Is Tizanidine Safe While Pregnant?
What Is Pregnancy Category C?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
In addition, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
Tizanidine has not been studied in pregnant humans. In pregnant animals, however, the drug can increase the risk of miscarriages, increase the length of pregnancy, decrease offspring survival (both before and after birth), and cause developmental delays.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C drug may be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
Pregnancy and Tizanidine: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, let your healthcare provider know.
Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and risks of taking tizanidine during pregnancy before making a recommendation in your particular situation.
