Miscarriage Risk Might Be Increased By Anxiety Medicine
Taking meds during a pregnancy can always be risky. Scientists now warn us that certain anti-anxiety drugs could be very dangerous for future mother. The list includes Xanax and Valium, which are both very powerful.
The results were discovered by a Canadian study. The research revealed that benzodiazepines are risky when taken in early pregnancy and they can increase the miscarriage risk in the first trimester by 11. This drug class also includes others such as Klonopin and Ativan.
“In medications in pregnancy, physicians have to decide, are the risks higher than the benefits, because there isn’t any risk zero,” explained lead researcher Anick Berard, professor at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montreal.
The study collected data from 442,000 pregnant women from 1998 to 2015. Research revealed that 6% of those pregnancies ended in a miscarriage. However, for the women who took a benzodiazepine for the first time in early pregnancy the rate went up by 1%.
Should women stop taking their meds?
Researchers believe that women shouldn’t stop taking their meds, especially when their condition is a severe one.
“Anxiety and insomnia are serious mental health issues, and they are relatively common in pregnancy,” said Catherine Monk, a professor of medical psychology in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University. Anxiety can affect up to 15% of pregnant women, almost two times the rate of gestational diabetes.”
Researchers believe that pregnant women should be informed about these risks. More than that, women should talk to a mental health professional before resorting to benzodiazepines.
“Typically, some of these different techniques provide immense relief from anxiety and insomnia,” “This study reinforces the fact that these drugs have a risk potential that is significant and needs to be discussed with the patient,” according to the expert.
Mental heath is vital for women following a miscarriage and unfortunately, the aftermath can last for years after the tragic event. It’s also important to know that, for a lot of women, giving birth after a miscarriage doesn’t even resolve the mental issues such as anxiety and depression caused by that previous miscarriage. That’s why it’s imperative for women who have been though something like this to get help from expert counselors such as the ones at BetterHelp in order to benefit from as much help as possible. Especially women who have a family history of depression, lack of social support or stressful life events should seek therapeutic help because this can save lives.
As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.
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