Healthy pregnancy hub

Clorazepate

Last Update: 04 Mar 2025

Welcome to our fact sheet on clorazépate 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.

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 clorazepate?

Clorazepate is a medication that has been used to treat anxiety, seizures, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (such as anxiety and agitation). Clorazepate is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Brand names for clorazepate include Tranxene® and Gen-Xene®. 

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 this medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy. 

If you take this medication regularly and then suddenly stop taking it, you could have withdrawal symptoms. It is not known what effects, if any, withdrawal might have on a pregnancy. Your healthcare providers can help with slowly stopping this medication if you plan to stop using clorazepate. 

2. What Does Research Say About the Risks During Pregnancy?

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

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

Does taking clorazepate 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 clorazepate increases the chance for miscarriage. 

Does taking clorazepate increase the chance of birth defects?

Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. We look at research studies to try to understand if an exposure, like clorazepate, might increase the chance of birth defects in a pregnancy. Studies have not been done to see if clorazepate increases the chance for birth defects. Experimental animal studies did not report a higher chance of birth defects. 

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

Studies have not been done to see if clorazepate increases the chance for pregnancy-related problems such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). 

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

Studies have not been done to see if clorazepate might cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Based on other benzodiazepine medications, clorazepate might cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal. The baby can be monitored for “floppy infant syndrome” (poor muscle tone), trouble with feeding or breathing, or irritability. Not all babies exposed to clorazepate will have these symptoms. It is important for your healthcare providers to know if you are taking clorazepate so that if symptoms occur, your baby can get the care that is best for them. 

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

It is not known if clorazepate increases the chance for behavior or learning issues. 

3. Breastfeeding while taking clorazepate

Clorazepate passes into breastmilk and stays in the body for a long time, which means medication levels can build up in a nursing infant. If you suspect the baby has any symptoms (very sleepy and hard to wake to feed, poor feeding, or poor weight gain), contact the child’s healthcare provider. 

The product label for clorazepate recommends people who are breastfeeding not use this medication. But, the benefit of using clorazepate may outweigh possible risks. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about using clorazepate and what treatment is best for you. Be sure to talk with your healthcare providers about all your breastfeeding questions. 

4. What About Fathers and Sperm Donors?

If a male takes clorazepate, could it affect fertility (ability to get a partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects in a partner’s pregnancy?

Studies have not been done to see if clorazepate could affect a male’s fertility or increase the chance of birth defects. In general, exposures that fathers and sperm donors have are unlikely to increase the risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures here

Key Points

  • Clorazepate is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. 
  • There is little research on its effects during pregnancy. No studies have shown an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, preterm birth, or low birth weight. Animal studies have not reported a higher chance of birth defects.
  • Newborns may have withdrawal symptoms if exposed during pregnancy. While not studied specifically for clorazepate, other benzodiazepines have been linked to temporary symptoms in the baby.
  • Clorazepate passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. It stays in the body for a long time and could cause drowsiness or feeding issues. Talk to your healthcare provider to weigh the risks and benefits.
  • Always consult your healthcare provider before making any medication changes.

References

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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.

Credits
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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