Avonox Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Although animal studies have shown no teratogenic or embryotoxic effects, safety in pregnancy has not been established. As with all drugs zolpidem hemitartrate should be avoided in pregnancy particularly during the first trimester.
If the product is prescribed to a woman of childbearing potential, she should be warned to contact her physician about stopping the product if she intends to become or suspects that she is pregnant.
If, for compelling medical reasons, zolpidem hemitartrate is administered during the late phase of pregnancy, or during labour, effects on the neonate, such as hypothermia, hypotonia and moderate respiratory depression, can be expected due to the pharmacological action of the product. Cases of severe neonatal respiratory depression have been reported when zolpidem hemitartrate was used with other CNS depressants at the end of pregnancy.
Infants born to mothers who took benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine-like agents chronically during the latter stages of pregnancy may have developed physical dependence and may be at some risk of developing withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period.
Small quantities of zolpidem hemitartrate appear in breast milk. The use of zolpidem hemitartrate in nursing mothers is therefore not recommended.