Choosing sleeping pills that are safe for pregnant women and the fetus

Most pregnant women experience times when it is difficult to sleep, maybe even experience it in every trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, there are several ways to help pregnant women get enough sleep and one of them is by taking medication. It's just that pregnant women cannot take drugs carelessly. Then, are there sleeping pills that are safe for pregnant women?

Choosing a drug for pregnant women that is safe and according to the cause

The first solution to solving sleep problems during pregnancy is to make lifestyle changes to aid sleep and to avoid drugs. However, if the mother has entered a severe condition and it is very difficult to sleep, some sleeping pills can be used with caution.

Caution still needs to be done because most sleeping pills have not been tested on women on a large scale, especially in pregnant women. Even so, the results of trials and studies that have been done on animals can provide a number of rules in drug safety for pregnant women.

Category of drugs for pregnant women

Medicines are categorized by their safety level for pregnant women. The following is the classification of the effects of drugs for pregnant women:

• Category A: Adequate and controlled studies have been conducted that show no risk to the fetus in the early trimester of pregnancy (but no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
• Category B: It has been tested by studies with animal subjects and shows no risk to the fetus, but has not been tested in pregnant women.
• Category C: From animal studies, the drug shows detrimental effects on the fetus and no studies have been conducted in humans. However, the drug has the potential to provide benefits to pregnant women despite the potential risks.
• Category D: There is evidence that the drug may cause adverse reactions in the fetus based on data from investigations or studies in pregnant women. However, the drug still has the potential to provide benefits to pregnant women but with potential risks.
• Category X: Animal and human studies have shown abnormalities and / or risks to the fetus. The risks associated with using drugs in this category are higher than the potential benefits.

Safe medicine to help pregnant women sleep

Referring to the above categories, sleeping pills for pregnant women that are safe can be grouped based on the cause. Causes of pregnant women to experience sleep disorders, including insomnia, RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome), narcolepsy, and parasomnia.

The safety level of sleeping pills decreased from category A to B and beyond. Sleeping pills for pregnant women based on the causes include:

1. Antihistamines diphenhydramine and doxylamine

Both drugs are easy to obtain and safe to use to help pregnant women sleep easier. Even the drug is safe to use on an ongoing basis, but still under the supervision of an obstetrician.

However, there is one condition in the use of the sleeping pills diphenhydramine and doxylamine. Diphenhydramine, should not be taken together with temazepan (another type of sleeping drug) because the combination of the two can be associated with fetal death in the womb.

2. Benzodiazepines

If you have insomnia or trouble sleeping due to anxiety, your doctor or medical professional may recommend a prescription type of sleep medication such as benzodiazepines. It's just that you and your doctor need to consider the level of risks and benefits that might occur.

Several types of sleeping pills including benzodiazepines such as:

• Temazepam
• Estazolam
• Flurazepam
• Quazepam
• Triazolam

3. Barbiturates

Sleeping pills for pregnant women that are included in the type of barbiturates include:

• Amobarbital
• Pentobarbital
• Secobarbital

Although research results on the drug are limited, there have been reports of amobarbital users experiencing birth defects in mothers who took this drug in the first trimester. In addition, taking barbiturates nearer the time of delivery can have a sedative effect on newborns and can last for several days.

Most pregnant women often have difficulty sleeping and this is natural considering that getting pregnant is a difficult process. If pregnant women want to take sleeping pills, you should always consult a doctor first.

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