xanax and pregnancy - please help!

[justme__]

Just found out i was pregnant today, and have been taking xanax for about a month (.5 to 1mg a night). Question is.. is the baby ok?? I have anxiety really bad I didn't take any today and feel like im going to panic... I took a tylenol pm to see if that helps me sleep. ive looked for information but i haven't been able to find any? Are there any safer drugs for anxiety during pregnancy? Please help!!

[nannotnancy]

I quit all medication during my 2 pregnancies, but thankfully the panic was MUCH BETTER during pregnancy--must be partly hormonal.  Also, I was SO nauseaus the whole time that it probably helped to distract me!  Hope your have the same situation with the anxiety being much better during pregnancy--I've meet other women who have said the same thing--and it's a great side effect of pregnancy!

[MrGreen]

Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant should avoid starting alprazolam. If one is currently planning to become pregnant, one should discuss this and all medicines with their obstetrician or other doctor.

Teratogenicity classification
Marked Pregnancy Category D by the U.S. FDA.


Effects on the fetus

It should be considered that the child born of a mother who is receiving benzodiazepines may be at risk of developing withdrawal symptoms from the drug during the postnatal period. Also, neonatal flaccidity and respiratory problems have been reported in children born of mothers who have been receiving benzodiazepines.


Labor and delivery

Alprazolam has no established use in labor or delivery.


Nursing mothers (neonates)

Benzodiazepines, including alprazolam are known to be excreted in human milk. Chronic administration of diazepam to nursing mothers has been reported to cause their infants to become lethargic and to lose weight. As a general rule, nursing should not be undertaken by mothers who use alprazolam.