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Summary

Is it safe to take medicine during pregnancy?

Some medicines are safe to take during pregnancy, but many are not. If you're pregnant, check with your health care provider before taking any medicine. Some medicines can harm your developing fetus. This includes:

• Prescription drugs
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Herbs and supplements

Should I stop taking my medicine during pregnancy?

Always talk to your provider before you stop or start any medicine. You may take medicine to treat a health problem you had before pregnancy. Not using the medicine that you need may be more harmful to you and your fetus than using the medicine. For example, many pregnant women take prescription medicines for health problems like diabetes, asthma, seizures, and heartburn. The decision about whether to take a certain medicine should depend on the risks and benefits that go with it. You and your provider should make this choice together.

Can I take vitamins during pregnancy?

If you're pregnant, you shouldn't take regular vitamins. They may have too much or too little of the vitamins you need. For example, everyone needs folic acid, a type of B vitamin. But if you're trying to get pregnant, it's really important. Getting enough folic acid before and during pregnancy can prevent birth defects of the brain or spine. During your prenatal care visits, your provider will talk about prenatal vitamins. These are a special kind of vitamin to take during pregnancy.

Food and Drug Administration

Start Here

• Medicine and Pregnancy (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Medicine and Pregnancy: An Overview (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Pregnancy and Medicines (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)

Treatments and Therapies

• Echinacea and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Prescription Opioids during Pregnancy (March of Dimes Foundation)

Specifics

• Allergy Medications and Pregnancy: What's Safe? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Alternatives for Pregnant Women (Malaria ) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Antidepressants: Safe during Pregnancy? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Citalopram | Escitalopram (Celexa | Lexapro) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Etanercept (Enbrel) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Fluconazole (Diflucan) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Ibuprofen and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Is it Safe to Take Antibiotics During Pregnancy? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Isotretinoin (Accutane) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Isotretinoin and Other Retinoids during Pregnancy (March of Dimes Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Lithium and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Metformin and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Montelukast (Singulair) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Paroxetine (Paxil) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
• Phentermine and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Prednisone/Prednisolone and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Pregnancy and Opioids: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Pregnancy Constipation: Are Stool Softeners Safe? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Pseudoephedrine and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Risk of Oral Clefts in Infants Born to Mothers Taking Topamax (Topiramate) (Food and Drug Administration)
• Safe Over-The-Counter Medicines During Pregnancy (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Sertraline (Zoloft) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (Bactrim or Septra) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Tetracycline and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Thalidomide and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Topical Acne Treatments and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Trazodone and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Valproic Acid and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Venlafaxine (Effexor) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
• Yeast Infection during Pregnancy: Over-the-Counter Treatment OK? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Pregnancy Exposure Registries (Food and Drug Administration)
• Research on Medicines and Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: First-Trimester Antibiotic Use for Urinary Tract Infection and Risk of Congenital...
• Article: Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis: Findings From the Global...
• Article: Synthesizing Cohort Study Results to Promote Knowledge Transfer of Safety Data...
• Pregnancy and Medicines -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Also in Spanish
• March of Dimes Foundation Also in Spanish

Men

• Finasteride and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish
• Paternal Exposures and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish