No Overall Rise in Birth Defects With Early Benzodiazepine Use

This population-based U.S. cohort study using Medicaid and MarketScan data assessed major congenital malformation risk after first-trimester benzodiazepine exposure. The study reported a pooled adjusted relative risk of 0.99, with no consistent increase in overall or organ-specific malformations and no dose-response relationship observed. Findings from analyses of coexposure with other psychoactive medications were inconsistent, which the authors state warrants further study.

Most relevant for: Pregnant individuals considering or using benzodiazepines in early pregnancy, particularly those with coexisting psychoactive medication use.

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