drugs safe in pregnancy chart

Which drug category is safe in pregnancy?

Category A: Controlled studies in women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters. The possibility of fetal harm appears remote. Medications in this class are considered safe to use in pregnancy.

What medications should be avoided in pregnancy?

Avoid:Aspirin - unless specifically prescribed by your physician.Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)Herbs, minerals, amino acids, and regular vitamins.Isotretinoin (formerly sold as Accutane, now Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Zenatane) taken for acne.More items...•

What does Category C mean for pregnancy?

Previous Pregnancy-Risk Categories Category C: Risk cannot be ruled out. There are no satisfactory studies in pregnant women, but animal studies demonstrated a risk to the fetus; potential benefits of the drug may outweigh the risks.

Which painkiller is safe in pregnancy?

Paracetamol is the painkiller of choice for use in pregnancy and its use does not require medical supervision. It is not uncommon for women to have used other types of painkiller early in pregnancy before finding out they are pregnant. In general, this type of use is not expected to harm the baby.

Is paracetamol safe for pregnant?

Is it safe to take paracetamol in pregnancy? Paracetamol has been used by pregnant women for many years without any obvious harmful effects on the developing baby. For this reason paracetamol is usually recommended as the first choice of painkiller for pregnant women.

What are Category D drugs in pregnancy?

Category D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

What drugs are in category A?

Category A DrugsThiamine, Pyridoxine, Folic acid.Docusate, Senna, Bisacodyl.Dextromethorphan.Doxylamine.Levothyroxine.Isoniazid.

Is azithromycin safe in pregnancy?

Azithromycin and pregnancy Azithromycin is generally thought to be OK to take during pregnancy if you have an infection that needs treatment. However, other antibiotics may be more suitable for you, depending on your type of infection.

Where can I learn more about safe medicines during pregnancy?

If you have a question about the safety of any medication during pregnancy, talk with your healthcare provider.

What decongestants affect blood flow to the placenta?

The decongestants pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, which can affect blood flow to the placenta. Pain relief, headache, and fever. Acetaminophen (Anacin Aspirin-Free, Tylenol, Shake That Ache!) Allergy relief.

Can you take acetaminophen for long periods?

Take the lowest effective total dose, and don't exceed the maximum recommended daily dose. May not be safe to take for prolonged periods, so take only as needed.

Is it safe to take natural remedies while pregnant?

Just because a product is labeled "natural" doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to take during pregnancy. Like any drug, some natural remedies are considered low risk in pregnancy and some aren't.

Is tolnaftate safe for pregnancy?

Tolnaftate (Absorbine Athlete's Foot Cream, Absorbine Footcare, Genaspor, Tinactin) Not safe to take: Certain Cruex, Desenex, and FungiCure products that may contain antifungal agents not listed here and should not be used during pregnancy. Check labels carefully and avoid any products containing active ingredients not listed here.

Can you take more than the recommended dose of a sulfate supplement?

Take the smallest effective dose, and never take more than the recommended dose. Read the label and check with your healthcare provider to confirm dosage information.

Is it safe to take over the counter medicine while pregnant?

In pregnancy, no medication is 100 percent safe, and even medication that's safe for someone else to take during pregnancy might not be safe for you. Always check with your healthcare provider before you take any kind of medicine during pregnancy. That includes over-the-counter (OTC) products as well as prescription medicine – even if you started taking the medication before you were pregnant. Your provider will tell you if it's safe to continue taking and help you find a good alternative if it isn't.

What is the best medicine to take after 1st trimester?

Pseudoephedrine ( [Sudafed®] after 1st trimester) Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)*. Saline nasal drops or spray. Warm salt/water gargle. *Note: Do not take the "SA" (Sustained Action) form of these drugs or the "Multi-Symptom" form of these drugs. Do not use Nyquil ® due to its high alcohol content. Type of Remedy: Diarrhea.

What are the risks of having a baby while pregnant?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol or uses drugs during her pregnancy, so does her baby.

What does a healthcare provider weigh when making a recommendation about a particular medicine?

Your healthcare provider will weigh the benefit to you and the risk to your baby when making his or her recommendation about a particular medicine. With some medicines, the risk of not taking them might be more serious than the potential risk associated with taking them.

Can a baby drink alcohol while pregnant?

You may know some women who had very little alcohol during pregnancy and had babies with serious health conditions. Every pregnancy is different and drinking alcohol may hurt one baby more than another. Due to their small liver, babies cannot break down the alcohol as well as you can.

Can you take a medicine while pregnant?

Although some medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, the effects of other medicines on your unborn baby are unknown. Certain medicines can be most harmful to a developing baby when taken during the first three months of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

Is it safe to take illegal drugs while pregnant?

Although some medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, the effects of other medicines on your unborn baby are unknown. Illegal drugs are never okay, and you should check with your healthcare provider regarding your current prescriptions.

Why do pregnant women take medication?

Some pregnant women take medications to help with common discomforts of pregnancy such as heartburn, morning sickness, or headaches.

What to look for in a pregnancy label?

Read the Label: Look for warnings or pregnancy indications. You should also look for potential allergic reactions as well as expiration dates.

Why do you switch the type of medication you are on?

Your health care provider may switch the type of medication you are on to take care of your medical needs while lessening any risk to your developing baby.

What to ask a developing baby about medication?

Ask Questions : It is appropriate to ask questions about medication safety for you and your developing baby. Ask about the medication name, generic alternatives, benefits and risks, and problems to watch for.

Can medication affect pregnancy?

Medication and Pregnancy. It is common to have questions regarding medication use during pregnancy. You might be trying to get pregnant and wonder how current medication use could affect your efforts to conceive. Or you may have just discovered that you are pregnant and wonder if the medication is a risk to your baby.

Is there a risk of pregnancy in a Category B study?

Category B : Animal studies show no risks, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women.

Does the FDA have a pregnancy registry?

Check Pregnancy Medication Registries : The FDA has a new pregnancy and medication registr y that you may find helpful.

How to help other pregnant women?

Help other pregnant women by sharing your experiences with medicines. You will not be asked to take any new medicines. You will provide information about your health and your baby's health. FDA does not run pregnancy registries, but it keeps a list of registries. See if there is a registry for your medicine.

What is the FDA Office of Women's Health?

The FDA Office of Women's Health offers resources to help women and healthcare providers get informed about medicines and other products used during pregnancy. Use the Pregnancy Social Media Toolkit to inform pregnant women in your network about medication safety.

What is a pregnancy exposure registry?

Pregnancy Exposure Registries are research studies that get information from women who take prescription medicines or get a vaccine during pregnancy. Pregnancy registries help women and their doctors learn more about how medicines can be safely used during pregnancy.

How does folic acid help with pregnancy?

Folic acid helps to prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine. Ask about how much folic acid you should take before you become pregnant and through the first part of your pregnancy. 2. Read the Label.

How to report a problem with a prescription?

Report Problems. First, tell your healthcare provider about any problems you have with your medicine. Also , tell FDA about any serious problems you have after taking a medicine. Call 1-800-FDA-1088 to get a reporting form sent to you by mail. Report problems online .

Why do women take medicine?

Some women take medicines for health problems, like diabetes, morning sickness or high blood pressure that can start or get worse when a woman is pregnant. Others take medicines before they realize they are pregnant. Pregnancy can be an exciting time. However, this time can also make you feel uneasy if you are not sure how your medicines will ...

What are the new drug labels?

The prescription drug labels are changing. The new labels will replace the old A, B, C, D and X categories with more helpful information about a medicine's risks. The labels will also have more information on whether the medicine gets into breast milk and how it can possibly affect the baby.

What are some examples of drugs that have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first?

Example drugs or substances: levothyroxine, folic acid, liothyronine.

When did the FDA replace the pregnancy risk letter?

In 2015 the FDA replaced the former pregnancy risk letter categories ( see below) on prescription and biological drug labeling with new information to make them more meaningful to both patients and healthcare providers. The FDA received comments that the old five-letter system left patients and providers ill-informed and resulted in false ...

Why is it important to have access to pregnancy and lactation information?

Accessible and understandable pregnancy and lactation information is important for women and their health care provider’s to assess risk versus benefit. The FDA has received requests to improve the decades-old content and format of pregnancy prescription drug labeling since 1992.

Why is the FDA labeling system five letters?

The FDA received comments that the old five-letter system left patients and providers ill-informed and resulted in false assumptions about the actual meaning of the letters . The new labeling system allows better patient-specific counseling and informed decision making for pregnant women seeking medication therapies.

What is the subsection entitled Females and Males of Reproductive Potential?

In the subsection entitled Females and Males of Reproductive Potential, relevant information on pregnancy testing or birth control before, during or after drug therapy, and a medication’s effect on fertility or pregnancy loss will be provided when available.

What is the purpose of the pregnancy section?

Infertility. The Pregnancy subsection will provide information about dosing and potential risks to the developing fetus and registry information that collects and maintains data on how pregnant women are affected when they use the drug or biological product .

What are the letter risk categories?

In 1979, the FDA established five letter risk categories - A, B, C, D or X - to indicate the potential of a drug to cause birth defects if used during pregnancy. The categories were determined by assessing the reliability of documentation and the risk to benefit ratio. These categories did not take into account any risks from pharmaceutical agents or their metabolites in breast milk. In the drug product label, this information was found in the section “Use in Specific Populations”.

Medicine Guidelines During Pregnancy

Illegal Drugs/Alcohol

• Street drugs are not good for your health, but they are even worse for your unborn baby’s health, since drugs are passed to your baby while you are pregnant. Illegal drugs such as angel dust, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, marijuana, and speed increase the chance that your baby is born with many possible problems. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol...

See more on my.clevelandclinic.org

Prescription Medicine Guidelines