Ambien is a sedative medication that makes a person feel calm and want to sleep. It is mainly prescribed to treat insomnia. When Ambien is used during pregnancy, it relieves sleeping difficulties and mood swings and helps the pregnant woman rest and feel calm. But a question arises if one takes Ambien in pregnancy, is it safe or not? This answer is only possible by visiting your health professionals and taking proper guidance from them. If you don’t follow guidance but take Ambien, it will create a harmful situation for you and your unborn child.
What Happens If You Take Ambien During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women face a common problem, which is sleep disturbance. The sleeping trouble slowly increases over time until the child’s delivery. These might increase the insomnia during the pregnancy period. If the insomnia is not treated, it might increase the risk of depression, PPD, OCD, gestational diabetes, and c-section delivery. So it should be treated, or it might affect the unborn baby by preterm birth and low birth weight. It is recommended to take Ambien during pregnancy, under the supervision of a medical professional, and follow their guidance. If you take this drug without proper guidance, withdrawal symptoms increase. General withdrawal symptoms are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Sleeping problems
- Panic attack
- Nervousness
- Lightheadedness
Is it safe to take Ambien during pregnancy?
According to studies, 95% of pregnant ladies face sleep disturbance or have trouble sleeping. It was normally prescribed for the treatment of Insomnia, so some people may think it may be a safe substance to take in pregnancy. But while a pregnant woman is taking Ambien, she should consult her healthcare advisor about the pregnancy condition and the insomnia problem. But also, the insomnia in pregnancy should be treated. If it is treated, it might cause problems in pregnancy, harm to the health or mental condition of the mother, and the baby.
Other Sleeping Pills In Pregnancy
During pregnancy, Diphenhydramine is generally safer than Ambien, but both cause drowsiness. Diphenhydramine is a sedative antihistamine that is used for short-term sleep problems and, cold cough. There are studies on Diphenhydramine, and there is no link between it cause any risk of birth defects or abnormalities. Ambien has limited safety data, and there is limited research. There are also safer sleeping pills such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline.
Medication Warnings During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, if you take Ambien, it may cause severe side effects and allergic reactions. At that time, stop taking medication and get emergency medical help. Also, it can give premature birth or a low-weight baby.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we get to know that Ambien is prescribed to treat insomnia and helps to feel calm and rest well. It is prescribed to pregnant women to treat their sleeping trouble, but there is not enough research or data related to reproductive safety during pregnancy. Also, there is no evidence of birth defects due to taking Ambien. In practice, this medicine can only be taken as prescribed by the healthcare advisor for pregnant women for their better health. While taking this medicine, monitoring is also required to manage the risk of side effects. Do not take it without a prescription.