Effects of xanax on developing fetus

on effects of developing fetus xanax

Developing fetus benzodiazepines and SSRI antidepressants are not risk-free, says Yale psychiatrist Kimberly Yonkers, "it should be reassuring that we're not seeing a huge magnitude of an effect here" on pregnancy. Hanna Barczyk for NPR hide caption. Earlier this year, when Emily Chodos was about 25 weeks into her pregnancy, she woke up one night feeling horrible. She couldn't take a deep breath.

She ended up paging her obstetrician's office at 4 a. Chodos was advised to take an antianxiety medication — Xanax. But she was miserable, so eventually decided to take the medicine that developing. Chodos, who is a nurse, knew that there are concerns about drugs like Xanax and other medications its class-- benzodiazepines. Fetus completed decades ago suggested a risk of birth defects from these drugs, but data from more recent studies have shown no clear evidence of an increase.

There are remaining questions, researchers say, about whether prenatal exposure to the drugs can influence behavior. It felt as is azithromycin a cure for chlamydia there was probably no safe medication — "that I'd probably just have to suffer and feel awful.

At her doctor's suggestion, Chodos went developing fetus see Dr. Kimberly Yonkersa psychiatrist and professor at Yale University. Yonkers has been studying the effects of benzodiazepines and SSRI antidepressants on the pregnancies of women who have anxiety, depression or panic disorders. Yonkers told us she understands why women can feel torn about using these drugs when xanax expecting.

To understand the risks better, Yonkers and her collaborators studied about 2, women during pregnancy and after childbirth. The results of her study do point to some risks associated with the benzodiazepines. For instance, she found an increase in C-section deliveries. Also, the babies of mothers taking these drugs were more likely to need extra oxygen or or other respiratory support after birth.

An additional six in every babies needed that sort of support, the study found, compared to the babies of women who didn't take the drugs. Women who took antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, or other SSRIs also had their pregnancies shortened, but by less than two days, on average. So, while these medications are not risk-free, Yonkers developing fetus of xanax on effects "it should be reassuring that we're not seeing a huge magnitude of an effect here.

The study, published this week in the journal JAMA Psychiatryalso concludes that having a panic or anxiety disorder during pregnancy does not seem to be risky to the developing baby. The bottom line, she says is that the findings suggest that women who need treatment for these disorders don't need to stop taking these medications during pregnancy. There's still some uncertainty among practitioners and mothers-to-be about the use of anxiety and antidepressants in pregnancy, but some leading OBGYNs point out the benefits of being treated with the drugs.

David Garrya maternal fetal medicine specialist at Stony Brook University tells us. Pregnant women should consult with their health "effects" providers, he says, and aim to take the lowest doses possible of the medications that are effective in treating their symptoms. Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard ativan and valium conversion for developing fetus player. Recent research suggests women who need treatment can take these drugs.

Effects xanax recommend the lowest effective dose. A New Study Assesses Safety. Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email. September 18, 5: Heard on Morning Edition. Hanna Barczyk for NPR.

Add Comment: