It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a medication is safe during pregnancy because pregnant women generally do not volunteer for studies that test out new drugs. However, certain drugs, such as some headache, cough and allergy medications, have been used by women throughout their pregnancies with no ill effects, and are known to be safe. The rule of thumb is to take the lowest effective dose.
Always talk to your pharmacist or physician before using any of these over-the-counter medications. It is important that you know how much you should take and how far into your pregnancy you can safely use these drugs. Women with medical conditions such as diabetes, depression and clotting disorders can continue to take certain medications to treat these conditions while they are pregnant. Your physician may recommend that you change your medication to a drug with a well-established safety record. Or she may take you off your medication, such as fluoxetine for depression, prior to delivery because it may cause complications. You and your doctor should discuss what treatment is best and safest for you. Some medications fall into the category of teratogens, which means they pose a potential risk to the fetus and should be avoided during pregnancy. There are approximately 30 known teratogenic medications. Examples include the acne medication isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane), the blood thinner warfarin (e.g. Coumadin) and the antibiotic tetracycline. Very high doses of vitamin A (more than 10,000 IU per day) can also be teratogenic.For detailed information on the safety of medications during your pregnancy, visit motherisk.org or call 416-813-6780 (no 1-800 number is currently available).
Colleen Brady is a practising pharmacist in Vancouver and lecturer in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia.
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