Xanax and pregnancy

[2bamommy]

I am 36 yrs. old and I suffer from severe GAD. I have been on Xanax for the past 5 yrs. At first I started taking it with Paxil and then got switched to Zoloft (gained about 60lbs). I stopped the Zoloft since I felt it was really not helping me with the anxiety issues. I had an unexpected pregnancy  about 6 months ago that ended in a miscarriage. The OB doctor said that the medication did not cause the miscarriage. Anyway, when I found out I was pregnant, I started doing some research on xanax and pregnancy, my anxiety was at its highest point ever.....I was so worried about taking this medication during pregnancy that I could not eat or sleep....crying all day long worried about everything. I knew I could not stop the xanax........I can not function without it. My question to you is....what is your advice on this med while pregnant ??  I want to become pregnant again, but this anxiety disorder is the only thing that is keeping me from it. Please Help!

[spade22]

Xanax and klonopin are both class D drugs - this means that positive evidence exists that show these drugs "can" cause birth defects in the human fetus.  

A perinatal psychiatrist would be a good person to consult with in this regard.  There are many other drug options available that could help you and are no where near as bad as Xanax BUT you may need the right professional help to find out what effectively controls your anxiety disorder.

How much Xanax do you take per day?  Xanax is highly addictive and loses its effectiveness quickly - this means you require more and more to reach the same therapeutic effect.  It is possible the xanax is not doing much for you and the effects you feel when you take it are "maintenance effects" (prevention of withdrawal effects).  If this is the case, you could quite possibly do well when you are off the drug.

[taurus425]

I am pregnant and before pregnancy was taking klonopin.  It was so effective.  It's side effects are unknown during pregnancy.  it is  a class d drug.  Not good!  I got off of it.  I take 10 mg of prozac.  This helps me not have panic attacks.  i still get overwhelmed but i cut my work load down na dtry to do as much as i can.  

[AJPTRF]

I just had my baby, but I did not use meds.  I tried more of the relaxation techniques I guess. I did ask my dr about it  once, but I cannot remember what med he said. Ask your dr tho, being stressed is not good for the baby..
Another thing that helped me when I got stressed, I would work on his room or go online and look at clothes and bedding, it really took my mind off of it.