Pregnancy and Medicines

Summary

Not all medicines are safe to take when you are pregnant. Some medicines can harm your baby. That includes over-the-counter or prescription drugs, herbs, and supplements.

Always speak with your health care provider before you start or stop any medicine. Not using medicine that you need may be more harmful to you and your baby than using the medicine. For example, many pregnant women take prescription medicines for health problems like diabetes, asthma, seizures, and heartburn. The decision about whether or not to take a medicine depends on the risks and benefits. You and your health care provider should make this choice together.

Pregnant women should not take regular vitamins. They may have too much or too little of the vitamins that you need. There are special vitamins for pregnant women. It is important to take 0.4 mg of folic acid every day before you become pregnant through the first part of your pregnancy. Folic acid helps to prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine.

Food and Drug Administration

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Specifics

• Allergy Medications and Pregnancy: What’s Safe? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Antibiotics and Pregnancy: What’s Safe? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Antidepressants: Safe during Pregnancy? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Citalopram/Escitalopram (Celexa/Lexapro) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure and Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Etanercept (Enbrel) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Fluconazole and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Ibuprofen and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Isotretinoin (Accutane) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Isotretinoin and Other Retinoids during Pregnancy March of Dimes Foundation
• Lithium and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Metformin and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Miconazole/Clotrimazole and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Montelukast (Singulair) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• New Recommendations for Mefloquine Use in Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Paroxetine (Paxil) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Phentermine and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Prednisone/Prednisolone and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Pregnancy and Opioids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Pregnancy Constipation: Are Stool Softeners Safe? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Risk of oral clefts in children born to mothers taking Topamax (topiramate) Risk of Oral Clefts (Cleft Lip and/or Palate) in Infants Born to Mothers Taking Topamax (Topiramate) Food and Drug Administration
• Sertraline (Zoloft) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (Bactrim or Septra) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Tetracycline and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Thalidomide and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Topical Acne Treatments and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Trazodone (Desyrel) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Valproic Acid and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Venlafaxine (Effexor) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• March of Dimes Foundation March of Dimes Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced National Institutes of Health

Treatments and Therapies

• Echinacea Preparations and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists

Men

• Finasteride (Propecia/Proscar) and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Paternal Exposures and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists

Related Issues

• Index to Drug-Specific Information Food and Drug Administration
• Prescription Opioids during Pregnancy March of Dimes Foundation

Start Here

• Medicine and Pregnancy Food and Drug Administration
• Pregnancy and Medicines Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Prescription Medicine during Pregnancy March of Dimes Foundation
• Treating for Two: Medicine and Pregnancy: Basics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Statistics and Research

• Pregnancy Registries Food and Drug Administration
• Research on Medicines and Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Journal Articles

• Pregnancy and Medicines