Taking Mysoline While Pregnant: What You Need to Know

Is it okay to take Mysoline while pregnant?

When a woman becomes pregnant, everything she ingests can affect the fetus developing in her womb. For this reason, it is recommended that pregnant women monitor everything they put into their bodies. In addition, pregnant women should avoid using drugs as much as possible. This includes abstaining from prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and illegal substances. However, some women may need to stay on certain medications during pregnancy if the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks to the fetus or if the woman needs medications to function in her daily life.

Mysoline is a prescription medication used to reduce or control seizures. It is classified as a barbiturate anticonvulsant medication. Common side effects associated with using Mysoline include dizziness, drowsiness, spinning sensations, blurred vision, skin rash, irritability, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and loss of interest in sex. All of these common Mysoline withdrawal symptoms should go away with time. However, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible if you experience these more serious Mysoline symptoms: slurred speech, loss of balance, poor coordination, easy bruising, easy bleeding, and unusual weakness.

If you are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant and have questions about whether you should use Mysoline during pregnancy, set up a meeting with your doctor to thoroughly discuss this topic. Generally, Mysoline is only recommended for pregnant women if they absolutely need the medication or if the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks. For instance, having a seizure during pregnancy could harm the mother and the fetus more than using Mysoline during pregnancy. Your provider will be able to determine whether using Mysoline during pregnancy is right for your situation.

Is Mysoline harmful to your baby? Common side effects

Currently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Mysoline under the pregnancy risk category C. This category means that Mysoline is not deemed completely safe for use during pregnancy. This is because there is a lack of well-controlled studies regarding the safety of Mysoline’s use during human pregnancies. Some animal studies have shown adverse effects to the fetus when Mysoline is used during pregnancy, but these studies do not necessarily indicate Mysoline is unsafe for human use. Because there is a lack of research regarding this medication, you should consult with your doctor about whether or not you should use Mysoline during pregnancy.

Although there is not a lot of research on the effects of using Mysoline specifically while pregnant, other seizure medications have shown some effects in fetuses and newborns. Women who use these types of medications while pregnant are at greater risk of birthing babies with fetal abnormalities. If a pregnant woman uses more than one seizure medication, the risk increases seen further. Malformations found in the babies of women who use seizure medications include congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, urogenital defects, and cleft lips. The risk for these malformations also increases at the dosage levels go up.

In addition, children may exhibit cognitive issues if they were exposed to seizure medications while in the womb. These include cognitive and language impairment and an increased risk of autistic spectrum disorder. To avoid these complications as much as possible, you should talk to your doctor about a conception plan. This will help you decide whether staying on these medications is necessary and when to plan for tapering off the drugs.

If you are considering breastfeeding while on Mysoline, schedule a meeting with your doctor or your baby’s future doctor to discuss how this could affect your newborn. Generally, substances can easily pass into breast milk. This is why it is important for mothers who are nursing to monitor what they put into their bodies, not just when they are pregnant.

If you are currently a Mysoline patient and you become pregnant, let your doctor know right away. Even if you no longer want to use this medication during your pregnancy, you should never adjust your Mysoline treatment schedule or dosage levels. If you suddenly stop using Mysoline, you are putting yourself at risk for experiencing Mysoline withdrawal symptoms that can negatively affect yours and the fetus’ health. Mysoline withdrawal symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, nausea, and delirium. If you do not want to use Mysoline during your pregnancy, ask your doctor about tapering off the medication so you can avoid Mysoline withdrawal symptoms.

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