New Research from the CWMH: Risk of Major Malformations in Infants with Prenatal Exposure to Benzodiazepines
Data from an ongoing pregnancy registry offers reassurance that benzodiazepines do not appear to have major teratogenic effects.
Essential Reads: Prenatal Exposure to Benzodiazepines and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
The largest study to date observes no increase in risk of autism or ADHD in children with prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines.
Essential Reads: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs
Our data regarding prenatal exposure to BZDs and/or z-drugs and risk of neurodevelopmental outcomes is still sparse.
Benzodiazepines and Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy
This is another situation where the headlines don't really tell us the full story:Â Benzodiazepine Use Linked to Risk for Ectopic Pregnancy. (But at least it prompted me to read the original article in its [...]
Interpreting New Data on the Use of Benzodiazepines During Pregnancy
Data regarding the reproductive safety of benzodiazepines has always been somewhat difficult to understand. While earlier studies suggested an association between prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines and increased risk of cleft lip and palate, more recent [...]
Benzodiazepine During Early Pregnancy and Risk of Miscarriage
Many women who come to our clinic with questions regarding the use of medications during pregnancy suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. Â Most of those women benefit from treatment with an SSRI or SNRI [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcomes with Benzodiazepine Exposure During Pregnancy
Recent studies have demonstrated that more than 10% of women experience clinically significant symptoms of anxiety during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester. Â Anxiety during pregnancy is not necessarily a benign event. Â Various studies indicate [...]
Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure and Poor School Performance in Older Children
 There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy.  First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as [...]
Prenatal Exposure to Benzodiazepines and Sedative-Hypnotics
Over the last decade, we have seen multiple studies looking at the long term effects of prenatal exposure to antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, on children's behavior. Â Although benzodiazepines, such as [...]
SSRIs and Benzodiazepines: Reproductive Safety of Combined Treatment
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently combined with benzodiazepines for the management of anxiety disorders or major depression with comorbid anxiety. While we have data regarding the reproductive safety of both the SSRIs and benzodiazepines, we have much less information on outcomes in women taking SSRIs and benzodiazepines together. A previous study (Oberlander 2008) found that neither the use of an SSRI alone nor the use of a benzodiazepine alone increased the risk for congenital malformation; however, in this study, the combined use of the two drugs increased the risk of cardiovascular defect. A recent study reassesses the risk of major malformation in women taking SSRIs combined with benzodiazepines.