What Kind Of Birth Defects Can Xanax Cause?

Alprazolam (Xanax) is a drug for the central nervous system that is known to pose a threat to human fetuses. You should not use Xanax if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Possible birth defects include neonatal depression, ‘floppy baby’ syndrome, and neonatal withdrawal. Neonatal depression refers to a dangerously low breathing rate in new-born babies, and is associated with the cases of babies who die within 24 hours after being born. ‘Floppy baby’ syndrome is a term used to describe abnormal limpness when an infant is prone. Infants suffering from hypotonia, or low muscle tone, often are described as feeling and appearing as if they are floppy rag dolls, easily slipping through one’s hands. Neonatal withdrawal, or neonatal abstinence syndrome, is a withdrawal syndrome of infants, caused by the administration of drugs, including benzodiazepines.

Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It affects chemicals in the brain that cause anxiety when they become unbalanced. Xanax has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety associated with depression, and panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia.

Long-term administration of another benzodiazepine, diazepam, to nursing mothers has been reported to cause infants to become lethargic and lose weight. Symptoms of withdrawal also have been reported in nursing infants whose mothers have withdrawn from alprazolam. Alprazolam most likely is excreted into breast milk in small amounts. The manufacturer of Xanax recommends that, as a general rule, mothers who must use alprazolam should not nurse their babies.

Xanax belongs to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pregnancy category D, which includes drugs that are known to pose a threat to unborn babies.

Was this community answer helpful? Blurtit is community driven Q&A, together we’re striving to continually improve this collective answer. So please help by rating this answer or adding your own answer.

Anonymous 67% helpful

Xanax at severely high levels (4-8mg a day in humans) has been shown (in animals) to cause an increased risk of cleft palate if taken in the first trimester. If taken in the third trimester (close to delivery), the infant can experience withdrawal like symptoms that wear off within a few hours due to the short half life of the drug. Some studies have also related its use to a risk of breathing issues upon birth. I take xanax as needed (in small doses .5 mg) during my pregnancy and all is well. The benefits of the medication outweigh these slight possible risks. Unless you deal with severe panic disorder, it is really hard to put yourself in my place or the place of other suffering pregnant women. Good luck to all.

Helpful Not helpful

Anonymous 80% helpful

As long as your Dr. Recommends you NEED this med and you take it ONLY as directed chances are the baby will be fine. "While Xanax has not been demonstrated to be a high risk factor for birth defects, the possibility exists that it could increase their likelihood."

This drug is only given to people that REALLY need it. And I've know people who needed it and when they were without they are in a terrible state. I can not imagine a woman who needs this drug being without during 9 months of extreme hormonal changes. That would put them and the unborn child at severe risk of inflicting harm to themselves and others.

Now I DO agree that there are people out there that are not prescribed this yet they are addicts and take it while pregnant, and those are the people that are at risk of damaging there baby because they are MORE likely to take way more than a normal prescribed dose. But people that are under a Dr's care and are pregnant are generally closely monitored so there should be no worries.

Helpful Not helpful

Anonymous 100% helpful

If the mother was on it before she conceived she should not stop. Some doctors say you should slowly come down under their care, and if you are still having anxiety or panic attacks then you should stay on as low a dose as possible and monitored closely. The baby will be fine but will take medication for a few weeks after birth. However taking more than prescribed can lead to sever birth defects. But for the most part it's fairly safe if used as directed. 1mg. 2-3 x's a day.
I should know my wife is pregnant and is on xanax for severe anxiety and panic attacks. We have been to so many doctors but they all say the same thing except for the ones who shun the idea. My wife is also on Methadone. She see's the doctor every 2 weeks and all is going well and very smooth.

Helpful Not helpful

Anonymous 71% helpful

Xanax contains alprazolam which is an benzodiazepine and is used to treat anxiety. This drug is pregnancy category D which means it can affect fetus. But xanax can be used during pregnancy after measuring risk/benefit ratio. This drug can cause birth defects like muscular weakness and respiratory problems if used in the first trimester of pregnancy. Use of xanax during last stages of pregnancy can cause withdrawl symptoms in baby. This drug is also secreted through breast milk and can cause problems in nursing babies.

Helpful Not helpful

Anonymous 60% helpful

I took xanax during my pregnancy before i knew i was pregnant and stopped when i found out around ten weeks. My son was born with a condition called microopthalmia and is blind in his right eye also two of his fingers on his right hand are missing bones and joints now i was also taking midrin and a birth control i don't know which medication caused the problems nor do his doctors so i would advise if you can be strong enough for the pregnancy not to take it don't take it. The risk aren't worth it

Helpful Not helpful

Anonymous 50% helpful

Im 35 weeks and I have really bad panic attacks My obgyn told me its ok in the third trimester because the baby is already fully developed now i have a .5mg dosage the lowest dose there is and i chop it into four and take it though out the day as i need it which by the end of the day i only take like half without it i cant eat i make myself very sick and i dont sleep you also have to controll your mind and try to get down to the reason they are coming and just keep positive thnk about the good things to come or the good things from the past! The key is to take your meds before the panic attack gets to bad!! With you having panic attacks you dont need to add onto the worrie and the guilt of you thinking your harming your baby!

Helpful Not helpful