Medications during pregnancy (Teratogenic drugs)

The safety of about one 50% of the medications used for the mother and embryo or fetus still remains unidentified. Most pregnant women (40%–90%) are exposed to either by prescription or, over the counter medications during pregnancy. These drugs include a assortment of chemicals, such as vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, laxatives, antiemetics, sedatives, antacids, diuretics, and antihistamines. Medications are very frequently consumed without a physician's prescriptions or, before pregnancy is diagnosed. In a small numbers of pregnant women, drugs are necessary to treat serious or life-threatening medical conditions, making it necessary to chalk out a clinical plan to treat the chronic disease and the acute physiology of pregnancy. Pharmacokinetics are drastically affected by pregnancy-associated physiologic changes (e.g., renal clearance, metabolism, blood volume, cardiac output), and dose regulations are frequently required to optimize the clinical results.

An unborn child may be harmed by drugs either through either teratogenic or fetal effects, depending on the timing of consumption. Teratogenic effects are conventionally considered to happen during the time of organogenesis (embryonic period), with susceptibility encompassing the second through eighth weeks after conception by embryonic age. Embryonic age is measured from the day of conception. Menstrual age is about 2 weeks more than embryonic age because menstrual age is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period. A teratogen may result in a malformation in the unborn child when given during the period of organogenesis (embryonal period). The fetal period is counted from 9 weeks after conception to delivery. Fetal effects are changes in the structure or function of organ systems that are normally developed during organogenesis or organ systems that form at the time of the fetal period.

Medications those are known to cause harm to the unborn baby

High-dose vitamin A
Isotretinoin
Etretinate
Acitretin

Hormones

Androgens
Diethylstilbestrol
Danazol

Anticoagulants

Warfarin
Other coumarin anticoagulants

Antineoplastics

Aminopterin and methylaminopterin
Methotrexate
Busulfan
Cyclophosphamide

Anticonvulsants

Phenytoin and other hydantoins
Trimethadione and paramethadione
Valproic acid
Carbamazepine
Phenobarbital
Primidone
Trimethadione and paramethadione

Antibiotics

Fluconazole
Tetracycline

Other drugs

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
Amiodarone
Aminopterin
Cocaine
Danazol
Lithium
Methimazole
Misoprostol
Methotrexate
Penicillamine
Quinine
Radioiodine
Thalidomide
Trimethoprim