Becca asked
I am almost 6 weeks pregnant and was wondering if Ambien 10mg was safe to take.
Answer
Ambien is a pregnancy category C, which means there been no adequate or well-controlled studies with Ambien in pregnant women. Per the prescribing information for Ambien (zolpidem):
"There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Ambien should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus."
While there have been no human studies regarding Ambien, animal studies have shown fetal harm (Ambien given at a higher than the recommended human dose to pregnant rats and rabbits showed adverse effects on the development of offspring). It is important to note that animal studies are not always predictive of human response however.
In addition, taking Ambien near the end of pregnancy may adversely affect newborns. Cases of severe neonatal respiratory depression have been reported when Ambien was used at or near the end of pregnancy, especially when taken with other CNS (central nervous system) depressants.
Overall, Ambien generally isn't recommended in pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Be sure to speak with your doctor regarding your options.
