Healthy pregnancy hub

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)

Last Update: 31 Mar 2025

Welcome to our fact sheet on chlordiazepoxide during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This information is based on available published research studies. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers.

The HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB team is collaborating with MotherToBaby to share information on this topic. The original version is available here (data from February 2023).

Serene, our chatbot, can also answer your questions about medications during pregnancy.

Please note that this fact sheet is based on United States information and has been adapted for Canada, with a review by our Canadian experts. Minor differences may exist between the two countries. Always consult your healthcare professional for information tailored to your situation.

1. What is chlordiazepoxide?

Chlordiazepoxide is a medication that has been used to treat anxiety and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (such as anxiety and agitation). MotherToBaby has a fact sheet on anxiety at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/anxiety-fact/. 

Chlordiazepoxide is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. The brand name for chlordiazepoxide is Librium®. 

Sometimes when people find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy. 

2. What does research say about the risks during pregnancy?

I take chlordiazepoxide. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

It is not known if chlordiazepoxide can make it harder to get pregnant. 

Does taking chlordiazepoxide increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not been done to see if chlordiazepoxide can increase the chance of miscarriage. 

Does taking chlordiazepoxide increase the chance of birth defects?

Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. It is not known if chlordiazepoxide can increase the chance of birth defects. While there have been some reports of birth defects with first trimester use, no clear pattern of birth defects has been associated with this medication. Most reports did not find a higher chance for birth defects with first trimester use of chlordiazepoxide. 

Does taking chlordiazepoxide in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

Chlordiazepoxide has not been well studied for use during pregnancy. One study found a higher chance for low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth) when chlordiazepoxide was taken during pregnancy. It is not known if chlordiazepoxide can cause other pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37). 

I need to take chlordiazepoxide throughout my entire pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?

The use of chlordiazepoxide during pregnancy can cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal and may include tremors, irritability, or other issues. Not all babies exposed to chlordiazepoxide will have symptoms. It is important that your healthcare providers know you are taking chlordiazepoxide so that if symptoms occur your baby can get the care that’s best for them. 

Does taking chlordiazepoxide in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child? 

Studies have not been done to see if chlordiazepoxide can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child. 

3. Breastfeeding while taking chlordiazepoxide:

Chlordiazepoxide has not been studied for use while breastfeeding. Chlordiazepoxide stays in the body for a long time and might pass into breast milk. If you suspect the baby has any symptoms (poor feeding, poor weight gain, or sleepiness) contact the child’s healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions. 

4. What about fathers and sperm donors?

If a male takes chlordiazepoxide, could it affect his fertility or increase the chance of birth defects? 

Studies have not been done to see if chlordiazepoxide could affect a male’s fertility (ability to get a partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects. In general, exposures that fathers or sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/. 

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Disclaimer

HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB provides a source of information validated by health professionals; however, this information is provided for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. Medical standards and practices evolve as new data becomes available, so it is imperative to consult your doctor or a qualified health professional for any questions or concerns regarding your health without delay or omission. It is the responsibility of your treating physician or any other health professional, based on their independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best way to evaluate and treat you.

HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB does not specifically recommend or endorse any test, practitioner, treatment, product, or opinion mentioned on our platform. HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB also does not replace the individual patient assessment based on the examination by the healthcare provider of each patient and the consideration of laboratory data and other patient-specific factors.

The use of the information available on our site is at your own risk. No person involved in the creation, production, promotion, or marketing of HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB guarantees or represents, expressly or implicitly, anything regarding the information available on the platform, which is provided “as it is”. All warranties are expressly excluded and disclaimed, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, as well as any warranties arising by law or otherwise in law or from trade or usage. Any statements or representations made by any other person or entity are void.

While consulting symptoms or other medical information on our platform may guide your discussions with your healthcare professional, this information should not be used to make a medical diagnosis or determine treatment. Before making changes to your supplement or medication regimen, please discuss with your medical team or contact 811 (Canada) to ensure the relevance of these changes to your individual situation.

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MotherToBaby
Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS)
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Émy Roberge
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Anne-Sophie Otis
Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Justine

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