Drugs During Pregnancy: What Is Safe and What Is Not?
By: Cohen, Placitella & Roth @ Mar 18, 2016
For expecting mothers, it is crucial to understand what over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be safely used during pregnancy. This is especially true for women who are already on a medication prior to getting pregnant. When a drug is taken that is not safe during pregnancy, the mother or/and fetus may suffer as a result, and birth defects are possible. If you have taken a prescription drug that caused harm to your unborn child, contact a pharmaceutical litigation attorney now.
Teratology: What You Need to Know
Teratology refers to the study of birth defects. And a teratogen is a substance that hinders fetal development, thereby resulting in a birth defect. A teratology information service is a service that records data about medications and their effects on fetal safety. According to Laura Yates, head of the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS), and quoted by Philly.com, UKTIS works directly with physicians to provide as much information possible about safe drugs during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and want to learn more about teratology, consider reaching out to teratology information service.
What Is Safe?
The numbers of drugs which may be safe or which may not be safe are in the dozens – the best thing that you can do is to always talk to your doctor about your medications before becoming pregnant. Waiting until you are pregnant is not advised as some drugs can have adverse effects even when taken for a short amount of time and changing certain drugs (like antidepressants) may be dangerous during pregnancy. Some drugs with known adverse fetal effects include:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs);
- Certain anti-nausea drugs;
- Hormones;
- Certain antibiotics;
- Thalidomide;
- Warfarin; and
- Some over-the-counter medications.
However, the above list is not inclusive; you should not take any medications without talking to your doctor first and fully understanding medications’ side effects.
Who Is Liable When Medication Causes a Birth Defect?
Giving birth to a child who has suffered harm or a birth defect can be devastating. However, you should know that if you were given a prescription by your doctor with unknown dangerous effects, you are not to blame, and your family deserves compensation for your losses. When a dangerous medication leads to a birth defect, the manufacturer of that medication may be held liable for its failure to manufacturer a safe medication and/or its failure to provide appropriate warnings.
Contact a Defective Pharmaceutical Attorney Today
When you are the victim of a defective pharmaceutical, you deserve recompense. To help you file your defective pharmaceutical claim for compensation and guide you through everything that you need to know about the process of filing a civil action in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, call the experienced defective pharmaceutical attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. today. Your initial consultation with us is always free.
The time for filing your claim is running out! Call us today at (215) 567-3500 to schedule your first meeting with our skilled lawyers today.
