The use of dermatologic drugs in pregnancy and lactation.
Physicians are generally reluctant to prescribe dermatologic drugs to pregnant or nursing women because treatment is often elective and can be harmful to the patient, her fetus, or nursing infant; concerns for potential litigation also give pause. Yet, some effective dermatologic drugs have been determined to be safe during pregnancy and lactation. Of great practicality is an easily accessed reference guide that condenses information on such drugs into a set of tables that list pregnancy and teratogenicity ratings. Indications and contraindications are ordered in relation to the phases and trimesters of pregnancy. A discussion of the necessity of considering stages of childbearing in choosing drug therapies introduces the tables. A summary list of cautions spells out the steps physicians should take in treating women of childbearing age.
Leachman
Sancy A
SA
Tom C. Mathews Jr. Familial Melanoma Research Clinic, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Suite 5242, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Reed
Barbara R
BR