Phenazepam is a sedative drug used to suppress certain functions of the nervous system. Additionally, it has a hypnotic effect on the human body.
If a woman takes the drug throughout her pregnancy, the baby develops a dependence syndrome. After the birth of a newborn, you will have to deal with the consequences of withdrawal. Young children have an immature central nervous system, which is sensitive to the suppressive effects of benzodiazepines.
Depressed breathing, decreased muscle tone, hypotension, hypothermia are possible in late pregnancy and just before childbirth.
In exceptional cases they do prescribe - when?
The medicine has become widespread in the fight against diseases:
- syndrome that occurs due to alcohol withdrawal (abstinence);
- the presence of epileptic seizures or seizures of another nature in a pregnant woman;
- diagnosed psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia;
- the presence of neurological diseases that caused severe irritation, anxiety or insomnia.
The drug is prescribed by a doctor, and the dose and course of treatment are selected depending on the patient’s condition. The drug can be administered intramuscularly or intravenously. Today, pharmacies also have the option of medicine in tablets.
But apparently in vain!
Phenazepam is quickly addictive. In order not to harm the patient, the dose is first gradually increased and then decreased. The course of treatment should not exceed two weeks, otherwise the risk of addiction increases.
The drug can cause a number of possible side effects, which must be taken into account when prescribing it to a pregnant woman.
The risk of allergies increases, manifested in the form of redness on the skin, severe itching and profuse rash. Phenazepam negatively affects the digestive system, resulting in vomiting, nausea, increased metabolism, yellowness of the skin, and abnormal bowel movements.
At the same time, the number of platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes in the blood decreases. Cases of urinary incontinence or, conversely, delay in urine output have been recorded. The medicine can lead to hallucinations, severe drowsiness, visual disturbances and sudden changes in mood. A woman can suddenly move from depression to a euphoric state.
Expert opinion about this drug:
Emergency or caesarean section to be delivered
On the recommendation of the anesthesiologist, depending on the health and emotional state of the woman, Phenazepam is prescribed before the CS. As prescribed, it should be administered the night or immediately before surgery.
Pre-medication is often used as a relaxation before general anesthesia. Thanks to taking the drug, a woman’s anxiety and gland secretion decrease.
Also, after the medicine, the effect of drugs used for anesthesia is enhanced. In this case, the combination of drugs may be different. It includes analgesics, sedatives and antihistamines.
Survey of women in labor
We checked a survey of women in labor who took Phenazepam during pregnancy, and here are their reviews.
I was prescribed one Phenazepam tablet the night before my upcoming planned Caesarean section. The fact is that I was very worried and worried about the outcome of the upcoming operation.
I slept well all night and woke up fresh and rested in the morning. Operation was successfully completed. A daughter was born (9 out of 10 on the Apgar scale). After anesthesia, I recovered quickly and easily. In my case, the drug deserves only positive reviews.
Victoria, 28 years old
Considering my age and great desire to have a second child, I had to be in confinement 4 times during the entire pregnancy. The fact is that 1.5 years before that I lost my baby at an impressive age. For me, every move, pill, and prescription mattered.
Now I understand that I took everything to heart. I should add that I have problems with blood pressure and excess weight, so my second pregnancy was a challenge for me.
Lying on guard in the same ward with a woman much younger than me in age, I had to see how she lost her baby. At that moment I literally experienced shock. She was much younger and healthier than me. I started to get hysterical. As doctors later explained, the risk of fetal loss has increased.
In order to calm me down, they injected me with Phenazepam. Later I found out that during pregnancy it is used extremely rarely. The drug helped, I quickly calmed down and slept. Subsequently, I gave birth to a healthy girl, however, and today I believe that you should not drink anything stronger than valerian during pregnancy.
Valentina, 40 years old
Conclusions and facts
The sedative drug Phenazepam should be taken with caution in all patients. To do this, you must first obtain 
doctor's prescription and under no circumstances begin treatment on your own.
During pregnancy, the drug is prescribed only if absolutely necessary and there is a threat to the life of the child or mother.
Before a planned CS, it is used as a preparatory drug that helps a woman relax and not be in a state of anxiety before the upcoming operation.
The prescription is made depending on the psycho-emotional state of the woman and is authorized by the anesthesiologist.
Navigation
The period of bearing a child for many women is accompanied by mood swings, increased anxiety, and sleep problems. The cause of such consequences may be an aggravation of the emotional background as a result of a hormonal surge, chronic stress or overexertion, or hidden fears. To combat such conditions, doctors recommend using yoga, diet, and traditional medicine agreed with the gynecologist. In severe cases, pharmacological products are used - tranquilizers, anxiolytics, sedatives. "Phenazepam" during pregnancy is prescribed only in the most severe cases, subject to special indications and only at a certain time.
The medicine is prescribed during pregnancy only in the most severe cases, subject to special indications and at a certain time.
Pharmacological action of the drug
The drug "Phenazepam" is classified as a benzodiazepine tranquilizer. The medication has sedative, anti-anxiety, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties. Its use allows you to eliminate sleep problems caused by a long period of falling asleep and frequent awakenings due to nervous tension.
The medicine relieves obsessive fears, emotional outbursts, mood swings, panic attacks and inexplicable anxiety.
Sometimes it is used in the complex treatment of phobias, mental disorders, and withdrawal syndrome due to alcohol dependence. The composition is able to prevent the spread of convulsive activity, enhance the effect of anesthesia, and facilitate the process of preparing for surgery.
The listed results are achieved by inhibiting the activity of the central nervous system and suppressing reflexes. The main component of the drug "Phenazepam" acts quite aggressively. Systematic use of medication or exceeding permissible dosages can cause drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome. For these reasons, pregnancy is one of the contraindications to the use of the product, but in practice this prohibition sometimes has to be circumvented. It happens that the potential risks of taking a tranquilizer during pregnancy turn out to be less dangerous than the consequences of refusing such a step.
The active substance of the drug can enhance the effect of anesthesia and facilitate the process of preparing for surgery.
Features of use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Under normal conditions, Phenazepam can become the drug of choice for problems with sleep, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, manifestations of VSD, phobias or fears. Due to toxicity, depressant effects on the central nervous system and the ability to penetrate the placental barrier, the drug is very rarely prescribed to pregnant women. To combat these conditions, doctors try to use less aggressive options that do not pose a danger to the mother and fetus.
Experts identify a number of special indications for prescribing a tranquilizer during pregnancy.
- first trimester - the medicine is not prescribed due to the high risk of developmental defects in the fetus. Therapy carried out in exceptional cases requires hospital conditions and constant medical supervision;
- second trimester - the medicine can be used in minimal therapeutic dosages, provided there are no accompanying contraindications, with caution;
- third trimester - “Phenazepam”, which enters a woman’s body before childbirth, can cause the development of drug dependence in the newborn. The medicine can also cause hypotension and hypothermia in the baby. At this stage, they try to give the product to pregnant women only as a premedication before anesthesia in the form of a one-time manipulation.
Use of the drug in the third trimester may cause the newborn to develop drug dependence.
The instructions for use of the drug "Phenazepam" do not contain universal schemes for prescribing the product to pregnant women. In each individual case, an individual option is selected based on the characteristics of the situation.
When is Phenazepam prescribed to pregnant women?
There are no special indications for the use of a tranquilizer during pregnancy. If possible, doctors try to make do with other means that are not covered by the ban.
The exception to the rule is usually when a woman took the medication even before conception for strict indications. Often, even under such conditions, the gynecologist tries to at least temporarily transfer the patient to Relanium or Clonazepam.
Indications for the use of the drug "Phenazepam" during pregnancy:
- severe withdrawal syndrome due to alcohol withdrawal;
- epileptic seizures, some forms of convulsive seizures;
- psychiatric diseases, for example, schizophrenia, psychosis;
- neurological pathologies that are accompanied by severe anxiety, irritability, and insomnia uncontrollable by milder medications;
- severe manifestations of damage to the autonomic nervous system;
- A single dose of the tablet is acceptable on the eve of a cesarean section due to the patient’s increased anxiety.
The drug is prescribed for severe manifestations of damage to the autonomic nervous system.
Most of these conditions are treatable. When diagnosing them, doctors recommend that women of childbearing age pay increased attention to contraception in order to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Such phenomena, even in themselves, can significantly complicate bearing a child. An additional complication is the need for aggressive therapy.
Method of use of the medicine
The manufacturer offers two dosage forms of the drug - injection solution and tablets. The possibility of using one of them is determined by the doctor, taking into account the specifics of the case. If the situation does not allow replacing Phenazepam with a less aggressive and toxic product, the treatment regimen is also selected individually.
Typically, treatment begins with the maximum allowable dosage for the patient’s diagnosis and condition. Gradually, this volume begins to be reduced, achieving preservation of the therapeutic effect with a minimal amount of the drug. This approach allows not only to reduce possible risks, but also to prevent the development of drug addiction in the expectant mother.
The duration of therapy should not exceed two weeks. Even a one-time use of the drug should be agreed with a doctor. In situations where long-term drug treatment is required, they try to switch the patient to analogues of the drug Phenazepam as quickly as possible. Even among benzodiazepine products, you can find options that are less dangerous for a woman and her child - Gidazepam. A good substitute can be the soft and affordable Afobazol.
Afobazole may be a good analogue of the drug.
Side effects and overdose
Compliance with the rules for taking the medication "Phenazepam" minimizes the likelihood of developing negative reactions. If they appear, immediate refusal of the product is required, regardless of the severity of the discomfort. Side effects to the medicine may vary. Most often they take the form of weakness, dizziness, irritability, daytime drowsiness, and aggressiveness. In some patients, dyspepsia, lack of appetite, drop in blood pressure, and slow heart rate come to the fore.
In some patients, due to taking the medication, disorders such as a drop in blood pressure come to the fore.
The clinical picture of an overdose of Phenazepam is usually characterized by more pronounced side effects. Also, an emergency condition may be accompanied by confusion, a sharp drop in blood pressure to critical levels, and coma. Any of the listed manifestations requires immediate medical intervention.
Contraindications during pregnancy
In addition to pregnancy, there are several other conditions in which the use of Phenazepam is prohibited. This list includes reduced liver and kidney performance, patient age under 18 years, and increased sensitivity to the components of the product. The drug is not prescribed against a background of coma or shock, airway obstruction, or acute respiratory failure. The use of the medication is prohibited in case of alcohol poisoning or medications that depress the activity of the central nervous system.
Pharmacology offers many tranquilizers and anxiolytics that can cope with problems no worse than Phenazepam, and are safe for pregnant women. If the use of the product cannot be avoided, the process should be supervised by medical professionals.
Phenazepam is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer, one of the most effective drugs in its group. It is prescribed for mental illnesses accompanied by anxiety and insomnia. Neurologists use phenazepam for convulsive syndromes, narcologists - to treat alcohol dependence, and anesthesiologists - before administering anesthesia.
This medication is used everywhere, despite the fact that it is a rather dangerous drug. It has a large number of side effects and contraindications. The latter includes pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can read the complete list of contraindications in the instructions for the medicinal substance.
Is it possible to prescribe for pregnant women?
Pregnancy is one of the strict contraindications to the use of this tranquilizer. There are drugs that can be prescribed if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the fetus. refers to those medicinal substances that are not used even in this case.
The consequences of its use in pregnant women in early and late pregnancy have been studied quite well. Most studies were conducted in the USA. In this country, this medicine belongs to the last two risk groups for pregnant women. All medicinal substances that are on sale in pharmacy chains around the world belong to one of six risk categories. Category A - the safest drugs, they can be prescribed to everyone. Category B - products whose risk has not been proven; they can also be used. Category C - the danger is questionable, used only if the benefit to the mother outweighs the possible negative consequences.
The last two categories D and X are the most dangerous substances, the risk of which has been proven through research. The United States included phenazepam in these two groups. When used in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, the development of congenital anomalies in the child, such as cleft palate, is possible. Spontaneous abortions and stillbirths are also possible.
Phenazepam is prescribed to pregnant women only in the most desperate situations. For example, in the case of severe alcohol dependence or severe epilepsy. In this case, it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy.
Prescription of phenazepam in the third trimester
The use of the product before childbirth has a number of features. At this time, the fetus is already fully formed. He cannot experience severe developmental disorders, since the main tissues and organs are already functioning. Moreover, spontaneous abortion is impossible during this period. This process is already called premature birth. In this case, the newborn may be quite viable.
However, even despite all this, phenazepam can be used in the third trimester only in exceptional cases.
For example, if other means do not bring the desired effect, and without drugs there is a danger of losing two lives at once. As a rule, this happens with epilepsy. It should be taken into account that the medicine penetrates through the placenta to the fetus, which can cause developmental delays and heartbeat disturbances. Newborns from mothers taking phenazepam often have hypotension, bradycardia, they breathe worse and refuse to breastfeed. All this can lead to serious health problems for the baby. There are cases where children developed phenazepam withdrawal syndrome six months after birth.
Phenazepam for nursing
Pregnant women should not use phenazepam, since it passes through the placenta and affects the fetus; it is also not recommended for women after childbirth. During lactation, those drugs that penetrate into milk and affect the baby are prohibited. These substances include phenazepam.
If a mother is breastfeeding and takes this medicine, the baby receives it in her milk. In this case, children experience drowsiness, loss of appetite, and may experience nausea. The condition gradually worsens until coma and death.
Phenazepam is not prescribed to nursing mothers. In case of urgent need to use this particular product, it is recommended to switch to artificial feeding.
Pregnant and lactating women can take milder tranquilizers, for example, diazepam And elenium.
Many women are interested in the question of whether it is possible to take the drug Phenazepam during pregnancy. This medicine is a sedative that can inhibit some functions of the nervous system. At the same time, the medication has a hypnotic effect.
This drug is prescribed by doctors as an anticonvulsant. It can relax the muscular system as much as possible and suppress reflexes. You can buy it at any pharmacy if you have a prescription from your doctor.
Is it possible to take Phenazepam during pregnancy?
In fact, this medicine is prescribed to pregnant women extremely rarely. It is recommended to be used only in cases where there is a threat to the life of the expectant mother.
"Phenazepam" during pregnancy can have a toxic effect on the body of the unborn baby, so there is a possibility of various defects at birth. Moreover, this risk will increase significantly if a woman began treatment with this drug in the first trimester of pregnancy (that is, in the earliest stages).
Thus, the use of Phenazepam during pregnancy (including the third trimester) is strongly not recommended. The components included in its composition can inhibit the functioning of the central nervous system of a newborn baby. In most cases, doctors will be able to select safer analogues for their patients.
One more nuance. If a woman uses the drug “Phenazepam” during pregnancy, from the beginning to the end of its course, then most often the child develops some kind of dependence syndrome. Therefore, after giving birth you will also have to deal with this problem.
When is the drug prescribed?
Doctors still prescribe Phenazepam during pregnancy in some cases. In fact, this drug copes well with the following pathologies:
Neurological diseases associated with insomnia, nervous irritation and constant anxiety;
The medicine works well in eliminating the withdrawal syndrome that occurs after stopping alcohol;
If a pregnant woman has epileptic and other seizures.
Do not take this medicine on your own under any circumstances! The consequences can be sad not only for you, but also for your baby. The regimen, dosage and duration of treatment can only be determined by your attending physician. The drug is usually administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Sometimes it is prescribed in tablet form.
Important nuances
"Phenazepam" during pregnancy can cause an addictive effect in a very short time. Therefore, for maximum safety of its use, the dosage must be very gradually increased, and then also gradually reduced. In this case, the course of treatment should not exceed two weeks. Otherwise, there is a very high risk of addiction.
Side effects
"Phenazepam" during pregnancy in the early stages, just like in later stages, can manifest itself on the negative side. Before you start using this product, be sure to familiarize yourself with possible adverse reactions.
Please note that this product can cause allergic reactions, manifested in the form of itching, redness and rash on the skin.
Phenazepam can also have a negative effect on the digestive system. Some patients noticed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Also, the active components of the drug negatively affect the circulatory system. The number of platelets, leukocytes and red blood cells in the blood may decrease significantly.
There have also been cases of urinary incontinence or, conversely, retention.
Some women experienced very frequent mood swings - from depressive to enchanting.
Emergency cases
This preliminary preparation will promote good relaxation before the introduction of general anesthesia. Thanks to this, a pregnant woman can calm down. The feeling of anxiety will disappear without a trace, and the functioning of the endocrine glands will normalize.
The use of this drug before anesthesia will enhance the effect of the latter.
"Phenazepam": instructions
During pregnancy, this drug is used, as you might understand, only in the most extreme cases. Its use in the early stages may increase the risk of birth defects. In the later stages of pregnancy, there is a possibility of depression of the nervous system of the unborn baby.
The dosage will be selected by the doctor purely individually. However, most often, experienced specialists replace this drug with safer analogues.
Reviews from patients and doctors
Of course, doctors prescribe this remedy to their pregnant patients extremely rarely. Most often, this is done with the aim of calming and relieving anxiety before the birth itself. Patients who experienced the effect of this medicine were generally satisfied. The anxiety really disappeared, and quality healthy sleep began.
When using the product during a cesarean section, the operation was successful. After anesthesia, the women quickly recovered and felt great. However, adverse reactions such as allergies, nausea, vomiting and dizziness were also observed.
During pregnancy, the product should be used very carefully and only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
Cautions
Particular caution should be taken when taking the drug during severe depression, as the drug can be used to carry out suicidal intentions. The product should be used very carefully in weakened patients.
Persons suffering from liver and kidney failure, while undergoing a course of treatment with the drug "Phenazepam", need to undergo regular examinations and monitor the levels of liver enzymes, as well as the condition of the blood.
The frequency of side effects, as well as their intensity, depend on the general condition of the patient, as well as on his sensitivity to the components of the drug included in the composition. Usually, when the dosage is reduced or the medication is completely discontinued, all side effects completely disappear.
Please note that if used for too long, this drug can cause addiction. Therefore, you need to start taking it and stop taking it very smoothly and carefully. If you stop treatment very abruptly, withdrawal syndrome may occur, since the body has already become accustomed to the active components.
Do not drink alcohol during pregnancy under any circumstances, especially if you are undergoing treatment with this drug. Phenazepam can significantly enhance the effect of alcohol on the body.
conclusions
The drug "Phenazepam" during pregnancy (reviews about the drug are direct confirmation of this), if it is prescribed by a doctor and all risks are taken into account, it copes well with its tasks. However, it must be used extremely carefully. You should not prescribe this medication yourself. This can only be done by a doctor after conducting a special examination and passing the relevant tests.
During pregnancy, a course of treatment with Phenazepam can still be prescribed, but only if it does not pose a threat to the life of the baby or his mother.
The medicine can be used once before a cesarean section for pregnant women. In this case, the drug can have a positive effect. The level of anxiety will decrease and a state of full, healthy sleep will occur. The drug also enhances the effect of anesthesia and allows you to come out of it in a more normal state. Take proper treatment and lead a healthy lifestyle. Be healthy!
During pregnancy, women quite often experience feelings of anxiety, unreasonable fear, anxiety, they are tormented by prolonged insomnia and bad mood during the day. Many expectant mothers are concerned about the question of whether pregnant women can take sleeping pills and sedatives to calm the nervous system, such as Phenazepam? Let's figure out whether Phenazepam can be taken during pregnancy.
Phenazepam is a sedative, vasoconstrictor drug that belongs to the group of tranquilizers and is available only with a prescription and as prescribed by the attending physician. It has a sedative effect and can inhibit some functions of the central nervous system. Phenazepam acts on the body as a sleeping pill, relaxes muscles, suppressing reflexes, eliminates convulsions, and relieves nervous tension. After taking the drug, fears, anxiety, and concern go away, and the person does not experience hallucinations or delusional ideas.
When is Phenazepam prescribed?
A sedative may be prescribed for the following disorders of the nervous system:
- Insomnia, anxiety, fears and phobias.
- Convulsions, epilepsy, nervous tics.
- Central nervous system disorders (panic attacks, psychosis, obsessions, schizophrenia).
- Alcohol withdrawal.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Release form
Phenazepam is available by prescription and is available in the form of tablets and ampoules, which are used for intramuscular injections and droppers.
Contraindications to Phenazepam
Phenazepam is a toxic drug and has a number of contraindications for use:
- Prohibited in case of severe alcohol poisoning, overdose of sleeping pills and sedatives that are dangerous to the patient’s life.
- The drug is not prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory failure.
- The drug can aggravate the condition of a patient with severe depression, which is accompanied by suicidal tendencies.
- In case of hypersensitivity to the active components of the drug, it causes allergic reactions in the form of redness and itching of the skin.
- It is prohibited for children under 18 years of age; it is prescribed to pregnant women in rare cases if there is a threat to the woman’s life.
- Should be taken with caution in case of liver and kidney failure.
Side effects of Phenazepam
Phenazepam has a depressant effect on the nervous system and causes drowsiness, lethargy and fatigue. In addition, the patient may experience disorientation, absent-mindedness, and deterioration of memory and vision. An overdose of the drug is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, gastrointestinal disorders, and tachycardia.
Phenazepam during pregnancy
During pregnancy, Phenazepam is prescribed extremely rarely, when strictly necessary and only under the supervision of the attending physician. The drug has a high degree of toxicity and affects the development of the fetus. The components of the drug inhibit the functioning of the central nervous system of the unborn child:
- The use of Phenazepam in the first trimester of pregnancy is especially dangerous - it increases the risk of developing various malformations in the baby.
- Phenazepam is prescribed with caution during pregnancy in the second trimester.
- Taking the medicine in the third trimester, before childbirth, has negative consequences for the newborn, which are expressed in a decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in the baby’s overall body temperature. Therefore, taking Phenazepam in the third trimester is extremely dangerous.
As a rule, doctors select safer analogues for pregnant patients. When prescribing Phenazepam, the attending physician selects an individual treatment regimen, dosage and determines the duration of the drug. The course of treatment should not exceed 2 weeks, as the body becomes accustomed to the active substance of the drug. Self-administration of medication as a sleeping pill or sedative during pregnancy is unacceptable!
Important! If a woman used the drug throughout pregnancy, then Phenazepam causes addiction in the child in the womb. The fetus develops a so-called “dependency syndrome,” which will have to be dealt with after the birth of the baby.
Phenazepam during pregnancy: reviews
Most often, Phenazepam is prescribed to those patients who experience panic, causeless anxiety and nervousness before childbirth in order to relieve anxiety and calm the nervous system of the expectant mother. Women who took Phenazepam once a week during pregnancy noted that their condition improved significantly, fears and phobias went away, and healthy and restful sleep returned to normal. Phenazepam is often prescribed before a caesarean section in order to relax the body before the introduction of anesthesia. However, in some cases, adverse reactions to the drug were observed: nausea, dizziness, vomiting.
Phenazepam is a strong sedative that is taken strictly as prescribed by a doctor. The drug is effective in relieving high levels of anxiety, fear, phobias, calms the nervous system and allows you to fall asleep fully. If treatment is necessary, the dosage is selected individually, since the drug has a number of contraindications and undesirable side effects for the mother and fetus. Phenazepam is especially dangerous during early pregnancy, as it has a negative effect on the development of the baby, causing severe defects in the fetal nervous system. Take care of yourself and your baby!
