Patterns of pregnancy exposure to prescription FDA C, D and X drugs in a Canadian population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine prescription Food and Drug Administration (FDA) C, D and X drugs in general obstetric population.


METHODS
Historical cohort study.


RESULTS
A total of 18 575 women who gave a birth in Saskatchewan between January 1997 and December 2000 were included. Among them, 3604 (19.4%) received FDA C, D or X drugs at least once during pregnancy. The pregnancy exposure rates were 15.8, 5.2 and 3.9%, respectively, for category C, D and X drugs, and were 11.2, 7.3 and 8.2%, respectively, in the first, second and third trimesters. Salbutamol (albuterol), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), ibuprofen, naproxen and oral contraceptives were the most common C, D, X drugs used during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
About one in every five women uses FDA C, D and X drugs at least once during pregnancy, and the most common prescription drugs in pregnancy are antiasthmatic, antibiotics, nonsteroid anti-inflammation drugs, antianxiety or antidepressants and oral contraceptives.
Wen
S W
SW
OMNI Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. swwen@ohri.ca
Yang
T
T
Krewski
D
D
Yang
Q
Q
Nimrod
C
C
Garner
P
P
Fraser
W
W
Olatunbosun
O
O
Walker
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009288:Naproxen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012525:Saskatchewan; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D009288:Naproxen; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D000420:Albuterol; D007052:Ibuprofen