Xanax during TWW?

[Anonymous]

I have severe anxiety about flying and manage to cope for a handful of flights a year with a combination of Xanax, Dramamine, and other coping strategies (breathing, podcasts, etc...). (Yes, I've also been to therapy - though no time to start seeing someone again this week).

Unfortunately, I now have two flights coming up in the tww that I can't avoid. I know my doctor will say to avoid taking it if I can, but I really don't feel like I can. I was thinking I'd take a smaller dose than usual (0.5 or 1 mg) and hopefully the Dramamine (which I understand is not as bad to take) will make me sleepy enough to take the edge off. The flights will coincide right with possible implantation and the first day or two after... trying to weigh the pros and cons here - it seems more serious than "drink till it's pink" - I read the old threads but there isn't a whole lot during tww specifically. Any advice you got from your providers or have from experience? Thanks, DCUM!

[Anonymous]

It's fine. I take Klonopin on occasion for sleep and my psychiatrist (specializes in maternal reproductive mental health) said taking it during the TWW was not an issue.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about this too. I usually take lorazepam, which i think is similar. I'm also TTC and have a flight coming up next month.

[Anonymous]

My OGBYN and psychiatrist say it's fine.

[Anonymous]

They're all Class C drugs, and any of the "-pams" act on the central nervous system just as alcohol does.

I'm surprised at all the "eh, it's fine!" responses, ostensibly from health care providers no less. Lesser of two evils, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're all Class C drugs, and any of the "-pams" act on the central nervous system just as alcohol does.

I'm surprised at all the "eh, it's fine!" responses, ostensibly from health care providers no less. Lesser of two evils, I guess.

In the TWW, it's fine. No one is saying it's fine to use them throughout pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try something like GABA? My midwife recommended it for my anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try something like GABA? My midwife recommended it for my anxiety.

I would use anxiety meds over GABA. More regulation and research ti know effects.

Anciety meds are usually only really risky in 3rd trimester because baby can experience withdrawal after birth

[Anonymous]

Is Klonopin any better? I don't know, but when I needed anti-anxiety meds while breastfeeding, that's what I was given.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're all Class C drugs, and any of the "-pams" act on the central nervous system just as alcohol does.

I'm surprised at all the "eh, it's fine!" responses, ostensibly from health care providers no less. Lesser of two evils, I guess.

You do know that, even if you were pregnant, you wouldn't share the bloodstream with the embryo at that point, right?

[Anonymous]

Nothing is getting absorbed at this point by your embryo it is self sustaining until the placenta attaches to your uterus. How about a little science people??? You are fine.

[Anonymous]

I just asked my doctor the same thing. Technically Xanax is a category D for pregnancy.

Here's what Wikipedia says:

"Benzodiazepines cross the placenta, enter into the fetus and are also excreted with breast milk. The use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy or lactation has potential risks. The use of alprazolam in pregnancy is believed to be associated with congenital abnormalities. Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide have a better safety profile in pregnancy than alprazolam.

Women who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant should avoid starting alprazolam.[26] Use in the last trimester may cause fetal drug dependence and withdrawal symptoms in the post-natal period[27] as well as neonatal flaccidity and respiratory problems.[28] However, in long-term users of benzodiazepines abrupt discontinuation due to concerns of teratogenesis has a high risk of causing extreme withdrawal symptoms and a severe rebound effect of the underlying mental health disorder. Spontaneous abortions may also result from abrupt withdrawal of psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines.[29]

Benzodiazepines, including alprazolam, are known to be excreted in human milk.[30] Chronic administration of diazepam to nursing mothers has been reported to cause their infants to become lethargic and to lose weight."

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alprazolam)

So, if you have some Valium (diazepam), think it might help, and are really worried about the possible risks, you could try that.

My doctor said essentially "no" during pregnancy itself, but I think you're so early that it wouldn't make a difference.

I'm not pregnant yet, so not sure what I would do, but here's what I think I might consider:

* Get on the plane without taking Xanax.
* Bring the Xanax with me.
* If I get really nervous, take the smallest amount I can (half of a 0.5 if I can cut it in half).
* If I'm still nervous, take a little more.
* Try everything else I can think of to stay calm at a lower dosage than normal (deep breathing, relaxing music on an iPod, an engaging book to read, etc.)

For me, I obviously don't want to hurt a baby, but I have to imagine that a full-blown panic attack is probably almost as bad as a little bit of Xanax. Obviously I'm not a doctor, though.

My doctor did say that codeine was okay to take, and that she'd prescribe me a small amount for flying if/when I do get pregnant. But in general, I probably will just try not to fly once I know I'm pregnant - or only take easy flights where there isn't likely to be a lot of turbulence, etc.

Hope that helps! Just my two cents!

And good luck! A fear of flying is no fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just asked my doctor the same thing. Technically Xanax is a category D for pregnancy.

Here's what Wikipedia says:

"Benzodiazepines cross the placenta, enter into the fetus and are also excreted with breast milk. The use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy or lactation has potential risks. The use of alprazolam in pregnancy is believed to be associated with congenital abnormalities. Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide have a better safety profile in pregnancy than alprazolam.

Women who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant should avoid starting alprazolam.[26] Use in the last trimester may cause fetal drug dependence and withdrawal symptoms in the post-natal period[27] as well as neonatal flaccidity and respiratory problems.[28] However, in long-term users of benzodiazepines abrupt discontinuation due to concerns of teratogenesis has a high risk of causing extreme withdrawal symptoms and a severe rebound effect of the underlying mental health disorder. Spontaneous abortions may also result from abrupt withdrawal of psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines.[29]

Benzodiazepines, including alprazolam, are known to be excreted in human milk.[30] Chronic administration of diazepam to nursing mothers has been reported to cause their infants to become lethargic and to lose weight."

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alprazolam)

So, if you have some Valium (diazepam), think it might help, and are really worried about the possible risks, you could try that.

My doctor said essentially "no" during pregnancy itself, but I think you're so early that it wouldn't make a difference.

I'm not pregnant yet, so not sure what I would do, but here's what I think I might consider:

* Get on the plane without taking Xanax.
* Bring the Xanax with me.
* If I get really nervous, take the smallest amount I can (half of a 0.5 if I can cut it in half).
* If I'm still nervous, take a little more.
* Try everything else I can think of to stay calm at a lower dosage than normal (deep breathing, relaxing music on an iPod, an engaging book to read, etc.)

For me, I obviously don't want to hurt a baby, but I have to imagine that a full-blown panic attack is probably almost as bad as a little bit of Xanax. Obviously I'm not a doctor, though.

My doctor did say that codeine was okay to take, and that she'd prescribe me a small amount for flying if/when I do get pregnant. But in general, I probably will just try not to fly once I know I'm pregnant - or only take easy flights where there isn't likely to be a lot of turbulence, etc.

Hope that helps! Just my two cents!

And good luck! A fear of flying is no fun!

All of your advice applies when someone is pregnant or nursing, meaning that the woman is sharing bodily fluids (bloodstream or milk) with an embryo/fetus/baby. While I'm sure it is well-intentioned, the advice simply does not apply to OP and is likely to make her endure something stressful for no reason. In order for any Xanax or other medication to harm the embryo, the placenta must be functional so that mother and embryo can share a bloodstream. During the two week wait, that simply has not yet happened.

[Anonymous]

PP here - yep, you're right. Sorry about that, I got ahead of myself.

[Anonymous]

I'd just take the xanax.