Flying anxiety and diazapam while pregnant (long sry)

[Andromida]

My husband and I did not expect to conceive right away and were shocked when we did the first month! We currently have several upcoming trips with increasingly long flights.

3 1/2-4 hrs at the end of March
7 hours at the end of April
16 hours in early may
9 Hours mid June

I have PTSD and while I had already been off my general anti anxiety meds etc before even beginning to try, the one crutch I still needed was a xanax or a valium to fly. (Usually along with a seroquel and a muscle relaxer to sleep) I know I can give up the seroquel and muscle relaxer and take maybe a benedryl instead but the thought of those flights without the valium or xanax is already stressing me out.

I went on a trip last week only an hour long flight and took a xanax (I had taken a hpt that morning, day of my missed period and it was negitive. I assumed I was not pregnant as it was 14dpo) 4 days on vacation and no sign of my period I decided to be cautious and not take it on the way back and the flight was HELL.

The terror is near blinding. I actually feel like my blood is running like ice through my vains. I have tried self hypnosis, and I always have my tablet preloaded with tv shows and movies, my ipod and music, my nintendo DS, my nook (pretty much every electronic distraction device invented), nothing works except the meds.

I dont have my first dr appointment till after I get back from the trip with the 3 1/2-4 hr flight. I know benzos are a class d pregnancy drug but I literally ONLY take them when Im flying. Im worried that the severe stress I will feel flying with out them may be worse for the baby but Im also worried about it causing problems. Does anyone have any experience with taking a drug like valium or xanax periodically through pregnancy? (Most studies I have read only focus on long term use of them)

PLEASE DON'T BOTHER REPLYING IF YOU'RE GOING TO LECTURE ME ON EVEN CONSIDERING USING THE DRUGS OR WHY I WONT CANCEL MY TRIPS ETC. YOU ARE NOT IN MY SITUATION. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE TERROR AND STRESS I FEEL. I CREATED THIS POST TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE TAKING BENZOS PERIODICALLY DURING PREGNANCY. ALSO FOR ANY POSSIBLE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING. NOT TO BE LECTURED OR TREATED LIKE IM A TERRIBLE PERSON FOR CONSIDERING MY OWN MENTAL WELL BEING OR THE HEALTH OF MY MARRIAGE AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF MY UNBORN CHILD.

 

[loeylo]

Cancel the holidays. No brainer for me.

 

[Andromida]

2 of them cant be cancelled. (The longest 2 of course)
My husbands 2 best friends are getting married and hes in the wedding parties and there is no way he'd go without me. So I either accept he backs out now, or I go and I'd never forgive myself if he missed those weddings for me.

 

[wish4baby]

Is it possible to cancel the flights & drive/train/boat instead??? Or like PP said, cancel the trips.
I'm no doctor, but I'd say the medicines could cause a lot more damage than the severe stress, so last resort is fly but without the medicine. Sorry!!!

 

[Andromida]

2 of them could possibly be cancelled. None of them sadly can really be driven too or gone to by train.

The other 2 as I mentioned are for weddings where my husband is in the wedding parties. They are across the atlantic then across the US so there is no way to go without flying sadly

Maybe Ill try and push to get my dr appointment moved up. I just asked a doctor friend of mine who said it should be fine and that the chance of a problem is like <1% with daily use but that the type of stress she knows I suffer would likely be worse but shes not an OBGYN.

 

[wish4baby]

Well that stinks! Yeah, best bet to is talk to your doctor/obgyn.
I wonder, would just the Benadryl be enough?
I've always heard that first trimester and last are the most important (development issues in the 1st and withdrawal, breathing, feeding issues in the 3rd)...so maybe the important wedding is during your second trimester?

Good luck!

 

[Katt36]

I will inbo you and give you my opinion.

 

[Andromida]

The 9 hour one will be early in my 2nd trimester, the 16 hour one is definitely in my 1st. Ive been reading everything I can find and have been seeing xanax is worse 1st trimester and valium worse 3rd. Im finding a lot of people who have taken it periodically and been find but I don't think I can put my baby at risk without talking to my doctor first.

Thanks for the responses

If I cant move up my dr appointment I think Ill try benedryl/unisom on my 3 1/2 hr flight later this month and see how that goes, then if it doesnt work well talk to my doctor when I get back.

 

[Katt36]

I am having trouble accessing your mailbox please inbox me.

 

[Andromida]

Im not sure how to do that I just joined. Maybe there is a time or post limit before I can use that feature?

 

[danijoanne]

Hi Hun do you have specialist consultants in antenatal psychiatrics? With regards to medication they have more factual, evidence based knowledge over the best psychiatric medication to take and when and its effect on the baby. If you can get a consultation with them that'd be far better than a gp as they are more specialised. Good luck I'm sure you'll find something that works &#128512;

 

[Andromida]

Hi Hun do you have specialist consultants in antenatal psychiatrics? With regards to medication they have more factual, evidence based knowledge over the best psychiatric medication to take and when and its effect on the baby. If you can get a consultation with them that'd be far better than a gp as they are more specialised. Good luck I'm sure you'll find something that works &#128512;

I wish it was that easy. I actually live in Europe atm (Im an American Expat) and I don't speak the language here and psychiatric help in general here is limited (ive seen 2 psychiatrists here who were actually mean to me and made my anxiety worse for weeks after the appointments. Ive given up and started planning my appointments with my US psychiatrist when I visit home like once a year). Maybe I can try and set up a skype appointment with someone in the US though that may be a good idea and I know more offices are starting to do call/online consultations. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[bananaz]

Use of Xanax and other benzodiazepines during the first trimester is associated with increased risk of miscarriage, which is part of why the FDA considers them pregnancy category D. I agree with danijoanne's recommendation about seeing a reproductive psychiatrist to review your medications. If that's not possible then you should at least try to talk to an OB with experience in this area. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out something

 

[Kmx]

I really feel for you and can totally sympathise. I also hate flying to the point where I cry when taking off and landing. I usually drink a couple alcoholic drinks to help but obviously I can't now.
Can I ask, what exactly is it your worried about?

I am worried about crashing and all the unusual sounds. What I found helped was watching youtube videos of a plane taking off and landing to familiarise myself with the sounds and process. I then also research the statistics on crashes and feel a bit more at ease. It depends on what causes your anxiety though.

My suggestion would be to skip the medication if at all possible and endure the stress. I flew twice during my first pregnancy and I was extremely stressed. My son was perfectly healthy and fine and I thjnk I would rather subject him to stress which can be healthy for them - blood pumping through your veins strongly - instead of subjecting him to medication which I just don't know what it could cause

Sorry it's probably not what you wanted to hear although admittedly I have no experience at all with these medications.

 

[hanni]

A wedding isn't as important as your child's health. If you absolutely can not fly without taking anything that is harmful to baby, don't fly.
If your child was to be born with any health problems you'd never be able to forgive yourself. A wedding only lasts a day, your child's health is a lifetime.

Sorry to be so blunt but it's a no brainer in my opinion.

 

[Andromida]

I really feel for you and can totally sympathise. I also hate flying to the point where I cry when taking off and landing. I usually drink a couple alcoholic drinks to help but obviously I can't now.
Can I ask, what exactly is it your worried about?

I am worried about crashing and all the unusual sounds. What I found helped was watching youtube videos of a plane taking off and landing to familiarise myself with the sounds and process. I then also research the statistics on crashes and feel a bit more at ease. It depends on what causes your anxiety though.

My suggestion would be to skip the medication if at all possible and endure the stress. I flew twice during my first pregnancy and I was extremely stressed. My son was perfectly healthy and fine and I thjnk I would rather subject him to stress which can be healthy for them - blood pumping through your veins strongly - instead of subjecting him to medication which I just don't know what it could cause

Sorry it's probably not what you wanted to hear although admittedly I have no experience at all with these medications.

I mostly fear the 5-8 minutes the plane is going down and I know Ill die lol as weird as that may sound. The terrorism aspect also scares me. I know 100% it is completely irrational and that flying is very safe, but also parts of my PTSD have to do with claustrophobia and major issues with lack of control which obviously when flying is always the case.

As I said earlier I think what Im going to do is try benedryl and/or unisom (probably 1 or the other each direction) on my 3 1/2 hr flight later this month and see if it helps. There are some studies on unisom saying it can help anxiety so Im hopeful. At least until I see my doctor.

I appreciate all of the honesty and In all honesty I wasn't looking to hear it was ok since I already knew it wasn't I was just wondering if anyone had possibly had an experience with periodic use of the drugs for panic while pregnant or any advice and support.

A wedding isn't as important as your child's health. If you absolutely can not fly without taking anything that is harmful to baby, don't fly.
If your child was to be born with any health problems you'd never be able to forgive yourself. A wedding only lasts a day, your child's health is a lifetime.

Sorry to be so blunt but it's a no brainer in my opinion.

My husbands and my relationship is just as important as any baby we plan to bring into the world and resentment isnt intentional most times. I don't think he'd admit that he would resent me but I believe he would (I believe anyone would in a similar situation whether its conscious or not). Also if you read my post youd see I DID fly with no medication 3 days ago, but that it was hell so I CAN fly I just hated it with a passion and was terrified the entire flight.
Id also never forgive myself if my husband ended up resenting me because of my stupid irrational fear.

Add that to the fact that there hasn't been a single study since the 1970s that says benzos cause birth defects and I dont think there is anything thats a no brainer about this.

 

[danijoanne]

Ah it's hard when your not in your native country to access support. I'm a psychiatric nurse but I specialise in children so antenatal isn't my forte. I take fluoxetine still, my go was strongly against it as the leaflet said not to take it ( you'll find with most medications it says not take in pregnancy, most drug companies are fearful of any repercussions) however you have to look at risk to taking medication to other factors, ie long term psychological damage, I know people are saying just don't fly but if you have anxiety and ptsd it's all the associated feelings and worries that go along side or if you didn't take the flight, the guilt and anxiety you would feel to your partner and relationship. I hope you can find a specialist doctor to speak to to see what other medication options there are and even homeopathic treatments. Do you use any mindfulness tactics in order to help with the anxieties ie cbt, acupuncture, pressure points aromatherapy etc xx

 

[danijoanne]

Ps mental health is just as important and physical health so looking to take medications and researching effects and doing your homework shows a strength and fab insight into it &#128512;&#128512;&#128512;&#128512; if you were in pain and needed to take a medication for the pain you would research the best one and consult doctor it's the same with psychiatric health. Unfortunately not everyone sees it that way. I have to take psychiatric medication, I could probably survive without but it would be horrible for me and my family, there is no conclusive evidence showing any side effects of the medication but there is anecdotal possibilities. I have people make me feel guilty for still taking it but I don't, my mental health is imperative to mine and my families wellbeing including my unborn babies. So don't ever feel guilty for thinking about trying to be in the best mental state you can be. &#128512;

 

[danijoanne]

Sorry for the ramble. I get so passionate about anything mental health, coupled with hormones I go right off on a tangent x

 

[loeylo]

Posted my previous post quickly. I'm also terrified of flying (panic attacks, the lot) and suffer from claustrophobia- its also about the loss of control for me - that and the risk of death.

To say your relationship is more important than a child seems absurd to me. If your partner is going to resent you for not wanting to risk your childs health then you are better off without him in my opinion.

I have two weddings abroad next year, both very close friends, we are in the wedding party for both, and if I'm pregnant I'm sure as hell not going to either. Aside from anything else, long-haul flights can be dangerous in later pregnancy due to increased risk of DVT etc. - most airlines don't accept ladies over 27 weeks travel without a "fit to fly" certificate. I'm not sure you would get such a form considering the severity of your anxiety.

As the PP said, could you live with yourself if the baby had some sort of birth defect (even if it was unrelated to medication, you would always wonder if the medication caused it) - I lost three pregnancies before my LG was born and I second guess everything I did when pregnant incase I caused it, when in reality it would probably have happened anyway.

Stress doesn't have that much effect on a baby anyway. I had anxiety throughout my pregnancy and she's perfectly healthy (at times my anxiety was crippling, to the point my resting heart rate was 137 bpm for days on end)