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Why is taking medication a
concern for pregnant and breastfeeding women?
We know that taking certain medications – such as thalidomide, isotretinoin
or Accutane© - during pregnancy may cause serious birth defects in the baby.
These medications should be avoided by all pregnant women. However, we do
not have enough information about the safety of many other medications when
they are taken by pregnant women.It is important that we know more about
which medications may be harmful during pregnancy and which are not.
Are there times when a pregnant
woman must take medication?
Yes. Some pregnant women must take medications to treat health conditions
like asthma, epilepsy (seizures), high blood pressure, depression, and
others. If these conditions are not treated, the mother or the child could
be harmed. It is important when treating these conditions to know which
medications are safest for pregnant women.
What are the most common
medications used by women of childbearing age?
Pain medications are the most common over-the-counter drugs. Next are
medications used to treat the common cold. Many pregnant women may take
these medications before they realize they are pregnant.
Among prescription drugs, birth control pills were used most often by women
in their childbearing years. However, some women have health conditions –
like asthma, epilepsy (seizures), high blood pressure, depression, and
others – for which they must take medication. It is important that we know
whether medications used to treat these conditions could be harmful to
pregnant women, or to their unborn children.
Is it safe to take herbals and
other dietary supplements during pregnancy?
Many herbals and other dietary supplements are made from natural
ingredients, and many people think they are safer than other medications.
However, herbals and other dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA.
Some could have side effects or other problems. It is important that we
learn more about the effects of herbals and other dietary supplements,
especially their effects on a pregnant woman and her unborn child. You
should talk with your physician before taking any medications – including
herbals and other dietary supplements – if you are pregnant or could become
pregnant.
Some vitamins are important to a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid is a B
vitamin. It is used by the body to make new cells. If a woman has enough
folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, some major birth defects of
her baby’s brain and spine – called neural tube defects (NTDs) – can be
prevented. Women need to take folic acid every day starting before they are
pregnant to help prevent NTDs. The CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service
urge every woman who could become pregnant to get 400 micrograms (400 mcg)
of synthetic folic acid every day. Most multivitamin preparations contain
this amount of folic acid.
Some vitamins, such as vitamin A, are important to a healthy pregnancy but
can be harmful if taken in high doses. Taking more vitamin A than the
recommended amount could be harmful to an unborn child. It is important to
talk with your physician before taking any extra vitamins if you are
pregnant or might become pregnant.
What should I do if I am
pregnant and have taken a medication, or need to take a medication?
The first thing to do is talk with your physician. Some medications are
harmful when taken during pregnancy, but others are not. The effects depend
on many factors such as: How much was taken, and when during the pregnancy?
Do you have other health conditions? |
