Exposure to alcohol-containing medications during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
A pregnant patient consulted her physician after discovering that a diphenhydramine preparation (Benadryl elixir) she used for allergy symptoms during the first trimester of her pregnancy contained 15% alcohol. Should she be concerned about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in her baby?


CONCLUSIONS
Most ethanol-containing medical preparations are safe during pregnancy. Adult doses of some elixirs with high ethanol concentrations might produce blood levels similar to those achieved by drinking 1 alcoholic beverage. Caution is advisable when prescribing ethanol-containing elixirs to pregnant women, as is informing them about the alcohol content.
Garcia-Bournissen
Facundo
F
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Finkelstein
Yaron
Y
Rezvani
Massoud
M
Koren
Gideon
G
D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D000431:Ethanol; D004155:Diphenhydramine