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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Disorder While On Alprazolam

Posted on Tue, 18 Oct 2016

Question: My wife is 31.6 weeks pregnant (LMP is 19 Feb 2016). She has a severe sleep disorder and is taking Alprazolam 0.5mg from the start of the second trimester (19 May 2016).
As she is approaching delivery her gynecological has advised to quit Alprazolam before delivery gradually. We read somewhere as the dosage is small, it does not affect the baby. My question is she has to quit by making the dosage to half (.25 mg) and then zero or she can continue taking.25 mg until the end of pregnancy, if it is safe for the baby.
My other question is Alprazolam safe for the baby

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.

Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam are very dangerous for the fetus during pregnancy. They can cause heart defects and even approximations of fetal alcohol syndrome. I strongly suggest weaning off the alprazolam as quickly as possible as soon as possible.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (4 hours later)

So are there chances that any harm to the baby already would have been made as she already took for around 4 months. Secondly, if she has to quit now so she should quit immediately or should first reduce the dosage to half (.25mg) for say 10 days and then quit completely. please let me know as soon as possible as we are too worried. Another condition is, her taste has changed and she can barely eat anything so she is in severe depression with sleep problem, food and stress that she has taken Alprazolam for so many months.

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
She should lower the dose to half for 2 weeks and then stop the medication.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T