Biomaterial Database

Pharmacoepidemiological perspectives on the suspected teratogenic effects of benzodiazepines. 1991

U Bergman

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.

Abnormalities (dysmorphism, mental retardation etc) were reported (The Lancet 1987; i: 108-9) in children of mothers using high doses of benzodiazepines regularly during pregnancy in the area of Sweden with the highest use of benzodiazepines (Gothenburg). This signal was investigated in Sweden by use of available drug data bases, and in the USA by use of computerized health care data in Medicaid, including drugs and diagnoses. Neither the Swedish survey, nor the preliminary analysis of the pediatric profiles in the US-Medicaid population supported the occurrence of drug-associated abnormalities as described in The Lancet. Also, no significant findings were seen in a survey in Czechoslovakia on behavioural changes in children, whose mothers used diazepam during the second part of their pregnancy. Although available pharmacoepidemiology data do not confirm the hypothesis, this review points to existing geographic differences in use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy (frequency of chronic use and dosage level) and their potential clinical consequences. (Fig. 1, Ref. 25).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D003604	Czechoslovakia	Created as a republic in 1918 by Czechs and Slovaks from territories formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia 1 January 1993.
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000014	Abnormalities, Drug-Induced	Congenital abnormalities caused by medicinal substances or drugs of abuse given to or taken by the mother, or to which she is inadvertently exposed during the manufacture of such substances. The concept excludes abnormalities resulting from exposure to non-medicinal chemicals in the environment.	Drug-Induced Abnormalities,Abnormalities, Drug Induced,Abnormality, Drug-Induced,Drug Induced Abnormalities,Drug-Induced Abnormality
D001569	Benzodiazepines	A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring.	Benzodiazepine,Benzodiazepine Compounds
D013548	Sweden	Country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Finland and Norway. The capital is Stockholm.
D014151	Anti-Anxiety Agents	Agents that alleviate ANXIETY, tension, and ANXIETY DISORDERS, promote sedation, and have a calming effect without affecting clarity of consciousness or neurologic conditions. ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS are commonly used in the symptomatic treatment of anxiety but are not included here.	Anti-Anxiety Agent,Anti-Anxiety Drug,Anxiolytic,Anxiolytic Agent,Anxiolytic Agents,Tranquilizing Agents, Minor,Anti-Anxiety Drugs,Anti-Anxiety Effect,Anti-Anxiety Effects,Antianxiety Effect,Antianxiety Effects,Anxiolytic Effect,Anxiolytic Effects,Anxiolytics,Tranquillizing Agents, Minor,Agent, Anti-Anxiety,Agent, Anxiolytic,Agents, Anti-Anxiety,Agents, Anxiolytic,Agents, Minor Tranquilizing,Agents, Minor Tranquillizing,Anti Anxiety Agent,Anti Anxiety Agents,Anti Anxiety Drug,Anti Anxiety Drugs,Anti Anxiety Effect,Anti Anxiety Effects,Drug, Anti-Anxiety,Drugs, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Antianxiety,Effect, Anxiolytic,Effects, Anti-Anxiety,Effects, Antianxiety,Effects, Anxiolytic,Minor Tranquilizing Agents,Minor Tranquillizing Agents
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.