Women Get Conflicting Information on Safe Drugs During Pregnancy: Study

Women often do not know which medications are appropriate to take during pregnancy, and many turn to doctors and internet sites when deciding. However, new research suggests that both sources can be conflicting and inaccurate.  

According to a new study, led by Cheryl Broussard of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a typical woman would be unable to determine the safety of many potentially dangerous drugs.  

The findings, published online January 29 in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, highlight an increasing amount of misinformation available to women about the safety of drug use during pregnancy.

Researchers identified 25 active internet sites listing different medications safe for use during pregnancy. The sites listed 245 different products and 103 components as safe for use.

These components were then evaluated for fetal risk by the Teratogen Information System (TERIS) to assess the risk of birth defect after exposure to the medication. TERIS experts could not determine fetal risk based on scientific research for 43 of the 103 ‘safe’ medications listed.

Of the 43 medications with undetermined safety, 93% of the medications on that list offered no data indicating human fetal risk or safety for use during pregnancy. However, the sites still claimed they were safe for use when pregnant.

Many women are increasingly receiving healthcare advice from sources other than their doctors. By turning to internet sites that offer inconclusive or sometimes incorrect information, they were led to believe there is no risk of birth defects to their babies from use of these drugs, when in truth medical professionals have not determined that they were safe.

The sites often offered conflicting safety lists. One particular site listed 22 safe medications that were listed as unsafe by another internet site. The study revealed there was enough scientific evidence available in many cases to determine the risk or safety of a medication.

Pregnant Women Taking More Drugs

Use of medications during the first trimester of pregnancy has jumped 60% in the last 30 years, according to the CDC. Drug use during pregnancy is very common and continues to increase as many women treat chronic health conditions during pregnancy, such as depression, or more common side effects, like nausea.

The antidepressant medication Zoloft is a widely prescribed medication which has been used by millions of individuals, including pregnant women. In 2006 the FDA added warning labels concerning the risk of hypertension in newborns stemming from the use of the antidepressant after the 20th week of pregnancy.

The use of Zoloft during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of serious and life-threatening birth defects in children. Studies have found links between the use of Zoloft and abnormal skull development, gastrointestinal abnormalities, heart and brain defects.

Hundreds of families throughout the United States are now pursuing Zoloft birth defect lawsuits over the drug manufacturer’s failure to adequately warn the medical community or women about the risk of using the antidepressant while pregnant.

The anti-nausea drug Zofran has also long been suspected of increasing the risk of birth defects, but a recent study found no evidence of increased risk. But even for those who are not pregnant, Zofran side effects can includeirregular heart rhythms that can sometimes be fatal, and the drug was partially recalled in December.

Researchers say the biggest concern for pregnant women is that many medications lack safety data because drug makers are reluctant to conduct safety testing of medication on pregnant women.

Experts recommend considering carefully weighing the benefits and risks of taking any drug during pregnancy, and suggest avoiding medications which may have multiple active ingredients. They also advise women to speak with their doctors to determine if there is an alternative medication which may be known as suitable for use during pregnancy.