Pregnancy Categories Flashcards

Pregnancy Categories Overview

• Pregnancy categories classify medications based on their risk to the fetus during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Category A

• Controlled studies in pregnant women show no risk to the fetus in the first trimester and no evidence of risk in later trimesters.
• Fetal harm is considered remote.
• Medications: Levothyroxine, ferrous sulfate, potassium chloride, multivitamins.

Diclegis

• Combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
• Classified under Pregnancy Category A.
• Indicated for treating morning sickness.

Pregnancy Category B

• Animal studies show no fetal risk, but no controlled studies in humans, or adverse effects found in animals were not confirmed in women.
• No evidence of risk in later trimesters.
• Medications: Insulin, phenazopyridine.

Pregnancy Category C

• Animal studies indicate adverse fetal effects and no controlled studies in humans or lack of data in both groups.

Albenza

• Contains albendazole, an antihelmintic drug classified as Pregnancy Category C.
• Commonly used off-label for pinworms (enterobiasis).
• Recommended doses: 400 mg single dose for patients over 2 years, 200 mg for patients under 2 years.

Pregnancy Category D

• Clear evidence of human fetal risk, but potential benefits may outweigh risks in serious situations.

Pregnancy Category D Medications

• Includes anxiolytic benzodiazepines and tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline).
• Tetracycline can cause permanent brown-gray discoloration of teeth when used in the later stages of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Category X

• Medications that demonstrate fetal abnormalities in studies or pose significant risk based on human experience.
• Use in pregnant women is contraindicated due to outweighing risks.

Pregnancy Category X Medications

• Examples: isotretinoin, HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, misoprostol, oral contraceptives, warfarin sodium, hypnotic benzodiazepines (e.g., triazolam), methotrexate, thalidomide.

Thalomid

• Thalidomide is classified as Pregnancy Category X due to severe risk.
• Initially prescribed for morning sickness in the 1960s but caused phocomelia, leading to severe limb deformities.