Xanax, Valium in Pregnancy May Raise Miscarriage Risk

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 28, 2023.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2023 -- A class of sedatives called benzodiazepines, which include meds like Ativan, Valium and Xanax, could be linked to higher odds for miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, new research finds.

The findings held even after accounting for possible confounding factors such as anxiety and insomnia, the Taiwanese research team said.

Looking at data on about 3 million pregnancies, "we found that benzodiazepine use during pregnancy was associated with an approximately 70% increased risk of miscarriage," wrote a team led by Fei-Yuan Hsiao at Taiwan University's Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy.

Based on the findings, they urge that doctors "meticulously balance" the risks and benefits of benzodiazepines whenever they consider prescribing the drugs to pregnant women who are dealing with insomnia or other psychiatric issues.

In the new study, miscarriage was defined as loss of pregnancy between the first prenatal visit with a doctor (typically around the 8th week of gestation) and before the 20th week.

Hsiao's group looked at data from over 3 million pregnancies among Taiwanese women, out of which 4.4% resulted in a miscarriage.

Focusing on the women's prescription drug use during pregnancy, the study found that using a benzodiazepine boosted the odds for miscarriage by 69%.

That number was "consistent" regardless of confounding factors and the duration of benzodiazepine use.

The study was published Dec. 27 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Hsiao's group also pointed to the results of a prior British study. It found that miscarriage rates were 60% higher among women who took a benzodiazepine while pregnant, compared to women who had psychiatric issues that might warrant use of the drugs (for example depression or anxiety) but who were not prescribed one.

According to the research team, benzodiazepines "can readily cross the placental barrier and accumulate substantially in embryo and fetal tissues." In turn, that potentially "may cause fetal developmental abnormalities, ultimately leading to miscarriage," they said.

The study was not designed to prove cause-and-effect and the absolute risk of miscarriage to any one woman remains low.

Nevertheless, Hsiao's team believes that "prescribing benzodiazepines should only be considered following a comprehensive evaluation of the potential risks and benefits for both the mother and the child."

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2023-12-29 02:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords