xanax and 2ww

[Blackout81]

Let me preface this by saying I will call the dr tomorrow.

We are flying this weekend. I don't fly often but it gives me extreme anxiety. I have an rx for xanax but I know you shouldn't take it at all when PG. What are GP's thought on this? I take it so infrequently that usually half a pill is all I need to take the edge off. Anyone know off hand of any safer alternatives? I will also ask dr about that as well.

[loira]

I know next to nothing about Xanax (so take this with a grain of salt), but unless I knew I was pregnant I would probably go ahead and take it. You don't share a blood supply with the baby until something like 6-8 weeks anyway, so unless it affects conception a one-off is probably fine. When are you testing?

[Blackout81]

Mar 15, 2015 11:25:08 GMT -5 loira said:

I know next to nothing about Xanax (so take this with a grain of salt), but unless I knew I was pregnant I would probably go ahead and take it. You don't share a blood supply with the baby until something like 6-8 weeks anyway, so unless it affects conception a one-off is probably fine. When are you testing?

if AF doesn't show up by CD28 I'll test, which is 3 days after our return (2nd) flight.

[awkwardpenguin]

Mar 15, 2015 18:20:15 GMT -5 AutumnRose25 said:

Xanax is approved for use during pregnancy.

This is not true. There is no such thing as "approved for use during pregnancy", just risk categories that assess the relative safety during pregnancy. Xanax is pregnancy category D, which most doctors advise to avoid. I know my psychiatrist is not comfortable with this class of drugs during pregnancy.

I suspect it's probably still fine during the TWW, but I'd check with your doctor and I personally wouldn't take it after a positive test. Benadryl had anti-anxiety properties and is pregnancy category B, so I might ask about that. It's side effect is making you sleepy, so be prepared for that.

[awkwardpenguin]

Mar 18, 2015 12:35:39 GMT -5 AutumnRose25 said:

Mar 18, 2015 12:14:54 GMT -5 awkwardpenguin said:

This is not true. There is no such thing as "approved for use during pregnancy", just risk categories that assess the relative safety during pregnancy. Xanax is pregnancy category D, which most doctors advise to avoid. I know my psychiatrist is not comfortable with this class of drugs during pregnancy.

I suspect it's probably still fine during the TWW, but I'd check with your doctor and I personally wouldn't take it after a positive test. Benadryl had anti-anxiety properties and is pregnancy category B, so I might ask about that. It's side effect is making you sleepy, so be prepared for that.

I am aware of how the categories work. The OP said she "knows you shouldn't take it at all during pregnancy" which is inaccurate. It is a drug that is used during pregnancy, not always as a first option but many doctors do approve it for use. 

And while Cat D has been studied enough to know there may be possible effects to the fetus, it is also a class that has drugs in it that are considered to have benefits that outweigh those risks because leaving anxiety untreated is potential much worse.

I'm responding to your "approved for use" comment. It's irresponsible to tell someone it's ok and "approved" to take a category D med during pregnancy because you have weighed the risks and benefits for your own personal situation with your own doctor and decided to take it. It's just factually incorrect that it's "approved for use during pregnancy". It's category D, which is always going to be a weigh the risks and benefits with your own doctor situation.

[vanillahip]

Soooo just to add I guess, there have been studies on SOME benzodiazepines that concluded there is an increased risk of birth defects if THOSE benzodiazepines are used during pregnancy, so all benzodiazepines have been made category D. There have been *no* studies linking xanax itself to increased risk of birth defects, but since there have not been enough studies per FDA's guidelines, xanax remains lumped with all other benzos.

It's still a personal choice, but as a woman with TTTC and an anxiety disorder I'd hate to see any sort of argumentative...whatever...shame a woman into suffering through anxiety attacks that could be more harmful.

Heads up to OP- there are a LOT of doctors out there who are "old school" and not up to date on studies re: meds during pregnancy. It's OK to advocate for yourself and find a different doc who suits your needs.

[awkwardpenguin]

Mar 18, 2015 13:23:50 GMT -5 vanillahip said:

It's still a personal choice, but as a woman with TTTC and an anxiety disorder I'd hate to see any sort of argumentative...whatever...shame a woman into suffering through anxiety attacks that could be more harmful.

Heads up to OP- there are a LOT of doctors out there who are "old school" and not up to date on studies re: meds during pregnancy. It's OK to advocate for yourself and find a different doc who suits your needs.

I wasn't shaming anyone, just advocating for correct information and talking to your doctor. Meds and pregnancy are complicated. I've seen a maternal-fetal psychiatrist to prepare for an eventual pregnancy, and discussed my own situation with her in depth. She's very up to date on the research and still wasn't comfortable with benzodiazepines in my particular case, taking into account my dx, med, dose, how I do off the med, and the other meds I'm on.

There's a huge grey area between it's fine to take and you should never take it, and this falls in there.

[Blackout81]

Mar 18, 2015 13:23:50 GMT -5 vanillahip said:

Soooo just to add I guess, there have been studies on SOME benzodiazepines that concluded there is an increased risk of birth defects if THOSE benzodiazepines are used during pregnancy, so all benzodiazepines have been made category D. There have been *no* studies linking xanax itself to increased risk of birth defects, but since there have not been enough studies per FDA's guidelines, xanax remains lumped with all other benzos.

It's still a personal choice, but as a woman with TTTC and an anxiety disorder I'd hate to see any sort of argumentative...whatever...shame a woman into suffering through anxiety attacks that could be more harmful.

Heads up to OP- there are a LOT of doctors out there who are "old school" and not up to date on studies re: meds during pregnancy. It's OK to advocate for yourself and find a different doc who suits your needs.

Thank you for this balanced perspective. I struggle with situational anxiety that gets really bad, xanax is my safety net. I don't take it regularly, my Rx is for 5 (yes five) a year, as prescribed by my GP. My GP is young (like, my age - early 30s) and pretty up to date with what's what and she had advised me not to take it at all if I got pregnant, but also to consult with my OB/midwives if that should occur.

since my dose is low (usually a half a pill is enough to take the edge off) and infrequent, I was told it should be fine to taken while flying this weekend. The impending snow (slated to peak at our take off time) has seriously upped my anxiety so it's very much needed.