Pregnancy Category .. Full Guide 2023

The Pregnancy Category is critical for the health of pregnant women. Her body is experiencing changes that could have an effect on her pregnancy.

İn this article in Therapidya, we are going to explain to you everything you need to know about pregnancy category.

Why is it important to know your pregnancy category?

Knowing your pregnancy category is so important, as it allows you to use the proper medication to avoid any harm to you or your baby.

According to the FDA:

Pregnant women take an average of 2.6 medications at any time during pregnancy

• Pregnancy increases stomach pH and lowers gastrointestinal motility, which might cause drugs to be absorbed slowly or not at all.
• Increased plasma volume in the mother has an effect on distribution volume of the medicine.
• Knowing your pregnancy category will make you take the right medicine that is in harmony with your hormones.
• Increased renal blood flow improves the kidney health.
• Due to the placenta’s function as an organ of exchange, medications administered to pregnant women may have an effect on the developing fetus.
• Some medicines has higher risk of harming the baby throughout the first trimester, although this risk varies according to the medication.
• Because the developing fetus’s biological systems are immature, the fetus may be unable to metabolize some medicine such as teratogenic medications.

Why is the letter category inaccurate?

The letter category is not accurate when you are considering pregnancy category because of the following reasons:

• The procedure of classifying pregnant letters has been significantly simplified.
• Frequently misunderstood as a system of grading
• Some drugs with letter category can be categorized without animal studies which may effect its accuracy.
• Since its unethical to conduct clinical research on pregnant women, the letter category may be inaccurate.

Example: Pregnancy Category C

Animal reproduction studies have revealed an adverse effect on the fetus; no studies on humans have been conducted; however, the benefits of using the medicine in pregnant women may be justified despite the potential risk.

Pregnancy letter categories

Pregnancy Category A  

Human studies showed no risk to take category A medicines during pregnancy.

The risk of fetal abnormalities is not raised by pregnancy in any trimester.

Pregnancy Category A Drugs List

• Thiamine
• Folic acid 
• Codeine
• Dextromethorphan
• Doxylamine
• Levothyroxine
• Isoniazid

Pregnancy Category B

The studies show no risk to take category B medicines during pregnancy.

There are two options. It’s possible that animal studies found no harm to the fetus but no such danger in pregnant women, or that animal research found harm but no harm in humans.

Pregnancy Category B Drugs List

There are a lot of medicine in B category that a lot of people are wondering about for example dupixent pregnancy category and a lot of other medicine that you can see in the list below:

• Metformin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Amoxicillin 
• Diphenhydramine
• Dupixent
• Xolair 
• Zyrtec 
• Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
• Claritin
• Ibuprofen (at 1. and 2. trimester)
• Metoclopramide  
• N-acetylcysteine
• Ondansetron
• Clopidogrel 
• Famotidine
• Lansoprazole
• Pantoprazole 
• Ipratropium
• Budesonide
• Montelukast
• Glucagon
• Prilocaine
• Propofol

Pregnancy Category C

The risk of pregnancy category C medicines is moderate risk, you should check with your doctor.

There are two options. Either animal studies showed fetal abnormalities and no proper and well-controlled research in pregnant women, or no animal studies and no proper and well-controlled research in pregnant women.

Pregnancy Category C Drugs List

There are a lot of medicine in C category that a lot of people are wondering about for example botox pregnancy category and a lot of other medicine that you can see in the list below:

• Botox
• Restasis
• Linzess
• Byetta
• Robitussin dm
• Colchicine
• Gabapentin
• Amlodipine
• Trazodone

Pregnancy Category D 

The risk of pregnancy category D medicines is high.

It causes fetal abnormalities, according to controlled or collected data from pregnant women. However, the benefits of treatment may outweigh the hazards. The doctor should evaluate the situation based on the patient’s and the fetus’s health.

Pregnancy Category D Drugs List

• Lithium
• Topiramate
• Pentobarbital  
• Aspirin (3rd trimester)
• Edoxaban
• Warfarin
• Gentamicin
• Neomycin
• Amikacin
• Streptomycin
• Kanamycin
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
• Doxycycline
• Minocycline
• Tetracycline
• Tigecycline
• Fluconazole

Pregnancy Category  X 

This is a category of medicine that so risky and cannot be used by pregnant women.

Studies on animals or pregnant women have indicated that the fetus is injured or endangered. These drugs or products are contraindicated in women who are pregnant or suspected of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Category X Drugs List

• Atorvastatin
• Simvastatin
• Methotrexate
• Finasteride

Misconceptions About Pregnancy Category Medicines

There are numerous misconceptions about pregnancy category medications. It is possible that many pregnant women will utilize medication during their pregnancy. It should not be forgotten that when a pregnant woman uses medication, the profit and loss ratio is always taken into account.

Examples:

• Most of the people think that Allegra is pregnancy category D. The fact is it’s pregnancy category C.

• Certain individuals believe that the tylenol pregnancy dosage 500 mg should be reduced due to the medication’s category B status. However, it is acceptable depending on the fetus’s and pregnant woman’s health situation.

According to WebMD:

It’s the most common pain reliever that doctors allow pregnant women to take. 

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