Worried about sleeping pills-first trimester

[joyful1]

I am currently 7 weeks pregnant with twins.  Got pregnant on our 2nd cycle of clomid, had a miscarriage with the first.  I have been taking an over the counter general version of excedrin pm for the past year, and am concerned about the effect it could have on the babies.  I had asked my dr. about it, all she said was it was Ok, that she prescribes benadryl to pregnant women all the time.  Wasn't sure what that had to do with sleeping pills, but am thinking it was the diphenhydramine she was talking about.  So far everything looks good with the twins, their heartbeats are going up and up every week, but the sleeping pill question is really worrying me.  Anyone with any advice please let me know!  Thanks!

[zippgirls]

Benadryl can be used in prego women as a sleeping aid. It is made up of the same things as most sleeping pills.
My Dr. told me to take that when I was having trouble sleeping, I looked at some other sleeping aid that I had and it was the same thing.

I am sure your dr. would not tell you that it was ok to keep taking if it was not.

I try my best not to take any kind of pills if I can help it but sometimes thoses headaches and sleepless nights are too much!

Good Luck

25 weeks here :)

[ntaylor]

I know that Kaiser, at least the one up here, doesn't prescribe benadryl to pregnant women in their first trimester, because it's unknown. However, my midwife said it was fine to take. I wouldn't take it again, because I had a miscarriage, and around the time the baby passed and my symptoms disappeared I decided to take benadryl for 4 nights because I couldn't sleep. Somehow that connection has freaked me out, I swear it's bad for the baby. However, people take it all the time. I just wouldn't totally trust my doc if I were you, research the drug online. If it's a category B drug, they haven't done studies on humans that says its ok, they only know it didn't have adverse effects on animal fetuses. Docs usually will prescribe cat B drugs, but I would be careful about taking them, especially in the first trimester. They just don't know enough in my opinion to give you an "ok".

[AnnieBrooke]

I would check with a pharmacist.  They know tons about meds and pregnancy, and Excedrin PM would make me nervous without hearing from at least two sources that it's OK.  You could also look up Excedrin's website and see what it says about taking it when pregnant -- it will be on the conservative-advice side since they don't want to get sued.

[Jamie12269]

I found out i was preg at 6w 5 days and had no idea. nor was i trying. Prior to finding out i was pregnant i drank alot and also took sleeping tabs to get to sleep.  Ive been very worried aswell about what effects they would have on my bub esspecially because of the fact i was drinking too. But i think as long as you stop as soon as you know it shouldnt be too bad.    Best of luck.