More Pregnancy Questions – What over-the-counter and prescription drugs are not safe to take during pregnancy?

What over-the-counter and prescription drugs are not safe to take during pregnancy?


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a system to rate drugs in terms of their safety during pregnancy. This system rates both over-the-counter (OTC) drugs one can buy in a drug or discount store, and drugs your spouse’s health care provider prescribes. But most medicines have not been studied in pregnant women to see if they cause damage to the growing fetus. Make sure you both always talk with the health care provider if either of you have questions or concerns.


 


The FDA system ranks drugs as:



Aspirin and other drugs containing salicylate are not recommended during pregnancy, especially during the last three months. In rare cases, a woman’s health care provider may want her to use these types of drugs under close watch. Acetylsalicylate, a common ingredient in many OTC painkillers, may make a pregnancy last longer and may cause severe bleeding before and after delivery.

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