This is an automatically translated article.
When a woman is pregnant, hormones and hormones in the body will change. Especially in the context of unintended pregnancy along with economic difficulties, ... will make women become more depressed, anxious, insomnia. In many cases, pregnant women take sleeping pills to relieve anxiety and help them sleep better. So is taking sleeping pills harmful to the fetus?
1. Is taking sleeping pills harmful to the fetus or not?
If a pregnant woman takes sedatives for a long time, it will put the fetus and mother in danger. However, to date, the observational literature on human birth defects is very limited, and it is still not possible to assess the risk to the embryo or fetus. In addition, there have been no recorded cases of infants becoming dependent on drugs when their mothers used drugs for a long time during pregnancy.
The possibility of malformations and the extent of the drug's effect on the fetus depends on the time when the pregnant woman takes sleeping pills, the time, the dose, ... Therefore to ensure the safety of the mother and baby It is necessary to monitor the health of pregnant women to detect abnormalities early.
2. Some groups of drugs have anxiolytic effects
Drugs containing Benzodiazepine
Diazepam (Class D) Before prescribing the drug to pregnant patients, it is necessary to explain in detail about the risks that the drug may bring. Medical staff need to take special care of this group of people, especially during childbirth. The reason is that just giving pregnant women a high dose can cause fetal heart disorders, poor suckling, decreased muscle tone, moderate respiratory failure (newborns), hypothermia. The enzyme system in the newborn is not fully developed to participate in the breakdown of drugs, especially in premature babies. Therefore, pregnant patients should only use Diazepam under medical supervision.
Clonazepam (Group D) Epileptic women when prescribed anticonvulsants will increase the risk of birth defects in their babies. However, the seizures themselves also cause birth defects. Therefore, use the drug only when there is no other choice.
Lorazepam (Group D) Lorazepam is considered one of the drugs contraindicated for pregnant women, because this group of drugs can cause birth defects.
Clorazepate (Group N), Alprazolam (Group D) There are very few cases where clorazepate is indicated for pregnant patients. Only use this drug for patients when absolutely necessary, need to carefully weigh the benefits and harms that the drug may bring.
Non-benzodiazepine drugs
Buspirone (Group B) Several animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus. Drugs should only be prescribed to patients when the purpose of treatment has been clearly defined.
hypnotic group “Z”
Zolpidem (Class C) An increased risk of miscarriage with implantation of an egg in the uterus and inadequate ossification has been demonstrated in animals. However, the amount of drug to cause teratogenicity is still unknown and there are no controlled data. However, there are currently no specific data for the pregnant population. Use Zolpidem only when the benefit outweighs the harm it causes.
Eszopiclone (Group C) Doctors do not recommend using Eszopiclone during pregnancy and childbirth. Use Eszopiclone only when the benefit outweighs the harm it causes.
Zaleplon (Group C) The ability to reduce growth rates before and after birth has been shown in numerous animal studies. Only use Zaleplon when the benefit of the drug outweighs the harm it causes.
Antihistamines
Diphenhydramine (Group B) Some cases of drug use within the first 3 months have a high risk of causing a baby to have a cleft palate. In addition, phenobarbital also causes tremors in babies on the fifth day after birth. Doctors recommend using Diphenhydramine only when the benefits of the drug outweigh the harm it causes.
Hydroxyzine (Group N) Some studies have shown that when given to pregnant women in high doses, it can cause birth defects. However, there are currently no specific data for the pregnant population. Use this drug Hydroxyzine only for patients when absolutely necessary, need to carefully consider the benefits and harms that the drug may bring.
A woman's body during pregnancy is extremely sensitive, so it is important to pay attention to health so that the baby can develop well. Anti-anxiety medications carry a lot of side effects (especially for pregnant women), so use caution when deciding to use them. You should only use the drug when you have full information, as well as instructions from the treating doctor.
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