Objective
The objective of the study was to provide information on overall medication use throughout
pregnancy, with particular focus on the first trimester and specific prescription
medications.
Study Design
The study design included the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study, 1976-2008,
and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2003, which together interviewed
more than 30,000 women about their antenatal medication use.
Results
Over the last 3 decades, first-trimester use of prescription medication increased
by more than 60%, and the use of 4 or more medications more than tripled. By 2008,
approximately 50% of women reported taking at least 1 medication. Use of some specific
medications markedly decreased or increased. Prescription medication use increased
with maternal age and education, was highest for non-Hispanic whites, and varied by
state.
Conclusion
These data reflect the widespread and growing use of medications by pregnant women
and reinforce the need to study their respective fetal risks and safety.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 25, 2011
Accepted:
February 14,
2011
Received in revised form:
December 1,
2010
Received:
September 24,
2010
Footnotes
Cite this article as: Mitchell AA, Gilboa SM, Werler MM, et al. Medication use during pregnancy, with particular focus on prescription drugs: 1976-2008. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011;205:51.e1-8.
Reprints not available from the authors.
This study was supported in part by Cooperative Agreement no. U50/CCU113247 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Cooperative agreements under program announcement no. 02081 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the centers participating in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, and Grant R01 HD 046595 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
