Over-The-Counter Drugs and Pregnancy

Pregnancy is often accompanied with many symptoms for which nonprescription or OTC drugs are used or recommended. Most obstetric clinicians consider OTC medi-cines to be safe because of their low dose with very short-term use. However, studies of sufficient sample size in humans are often lacking about the safety of most OTC med-icines during pregnancy and lactation. In general, products containing the lowest effec-tive dose of only necessary ingredients are to be taken during the shortest period. Safety information about ingredients in most drugs can be found on the Reproductive Toxi-cology Center Web site (REPROTOX) and other resources provided in this overview.

Automated summary

Pregnancy often requires the use of nonprescription or OTC drugs to alleviate symptoms, but there is a lack of sufficient studies on the safety of these drugs during pregnancy and lactation. Obstetric clinicians generally consider OTC medicines safe due to their low dose and short-term use. It is recommended to choose products with the lowest effective dose and necessary ingredients, and consult resources like the Reproductive Toxicology Center (REPROTOX) for safety information.