Ativan and Pregnancy – Compatible or Not?
Ativan and pregnancy do not mix whatsoever. Whichever way you want to put it, taking Ativan during any stage of pregnancy could pose a serious risk to your unborn child.
Research over the past decade has shown that taking Ativan during the first trimester of pregnancy results in a substantial and statistically significant increase in birth defects and potential mental illnesses of the child in later life.
So what should you do if you think you need to take Ativan during pregnancy? Further still, what happens if you become pregnant whilst you are already on Ativan? Let's take a look at the answers to those questions in this article.
Alternatives to Ativan during Pregnancy
Thankfully, there are a number of alternatives to Ativan that you can use during all of the stages of pregnancy. If you believe that you are suffering from undue depression or anxiety as a result of your pregnancy or any other factors which may be influencing your life, consult a doctor to talk about the next best alternative to Ativan.
Whilst Ativan and pregnancy is not a good mix, other drugs can be prescribed which present no risk of birth defects or carry on issues for the child later in life.
Ativan and Pregnancy – What If I’m Already Taking It?
If you are currently taking Ativan and you have recently discovered that you are pregnant - do not immediately stop taking the drug. Ultimately, the well-being of both yourself and your child are of the utmost importance. Immediately stopping the drug may cause side-effects which will have a higher risk to you or your unborn child, then if you were to continue taking the drug for a few days before consulting your doctor.
It may be the case that your doctor will perform a straight swap of medications, substituting your Ativan for a similar prescription which acts in a different way, and causes none of the side-effects which are known to you or the child.
Alternatively, the doctor may choose to taper you off the medication gradually over the course of one or two weeks. If this is the case, there is still no need to be alarmed - as the lowering of the doses will gradually decrease the risk of birth defects and flow on effects to your child.