Expert: Jacqui - 7/14/2008

Question
My wife is 25 weeks pregnant and a recovering drug addict.  She has been clean since the pregnancy except for two occasions once at 12 weeks and the other at 23 weeks where she took 25 ambien in a 10 hour period both times.  She hasn't used anything else other than this.  Will these 2 occasions of ambien overuse hurt our baby?

Answer
Hey Al,

Thanks for your question.  Drug use in pregnancy is one of those most stigmatizing of subjects, but often the concerns are over blown.  I by no means mean that it is ok to go nuts while pregnant, but the reality is that the recreactional drug which causes the most damage to a developing baby is alcohol.

Also, although you said your partner was a "recovering drug addict", using Amien two times during a pregnancy is probably less drugs than a lot of people use.  

Anyway, as far as Ambien goes, it is a hypnotic agent related to benzodiazepines although it is more specific in its binding to the brain receptors than drugs like serepax and valium.  As Ambien is a relatively new drug, in comparison to things like Valium, there have not been a lot of trials in pregnant women.  The medical profession is usually over cautious and, unless there are thousands of trials saying something is okay, they won't classify it as "safe" for pregnancy.  This said, it has been tested in animal studies with no adverse effects (we have to say a big thank you to the rat!).  

So, I guess my answer is this - technically, doctors would advise against using it in pregnancy because there are much more thoroughly tested alternatives.  However, if your partner has only taken it twice and has had her regular check ups and everything seems fine, then I would not spend too much time worrying.  Just make sure that she gets the right support.  The most important thing is that you stick by her and don't make her feel like she is less of a person just because she once put some substances in her body (which we all do, the strong cup of coffee in front of me is testament to that)!

Best wishes on the birth of your child!

Stay safe,

Jacqui