Dealing with sleeplessness during pregnancy can make you exhausted. You may want to take medications such as Ambien to feel better, but can you take Ambien while pregnant? Well, to find out the answers to your concerns, reading this post may be a good idea. Studies show that around 78% of women may have sleep disturbances in pregnancy (1). However, The American Pregnancy Association states that insomnia in the pregnant mother may not be harmful to the unborn (2). Nonetheless, a small study on 131 pregnant women in their ninth month of gestation demonstrated that inadequate sleep could result in problems in the labor and birth process (3). Hence, if you have insomnia during pregnancy, you consider popping pills to feel better sooner. But, how safe is it to take sleep medications while pregnant? This post will help you understand some natural ways to combat insomnia during pregnancy, safety aspects, and more on taking Ambien during pregnancy.
What Is Ambien?
Ambien, also known by its generic name zolpidem, is a prescription medication classified as a sedative-hypnotic drug. The medication is prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia and sleeping troubles (4).
Can You Take Ambien While Pregnant?
The US Food and Drug Administration lists Ambien as a “Pregnancy Category C” drug, which means animal studies have shown adverse effects on the unborn baby, and there are no well-controlled studies in humans (5). This means, it is not clear whether Ambien is safe during pregnancy in humans. So, the doctor might prescribe the drug only if the possible benefits outweigh the potential risks.
What If You Have Already Taken Ambien During Pregnancy?
If you have been on Ambien before your pregnancy, or have taken it during pregnancy without a prescription, then let your doctor know about it. The doctor would decide whether or not you can continue the drug, or change the dosage if needed. Do not stop taking the medication suddenly as it could impact you and the baby.
Can Ambien (Zolpidem) Cause Miscarriage?
There are few studies on the risk of miscarriage due to Ambien. More research is needed to understand the implication.
Can Ambien Increase The Chance Of Birth Defects In The Baby?
There is no evidence to show that Ambien, or any other medicine chemically similar to it, could cause birth defects in babies. However, the US FDA states that the children born to mothers, who took sedative/hypnotic drugs, maybe at some risk of withdrawal symptoms during the postnatal period. Also, neonatal flaccidity (lack of force or vigor in muscles) has been reported in infants born to mothers who were on sedative/hypnotic drugs during pregnancy (5).
How Can Ambien Affect The Pregnancy?
Multiple studies have examined the effect of hypnotic benzodiazepine receptor agonist and reported no significant adverse neonatal outcomes (6).
Premature birth: A retrospective cohort study in Taiwan found that pregnant women who used Zolpidem had an increased risk of low birth weight, and/ or cesarean and preterm delivery. But this study did not include other contributing factors such as tobacco and alcohol.
Low birth weight babies: A population-based retrospective cohort study in Sweden found that, pregnant women who were exposed to Zolpidem showed an increased risk of low birth weight in babies. However, this study too did not consider other contributing factors.
So, there is no definitive evidence to state that the use of Zolpidem could affect pregnancy. However, there are a few general side-effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, and diarrhea (5). Therefore, do not take the medicine without consulting your doctor.
Does Ambien Cause Withdrawal Symptoms For The Mother Or Baby?
Abrupt termination of the medication might result in general withdrawal symptoms such as (5):
Fatigue Flushing Anxiety and spasms Stomach cramps and pain Uncontrollable crying Nausea and vomiting Sleeping difficulties Lightheadedness Panic attacks Nervousness
Some babies could also have breathing difficulties, low body temperature, and limp and weak muscles during birth (7). Your doctor will, therefore, recommend additional monitoring and testing during pregnancy or after delivery. Next, we answer a few common queries on taking Ambien during pregnancy.
Listen to soothing music before bedtime Reduce screen time at night, thereby reducing exposure to the blue light Take a warm shower/ bath before bedtime Have a massage or change the sleeping position and keep the room cool Avoid naps during the daytime
