Taking Valium during pregnancy
Benzodiazepines are often given throughout pregnancy to address anxiety or panic disorders. As a group, the Benzodiazepines are actually central nervous system depressants which include sedative, anxiolytic, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and sometimes anti-epileptic attributes. These types of drugs are well assimilated in human body and throughout the placenta very easily. Original issue about Benzodiazepines subjection in pregnancy occurred since they react upon GABA receptors. GABA is a chemical neurotransmitter that might be associated with palatal development. Earlier research on Valium, a frequently prescribed Benzodiazepine, revealed an increased possibility for cleft palate within animals. That has, on the other hand, been contradicted by a number of newly released case-controlled scientific tests and a meta-analysis which all consistently discovered no connection between Valium use as well as cleft palate.
A number of doctors advocate that Valium should not be used for the period of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that Valium has demonstrated obvious evidence of threat to the unborn child in earlier research — and since using Valium is hardly ever absolutely necessary. Even with this hazard, nevertheless, a doctor might still recommend Valium to a pregnant woman when he or she is convinced that its advantages outweigh the potential dangers to the unborn baby. In research projects of pregnant animals, Valium enhanced the danger of miscarriages and birth anomalies. According to these tests, the FDA has categorized the medicine as a pregnancy Category D medication, which means that that the drug is generally regarded as risky for pregnant women. Even so, a physician might nevertheless prescribe it for the period of pregnancy if the advantages to the woman are greater than the possible dangers to the unborn child. The FDA applies a category method to classify the potential hazards to a baby when a certain medication is used during pregnancy. Category D is assigned to drugs that have demonstrated apparent evidence of danger to the unborn child in research. A pregnancy Category D medication could still be prescribed to some pregnant woman when the doctor thinks that the gains to the woman are bigger than the potential risks to the kid.
Information related to the use of benzodiazepines (like Valium) during pregnancy is relatively dubious. Original reports indicated that there might be a greater danger of cleft lip and palate connected with first trimester contact with these drugs, estimating the chance to be around 0. 7%; but, later studies have implied that the possibility could be actually lower. Given that this hazard is limited to the first trimester, benzodiazepines could be applied devoid of risk during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The possible side effects on unborn children may include sedation, reduced muscle tone and respiratory difficulties. Generally speaking, these symptoms show up seldom but most likely happen more frequently in women using higher doses of medicine. There are furthermore some records of benzodiazepine withdrawal manifesting in babies subjected to benzodiazepines, like frustration, sleep trouble, as well as, less frequently, seizure.