{"id":635631,"date":"2026-03-27T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635631"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:02:31","slug":"xanax-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/xanax-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to take Xanax during pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Xanax<\/span><\/a> is the brand name of<\/span> alprazolam<\/span><\/a>, a type of benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. It works by increasing a neurotransmitter called GABA, which helps calm down the nervous system. Xanax can lead to dependence and abuse, which is why it\u2019s classified as a Schedule IV federally controlled substance.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are pregnant and experience anxiety or panic, you might want to know: Can you take Xanax while pregnant? Most healthcare providers don\u2019t recommend taking Xanax while pregnant because of potential risks and side effects to fetuses and pregnant women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Can you take Xanax while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Xanax is classified as a<\/span>\u00a0category D medication<\/span><\/a>. This<\/span> means<\/span><\/a> there is some evidence of risk to the fetus if the medication is taken during pregnancy, and that the potential benefits of taking the medication outweigh the risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Babies born to mothers taking benzodiazepines like Xanax may experience <\/span>symptoms of sedation and drug withdrawal<\/span><\/a>. There aren\u2019t definitive studies that show that benzodiazepines cause congenital malformations, but there aren\u2019t studies to rule out this risk either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, health care providers advise avoiding Xanax during pregnancy due to its potential risks. This is true of Xanax, as well as other benzodiazepines. \u201cAll benzodiazepines carry a similar risk, so one is not necessarily better than the other when it comes to safety during pregnancy,\u201d says<\/span> Adi Davidov, MD<\/span><\/a>, associate chair of gynecology at Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

The use of <\/span>benzodiazepines<\/span><\/a> like Xanax can be risky at any time during pregnancy, but certain trimesters may carry different risks than others. \u201cThe most dangerous time to take benzodiazepines is in the first trimester when the baby’s organs are developing, but it can also be dangerous toward the end of the pregnancy as it can cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome,\u201d Dr. Davidov says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the risks of taking Xanax while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Studies that have looked at the risks of taking<\/span> Xanax<\/span><\/a> during pregnancy have been mixed, with some studies showing an increased risk of<\/span> miscarriage<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> other studies showing less of a risk<\/span><\/a>. Additionally, several studies have found an association between Xanax use and<\/span> low birth weight<\/span><\/a> for babies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though more research is needed, studies overall don\u2019t show increased congenital disorders or fetal deaths when mothers take Xanax during pregnancy. \u201cThe data we have is reassuring that birth defect rates are likely not increased with Xanax use,\u201d says<\/span> Ashley Peterson, MD<\/span><\/a>, maternal-fetal medicine physician and director of the Perinatal Diagnostics Center at Tufts Medical Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is more clear are the risks to infants that can happen <\/span>after<\/span><\/i> birth. Xanax crosses the placenta, which means that fetuses are exposed to it in utero. \u201cWithdrawal symptoms or sedation can be seen in newborns exposed during pregnancy,\u201d Dr. Peterson says. Additionally, \u201cthe baby may also have respiratory depression if the mother is on a high dose of benzodiazepine,\u201d Dr. Davidov explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the use of Xanax can be dangerous, and even life-threatening, for pregnant women. \u201cThe long-term use of Xanax in adults, pregnant or not, has a risk for abuse, misuse, and drug dependence, which can lead to overdose and death,\u201d Dr. Peterson notes. \u201cXanax also has the potential for serious life-threatening side effects for patients when combined with other medications (such as opioids) by causing sedation, respiratory depression, and death.\u201d\u00a0 Another risk for adults and newborns is life-threatening seizures from the abrupt cessation of Xanax.’<\/span><\/p>\n

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