One of the issues that women fear most during pregnancy is the harmful effects of medications on the baby if they have to use medications. One of the most frequently asked questions faced by obstetricians and gynecologists is that the medications that are used when they do not yet realize that they are pregnant or that must be taken during pregnancy are harmful to the baby. It's about the effects on. Since it is not possible to conduct a study on the harmful effects of drugs during pregnancy, our knowledge on this subject is based mostly on case reports and examination of previous records. For this reason, it is very difficult to say anything definitive about the negative effects of many drugs on the baby. Since pharmaceutical companies do not want to take responsibility in this regard, they place the responsibility on the physician by placing phrases such as "it is dangerous to use during pregnancy" or "do not take without consulting your physician" in the package insert. Physicians may sometimes decide to terminate unnecessary pregnancies due to the same concern. The most important rule is not to use medication during pregnancy unless a medical condition or complaint requires the use of medication, and to use the medication with the recommendation of a doctor. The most important issues to consider when deciding on drug use during pregnancy are the benefit/harm ratio and the safety of the drug. Even if the drug is thought to be potentially harmful to the baby, its use may be allowed if the expected benefit is higher. Since the embryo is insensitive to external stimuli in the first 10 days of pregnancy, medications taken during this period either cause miscarriage or do not cause anomalies. In other words, the “all or nothing” law applies. When deciding on drug use during pregnancy, American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria are taken into consideration. According to these criteria, drugs are divided into the following categories: r. The most commonly used drugs during pregnancy are anti-nausea, antacids (drugs that reduce stomach acid), antihistamines (drugs used against allergy symptoms), analgesics (painkillers), antibiotics, sedatives, and sleeping pills.
Medicines used during pregnancy. Although almost 0% of the drugs pass through the placenta to the baby, it has been determined that very few of the drugs cause undesirable conditions in the baby. From the moment the drug enters the baby's circulation, an interaction begins between the baby and the drug, depending on the week of pregnancy, the dose of the drug to which the baby is exposed, and the teratogenic (anomaly-causing) effects of the drug.
Examples of Drugs Frequently Used During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a period in which drugs should not be used in any way. When expectant mothers have various complaints, medication is given to relieve these complaints (such as nausea, heartburn, headache), or to treat the disease when they contract a disease (such as urinary tract infections, diabetes).
Infections< br /> Infections are diseases that require medical treatment, and among the many drugs suitable for use during pregnancy, the most effective one against the infection is chosen.
Antacids
These drugs contain aluminum hydroxide, calcium or magnesium. It is a group of drugs that are generally used safely during pregnancy, but when used in high doses, increases in calcium and magnesium levels may be harmful to the mother.
Drugs Used for Nausea and Vomiting
80% of pregnant women have complaints of nausea and vomiting, and these are important In some cases, medication is required. H1-receptor blockers, phenothiazines, metocoloropamide and ondensatron used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting Most drugs such as these are in group B or C, and therefore their use during pregnancy does not pose a significant risk to the baby.
Drugs Used in the Treatment of Epilepsy
Approximately one in 200 expectant mothers has epilepsy, and epilepsy occurs during pregnancy. Medications must be continued. This creates a serious problem, because most epilepsy medications increase the risk of anomaly in the baby.
The risk of anomaly occurring in the babies of expectant epileptic mothers who use medication is 3-4 times higher. However, in recent studies, ideas have been put forward that the epilepsy disease itself genetically increases the tendency for anomalies to occur in the baby.
To Reduce the Risk of Anomaly in Epilepsy Treatment:
The drug dose should be reduced or stopped before pregnancy.
Instead of using combined drugs. Only one drug should be used
4-5 mg of folic acid should be used per day 1-2 months before pregnancy
Since Valproate is the drug with the highest risk of anomaly, it should not be used as much as possible, if its use is mandatory, use the lowest possible dose.
The other drug can be discontinued and Lamotrigine can be used, and if the seizures can be controlled, it can be continued during pregnancy.
Vitamin K can be given to the mother in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.
Antidepressants
Maybe after painkillers and antibiotics during pregnancy. The most commonly used drug group is antidepressants. Antidepressants are widely used because they can be prescribed not only by psychiatrists but also by other physicians. Many women use antidepressants to cope with stress, to get away from daily worries, or even to get rid of simple daily reactive depression.
Cigarettes, Cocaine, Marijuana etc. Substances
Smoking: Miscarriage, development of the baby It can lead to retardation, premature birth, placental abruption, sudden infant death, and postnatal respiratory diseases. No matter which period of pregnancy it is stopped, its harmful effects decrease significantly. It does not have harmful effects, especially when left until the 16th week.
Cocaine: It may cause miscarriage, developmental delay, premature separation of the placenta and sudden infant death. It may also cause impairment in learning and some skills in the baby after birth.
Methamphetamine: Although it is reported that this group of drugs used for stimulant purposes causes many anomalies, the most important side effect is developmental delay.
Vaccine Use During Pregnancy
For more detailed information and questions, you can use our contact line and e-mail address.
Vaccine Name Vaccination Indications
Tetanus It is done in those who have not been vaccinated in the last 10 years
Diphtheria It is done in those who have not been vaccinated in the last 10 years
Mumps CANNOT be done
Measles CANNOT be done
Rubella CANNOT be done
Flu At the end of pregnancy It is recommended for women whose periods coincide with a flu epidemic.
Rabies. Pregnancy is not considered.
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