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MotherToBaby

Medications and More during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Lorazepam

Selected References:

  • Bonnot O, et al. 2001. Maternal exposure to lorazepam and anal atresia in newborns: results from a hypothesis-generating study of benzodiazepines and malformations. J Clin Psychopharmacol; 21(4):456-458. 
  • Brandlisuten RE, et al. 2017. Association of prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines and child internalizing problems: A sibling-controlled cohort study. PLosS One; 12(7):e0181042. 
  • Calderon-Margalit R, et al. 2009. Risk of preterm delivery and other adverse perinatal outcomes in relation to maternal use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol; 201(6):579.e1-579.e8. 
  • Gandhi K, et al. 2023. Catatonia, Pregnancy, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Case Rep Psychiatry; 7:2023:9601642. 
  • Iqbal MM, et al. 2002. Effects of commonly used benzodiazepines on the fetus, the neonate  and the nursing infant. Psychiatr Serv; 53(1):39-49. 
  • Kargas GA et al. 1985. Perinatal mortality due to interaction of diphenhydramine and temazepam. N Eng J Med; 313(22):1417-1418. 
  • Kelly LE, et al. 2012. Neonatal Benzodiazepines Exposure during Breastfeeding. J Pediatr; 161(3):448-451. 
  • Lemmer P, et al. 2007. Quantification of lorazepam and lormetazepam in human breast milk using GC-MS in the negative chemical ionization mode. J Anal Toxicol; 31(4):224-226.  
  • Meng LC, et al. 2024. Benzodiazepine Use During Pregnancy and Risk of Miscarriage. JAMA Psychiatry; 81(4):366–373. 
  • Nishimura A, et al. 2021. Benzodiazepine Concentrations in the Breast Milk and Plasma of Nursing Mothers: Estimation of Relative Infant Dose. Breastfeed Med; 16(5):424-431. 
  • Noh Y, et al. 2022. First-trimester exposure to benzodiazepines and risk of congenital malformations in offspring: A population-based cohort study in South Korea. PLoS Med; 19(3):e1003945. 
  • Oberlander TF, et al. 2008. Major congenital malformations following prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines using population-based health data. Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol; 83(1):68-76. 
  • Ornoy A, et al. 1998. Is benzodiazepine use during pregnancy really teratogenic? Reprod Toxicol; 12(5):511-515. 
  • Viggedal G, et al. 1993. Mental development in late infancy after prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines-prospective study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry; 34(3):295-305. 
  • Sheehy O, et al. 2019. Association Between Incident Exposure to Benzodiazepines in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion. JAMA Psychiatry; 76(9):948-957.  
  • Tinker SC, et al. 2019. Use of benzodiazepine medications during pregnancy and potential risk for birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2011. Birth Defects Res Jun, 1;111(10):613-620. 
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2023. Ativan label. Accessed September 2024 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/017794s049lbl.pdf.  [Accessed April 2026]  
  • Whitelaw AG, et al. 1981. Effect of maternal lorazepam on the neonate. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 282(6270):1106-8.  

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