| I have been receiving
requests for information regarding the safety of various drugs in
pregnancy and lactation. First of all, medications are grouped
into 1 of 5 categories based on the potential for producing birth
defects. The categories are A, B, C, D and X. Generally speaking,
drugs that fall into either class A or B are considered safe and are
routinely used. There may be exceptions.
Category A:
Controlled studies in pregnant women fail to demonstrate a risk to the
fetus in the first trimester with no evidence of risk in later
trimesters. The possibility of harm appears remote.
Category B:
Presumed safety based on animal studies, with no controlled studies in
pregnant women, or animal studies have shown an adverse effect that was
not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester and
there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters.
Category C:
Studies in women and animals are not available or studies in
animals have revealed adverse effects on the fetus and there are no
controlled studies in women. Drugs should be given only if the
potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus.
Category D: There
is positive evidence of human fetal risk (unsafe), however in some cases
such as a life-threatening illness the potential risk may be justified
if there are no other alternatives.
Category X:
Highly unsafe: risk of use outweighs any potential benefit. Drugs
in this category are contraindicated in women who are or may become
pregnant.
This is an abbreviated
list of medications that are usually considered safe during
pregnancy. Always consult your health care provider before taking any
medication. A comprehensive reference can be found by clicking on
the image found below this table. Once you reach this site, select a
drug from the drop-down list and then hit search. This reference
will list not only the pregnancy category listed above, but also whether
or not the drug is safe when breast feeding.
Acetaminophen
(Tylenol) |
azithromycin
(Zithromax) |
bisacodyl
(Dulcolax) |
Cephalosporins:
Ancef, Duricef, Keflex, Ceclor, Ceftin, others..) |
| clotrimazole
(Mycelex) |
docusate
(Colace) |
erythromycin
(base and EES) not estolate |
guaifenesin
(Robitussin) |
| insulin |
levothyroxine
(Synthroid) |
methyldopa
(Aldomet) |
nystatin |
| Penicillins
(dicloxacillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin) |
pyridoxine |
simethicone |
terbutaline |
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