prescribed valium whilst pregnant

[info pls]

i've been prescribed one weeks worth of valium (2mg dosage) as i've been suffering migraines...(& have had side effects from other prescribed tablets)

the thought of taking valium whilst 5 months pregnant, i have to say scares me sh*tless (for my baby).  

i do not intend taking the valium, but can anyone give me reason/info why this was prescribed - i have tried searching the web & have not had any positive reasons why valium should be taken during pregnancy

thanks for your help

[Val]

was your doctor one of the commonly used ones that expats use?

i wouldn't touch it!

in fact i wouldn't touch any prescription medication while pregnant.

[Val]

I can only tell you that Diazapam /Valium is a very dangerous drug for pregnant women  take - if you need more convincing go to British medical journal site . By the way , during pregnancy it is not uncommon for migrane sufferers to have more frequent attacks. Try to get a second opinion?

[Mama me]

With my first child I too sufferred with dreadful migraines.  To the point where I thought I was going crazy.  I was prescribed cocodamol (sp). I have to admit that I took it and everything was fine.  My child is now a happy, healthy and thriving 9 year old.

[Good Grief]

Don't take it.

I asked my very reputable OB at TMC if I could take Valium during labour to calm me down and he said absolutely not - not even at that late stage of the process.

It crosses the placenta and will affect the baby.  Every pregnancy book advises against taking drugs like this during pregnancy.

You should certainly call up the Dr and ask them why they've prescribed it and what their position on dirth defects is, though if it were me I'd change Drs right away.

There are non-drug ways of dealing with migranes.

[info pls]

i haven't taken the valium & will not..... however, the dr who prescribed the valium was a neuologist who i was referred to by my gynae & he knew i was pregnant & my pregnancy history thus far.  
when i told him my concerns re taking valium, even in small dose & only for one week, he told me it was extremely safe to take blah blah
my gynae is presently away, so i will talk to her on her return
thanks

[to info pls]

i posted some info (off the ivillage.com website) regarding taking valium during pregnancy BELOW (the women below had her drink spiked with it while pregnant)...it's most likely best NOT to take it, but it seems like a one time (2mg) dose does not pose a risk to the baby.  however, really everything we do or don't do may be a risk to the fetus and so you must just weigh your options.  

You probably shouldn't take it for your migraines, because if they are reoccurring then a one time dose of valium really won't help you and multiple doses to ease the migraines would be harmful to the baby and potentially addictive.  Also, when doing a search on the internet refer to valium as a "benzodiazepines," since that's the technical medical classification for valium--so type a search such as "effects of benzodiazepines on fetus."  Valium is the brand name.

Here is the info I found on ivillage.com regarding valium during pregnancy.  It seems the neuro prescribed it without concern since it was a small dosage.

Valium

I am 22 weeks pregnant. I was out with a few friends at a housewarming party when a man I didn't know well thought it would be funny to slip about 25 mg. of Valium in my soda. I started feeling funny and then I found out what he had done. He said that he didn't know I was pregnant. What harm can this do to my baby?

I will put aside my natural outrage at such an act long enough to try to relieve your mind. This is a criminal offense, however, and I hope you take action against this person. I know that you will also report this to your own care provider and seek their opinion.

Valium is an anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant medication and generally induces sleepiness. It is a FDA "Category D" drug, which means that "there is positive evidence of human fetal risk." However, the risk is dosage related and a one- time dose is unlikely to produce ill effects on the baby. The typical dose of this drug when given orally is two to ten mg. two to four times a day. You were given a large amount all at once.

Valium is still given in late pregnancy to stop a seizure in a pregnant mother. Most of the adverse effects seen in the newborn relate to an altered state of consciousness -- sleepiness.

I would try not to worry as the effects of one dose would appear to be minimal, but I can understand your concern.

GOOD LUCK!

[Galaxy]

Hi info pls,
agree that best would be not to take Valium, but of course it depends on how bad your migraine really is...did you try paracetamol (one of the safest pain killers during pregnancy). if your headache is not too bad I wouldn't touch it but if you really need to take Valium (did you try smtg different?) the impact it could have on your child depends very much on the dosis and how long you would need to take it. Be careful...