Medications to Avoid in Pregnancy
This acne medication is highly teratogenic and requires strict pregnancy prevention measures.
What is Isotretinoin (Accutane)?
Supplementation with folic acid before conception helps prevent these birth defects.
What are neural tube defects?
This vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy to protect the newborn against whooping cough.
What is Tdap?
This measurement is checked at routine prenatal visits to screen for hypertension and help detect preeclampsia.
What is blood pressure?
This common symptom is often most prominent in early pregnancy and may occur at any time of the day.
What is Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP)?
This blood pressure medication class, including Zestril and Vasotec, can harm fetal kidney development.
What are ACE Inhibitors?
This OTC medication is commonly recommended as a first-line option for fever or pain during pregnancy when needed.
What is Acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
Which vaccine is recommended during pregnancy to help protect the newborn against RSV?
What is the RSV vaccine (Pfizer- Abrysvo)?
This vitamin is recommended before conception and during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
What is folic acid?
This condition involves high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy without the additional diagnostic features of preeclampsia.
What is gestational hypertension?
This antibiotic used for acne and other infections is avoided in pregnancy due to concerns about fetal teeth and bone development.
What is Doxycycline?
This combination of Vit B6 and an antihistamine is commonly used as first-line pharmacologic treatment for N/V in pregnancy.
What are Pyridoxine and Doxylamine (Diclegis and Bonjesta)?
During what gestational age range is Tdap typically administered in pregnancy to maximize passive immunity for the infant?
What is 27-36 weeks?
Routine screening for this pregnancy-related metabolic condition usually occurs between 24-28 weeks gestation.
What is gestational diabetes?
This serious condition involves new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks along with proteinuria or other signs of organ dysfunction.
What is pre-eclampsia?
These classes of anticoagulants cross the placenta and are generally avoided during pregnancy due to fetal risk.
What are VKA and DOACs?
This medication is preferred to treat diabetes during pregnancy because it does not cross the placenta in significant amounts.
What is insulin?
These two live-virus vaccines are avoided during pregnancy and can be given postpartum if indicated.
What are MMR and Varicella?
This screening test is performed late in pregnancy to identify patients who may need antibiotics during labor to prevent newborn infection.
What is the Group B streptococcus (GBS) screening?
A pregnant patient develops regular contractions with cervical change before 37 weeks gestation. This is the condition clinicians must evaluate for.
What is Pre-term labor?
This medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers is highly teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy.
What is Methotrexate?
For patients at increased risk of pre-eclampsia, this medication may be prescribed starting at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
What is low-dose aspirin?
This live vaccine may be recommended for travelers at risk of exposure, but pregnancy requires risk-benefit assessment before administration.
What is the yellow-fever vaccine?
This antibody screening test helps identify Rh(-) pregnant patients who may need Rh immune globulin to prevent alloimmunization.
What is the Antibody screen (indirect Coombs test)?
This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy when the body cannot produce or use enough insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels.
What is gestational diabetes?