The Dangers of Prescription Drugs During Pregnancy
Medication Use Among Pregnant Women
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of medications during pregnancy has become a national health concern. Some startling facts concerning prescription medication use during pregnancy include:
- Over the last 30 years, the use of prescribed drugs has increased among pregnant women by almost 60 percent
- It is estimated that seven out of every ten expectant mothers take some form of prescribed medication
- The CDC estimates that fewer than ten percent of medications have adequate research to determine whether they are safe enough to be taken during pregnancy
Many women take medicines that were prescribed prior to pregnancy to treat underlying health conditions and disorder, and for these women to stop taking these medicines could result in potentially harmful effects on their own overall health. The CDC advises women to discuss the potential negative side effects of any prescribed medications with their family doctor or obstetrician.
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Medications to Discuss With Your Doctor
When making the decision to take a prescribed medication while pregnant, the U.S. Department of Health advises women to weigh the potential risks against the potential benefits of the medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a valuable resource for information on drug safety and side effects. While the FDA works with drug companies to develop clear safety guidelines, often there is not enough research to conclusively say whether a drug is safe for pregnant women or not. Potentially dangerous drugs for pregnant women include:
- Ondansetron (Zofran) for nausea
- Fluconazole (Diflucan) for yeast infections
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) for cystic acne
- Albuterol for asthma
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (such as Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa) for depression
Before stopping or starting any medications, be sure and talk to your doctor about any health concerns, and inform your obstetrician of any underlying medical conditions.
Contact Our Office Today
If you or a loved one has suffered complications during pregnancy that resulted in injuries to the mother or baby, contact our experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys today. In cases of medical malpractice, it’s important to act quickly. At Anastopoulo Law Firm we can help you determine what happened and who is responsible. We may be able to help you recover damages in dealing with the hardship of medical expenses, as well as punitive damages from responsible parties. We have offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina, so don’t delay; call Akim Anastopoulo today for a free review of your case.
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