Pregnancy Drug Safety Lookup

Pregnancy safety information for 51+ common medications. FDA pregnancy categories, clinical context, and what to discuss with your provider.

Articles

• A

  Ace Inhibitor in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Ace Inhibitor during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Avoid all trimesters; especially harmful 2nd-3rd (renal failure, oligohydramnios).

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• A

  Amoxicillin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Amoxicillin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Penicillin-class antibiotics generally safe in pregnancy. Routinely prescribed when antibiotics needed.

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• A

  Aspirin in Pregnancy: FDA Category C/D, Safety Guide

  Aspirin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C/D. Low-dose (75-100 mg) used for pre-eclampsia prevention in high-risk pregnancies.

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• A

  Azithromycin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Azithromycin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Macrolide considered safe in pregnancy. Useful for chlamydia, atypical pneumonia.

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• B

  Budesonide Inhaler in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Budesonide Inhaler during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Preferred inhaled corticosteroid in pregnancy due to most reassuring data.

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• B

  Bupropion in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Bupropion during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Considered relatively safe. Useful for depression and smoking cessation in pregnancy.

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• C

  Cephalexin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Cephalexin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Cephalosporins generally considered safe; commonly used for UTI and skin infections.

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• C

  Cetirizine in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Cetirizine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Antihistamine considered safe in pregnancy. Generally preferred non-sedating option.

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• C

  Ciprofloxacin in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Ciprofloxacin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Generally avoided due to theoretical cartilage concerns from animal studies. Alternatives preferred.

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• C

  Clindamycin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Clindamycin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Generally safe. Used for bacterial vaginosis and skin/dental infections in pregnancy.

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• C

  Codeine in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Codeine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Use cautiously short-term. Avoid near delivery (neonatal withdrawal/respiratory depression risk).

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• D

  Dexamethasone in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Dexamethasone during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Crosses placenta efficiently — used for fetal lung maturation in preterm labor.

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• D

  Diazepam in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Diazepam during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Avoid in 1st trimester (cleft lip risk in some studies). Late pregnancy: neonatal floppy infant syndrome.

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• D

  Doxycycline in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Doxycycline during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Avoided after 15 weeks (tooth/bone discoloration). Alternatives preferred throughout pregnancy.

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• D

  Doxylamine Pyridoxine in Pregnancy: FDA Category A, Safety Guide

  Doxylamine Pyridoxine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category A. First-line for nausea/vomiting of pregnancy. Extensive safety data.

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• E

  Escitalopram in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Escitalopram during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Among SSRIs in pregnancy. Sertraline often preferred but escitalopram acceptable in some cases.

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• F

  Famotidine in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Famotidine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. H2 blocker for heartburn/GERD. Considered safe in pregnancy. Reviewed by iMedic's medical editorial...

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• F

  Fluoxetine in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Fluoxetine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Among SSRIs in pregnancy. Sertraline often preferred. Untreated depression itself carries risks.

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• F

  Folic Acid in Pregnancy: FDA Category A, Safety Guide

  Folic Acid during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category A. Recommended preconception and through 1st trimester to reduce neural tube defects. Safe at all doses.

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• G

  Glyburide in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Glyburide during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Sometimes used for gestational diabetes when insulin not feasible. Newer evidence suggests caution.

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• I

  Ibuprofen in Pregnancy: FDA Category C/D, Safety Guide

  Ibuprofen during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C/D. Avoid in third trimester (premature ductus arteriosus closure, oligohydramnios).

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• I

  Insulin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Insulin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Standard treatment for diabetes in pregnancy. Does not cross placenta.

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• I

  Isotretinoin in Pregnancy: FDA Category X, Safety Guide

  Isotretinoin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category X. Absolutely contraindicated — severe teratogen. Reviewed by iMedic's medical editorial team.

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• L

  Labetalol in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Labetalol during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Preferred beta-blocker in pregnancy for chronic and gestational hypertension.

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• L

  Lamotrigine in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Lamotrigine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Among the safer antiepileptics in pregnancy; widely used for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

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• L

  Levetiracetam in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Levetiracetam during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Considered relatively safe; preferred over older AEDs when seizure control allows.

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• L

  Levothyroxine in Pregnancy: FDA Category A, Safety Guide

  Levothyroxine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category A. Required for hypothyroidism in pregnancy — does not cross placenta in significant amounts.

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• L

  Loratadine in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Loratadine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Antihistamine considered safe in pregnancy for allergic rhinitis.

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• M

  Metformin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Metformin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Increasingly used in gestational diabetes and PCOS. Crosses placenta but no clear adverse outcomes.

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• M

  Methimazole in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Methimazole during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Higher teratogenic risk than propylthiouracil in 1st trimester.

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• M

  Methotrexate in Pregnancy: FDA Category X, Safety Guide

  Methotrexate during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category X. Contraindicated — teratogenic and abortifacient. Reviewed by iMedic's medical editorial team.

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• M

  Methyldopa in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Methyldopa during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Long-standing first-line antihypertensive in pregnancy; extensive safety data.

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• M

  Metoclopramide in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Metoclopramide during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Considered safe for nausea/vomiting when first-line options inadequate.

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• M

  Metronidazole in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Metronidazole during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Generally safe; avoided in 1st trimester only if alternative exists.

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• M

  Mirtazapine in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Mirtazapine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Limited data. May be considered when other antidepressants ineffective or not tolerated.

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• N

  Nifedipine in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Nifedipine during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Calcium-channel blocker used for hypertension and tocolysis. Generally considered safe.

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• N

  Nitrofurantoin in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Nitrofurantoin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Used for UTI in pregnancy. Avoided near term (risk of neonatal hemolysis in G6PD-deficient

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• O

  Omeprazole in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Omeprazole during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Limited data; generally considered low-risk. Reviewed by iMedic's medical editorial team.

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• O

  Ondansetron in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Ondansetron during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Used for hyperemesis gravidarum. Some studies suggest small association with cleft palate; benefit-risk

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• P

  Paracetamol in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Paracetamol during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Generally considered safe at standard doses throughout pregnancy. First-line choice for pain and fever.

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• P

  Penicillin V in Pregnancy: FDA Category B, Safety Guide

  Penicillin V during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category B. Penicillins are first-line for many infections in pregnancy with extensive safety data.

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• P

  Phenytoin in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Phenytoin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Fetal hydantoin syndrome risk. Use only if benefits clearly outweigh risks.

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• P

  Prednisone in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Prednisone during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Used when needed for autoimmune disease, asthma. Lower fetal exposure than dexamethasone.

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• P

  Propylthiouracil in Pregnancy: FDA Category D, Safety Guide

  Propylthiouracil during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category D. Preferred over methimazole in 1st trimester for hyperthyroidism.

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• S

  Salbutamol in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Salbutamol during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Short-acting beta-agonist; considered safe for asthma in pregnancy.

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• S

  Sertraline in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Sertraline during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Among SSRIs, sertraline has the most reassuring pregnancy data. Untreated depression also carries risks.

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• S

  Statin in Pregnancy: FDA Category X, Safety Guide

  Statin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category X. Generally contraindicated — discontinue before/during pregnancy. Reviewed by iMedic's medical editorial...

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• T

  Tramadol in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Tramadol during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Limited pregnancy data. Generally avoided when alternatives available.

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• V

  Valproate in Pregnancy: FDA Category X, Safety Guide

  Valproate during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category X. High teratogenic risk (neural tube defects, neurodevelopmental effects).

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• W

  Warfarin in Pregnancy: FDA Category X, Safety Guide

  Warfarin during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category X. Contraindicated in pregnancy — teratogenic, especially in first trimester. Heparin/LMWH used instead.

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• Z

  Zolpidem in Pregnancy: FDA Category C, Safety Guide

  Zolpidem during pregnancy — FDA pregnancy category C. Short-term use only if necessary. Avoid in late pregnancy (neonatal sedation/withdrawal).

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