Street drugs, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, dietary supplements, herbal preparations, and some medications can hurt your baby. Some can cause birth defects. Others can cause your baby to be born too small or very sick.
Some medications are especially harmful in the early weeks of pregnancy. They include:
- The acne drug Accutane (also known as isotretinoin, Amnesteem and Claravis).
- Certain psoriasis drugs such as Soriatane (acitretin). These drugs may be harmful even if taken up to three years before a woman becomes pregnant. This is why it's important to talk to a health care provider before you get pregnant.
- Thalomid (thalidomide), used to treat multiple myeloma and some complications of AIDS and leprosy.
Other medications may be harmful when taken at any stage of pregnancy. For example, some common medications called ACE inhibitors can damage the baby's kidneys and even lead to death when taken during the second and third trimester. These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure in the mother. Examples are Captopril and Enalopril.
According to a recent study, ACE inhibitors may also increase the risk of birth defects when taken in the first trimester. The birth defects most likely to occur affect the heart and nervous system.
Even some nonprescription medications may carry a risk, although it is generally small. For example, if a woman takes aspirin shortly before the day the baby is born, it can increase the risk of heavy bleeding in the mother and baby.
The March of Dimes does not support the use of herbal or dietary supplements by women who can become pregnant, by pregnant women, or by children, without approval by a health care provider. While some supplements and herbal ingredients have undergone extensive testing, the safety and effectiveness of many have not been demonstrated.
What you can do:
- Stay away from street drugs. For information about drug treatment in your area, go to the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.
- Don't take someone else's prescription drugs.
- Take only medications prescribed for you or recommended by a health care provider who knows you are pregnant. But don't stop taking a prescription drug without your health care provider's okay.
- Check with your provider before taking any over-the-counter drugs (including aspirin), pills, herbal products or dietary supplements.
For more information, visit the Web site Medication Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
April 2008
