancy fall into two classes.

Benzodiazepines are medicines used to treat anxiety external icon and atypical antipsychotics are medicines used to treat schizophrenia external icon bipolar disorder external icon. According to a poll published on ADAA 52 percent of women who have been pregnant reported an increase in anxiety or depression while pregnant. Some people may benefit from alternatives like yoga meditation or massage.

Here are the assessments of the risk involved with taking specific benzodiazepines as evaluated by the FDA and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Information Overload During Pregnancy Your Health Matters