Medicus, Vol. 11 No. 1_Farmakologija, 2002.
Review article
Drugs in Pregnancy
Mirjana Huić
Marinko Bilušić
Abstract
As it is not ethical for pregnant women to be
included in clinical trials there are very few controlled clinical
trials with pregnant women. The fact is that drug consumption
in pregnancy continuously rises, so rational pharmacotherapy
becomes an imperative. Majority of drugs pass the placental
barrier, carrying potential pharmacological and/or teratogenic
activity on embryo and fetus. In 70% of fetal malformations
causative factor remains unknown while drugs, various chemicals
and radiation make just 2% of causes. Generally, in
everyday use are less than 30 drugs with absolutely proved
teratogenic activity. Drugs can harm a fetus in any period of
pregnancy. About 50% of pregnancies are not planned and
that information is very important when prescribing drugs to
the women in generative phase. Drugs which have been widely
prescribed and which have been shown to be safe in pregnancy
should be a first line in prescribing to pregnant women.
Those drugs should, certainly have an advantage in comparison
to the new drugs with incompletely defined safety profile.
It is also recommended to use the lowest efficient dose. Pregnant
women should be warned to contact their physician any
time when they need some drug, despite if the drug is on the
OTC regimen. If dilemma regarding the use of certain drugs in
pregnancy exists physicians and pregnant women should contact
a clinical pharmacologist. Finally, to avoid unnecessary
abortions or lack of adequate treatment, pregnant women
should be informed on, so called, normal frequency of malformations
which is about 3%, and on risk associated with the
disease as well.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
19953
URI
Publication date:
13.2.2002.
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