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Medicinewise - Independent medicine & health information for consumers & professionals Medicines in pregnancy
Show health professional infoInformation about medicines during pregnancy for consumers and health professionals.
The decision to take a medicine in pregnancy or while breast feeding must always be based on informed consideration of benefits and risks.
Whether or not a medicine is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding can depend on many factors including the stage of pregnancy, age of the baby and general health of the mother.
While there are risks in taking some medicines during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in some cases there may be more harm than good by not taking them. Conditions like asthma, depression, diabetes and hypertension — if left untreated — can lead to complications for both mother and baby.
For many medicines, particularly complementary medicines, there is limited or no good quality information about their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration categorisation system for prescribing medicines in pregnancy is a guide only and for some medicines advice against prescribing in pregnancy is based on lack of data.
This NPS resources page is provided to help consumers and health professionals understand some of the issues around medicines in pregnancy and lactation.
Consumers should talk to a doctor or pharmacist for advice, or call Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia. For more tips on finding good quality information about medicines, go to our Medicinewise choices page.
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| Title | Description | Type | Audience  |
Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressants, pregnancy and breastfeeding — Independent medicine & health information | To weigh up the benefits and risks of taking antidepressant while pregnant or breastfeeding, you need individualised advice. Talk to your doctor or call one of these information lines. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Chickenpox vaccine - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Find out about the chickenpox vaccine, varicella zoster, including who should be vaccinated & the vaccine’s side effects. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Yellow fever vaccine - Independent Australian health & medicines information | The yellow fever vaccine is essential for some travellers as it’s carried by mosquitoes. Read about who should be vaccinated, side effects & why pregnant & breastfeeding women should be aware of the risks of vaccination. |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Vaccines for pregnant women - Independent Australian health & medicines information | Important vaccination information for women before pregnancy, during pregnancy & when breastfeeding |
Web page | Consumers | 2012-03-13 00:00:00 |
| I'm pregnant - can I take it? | Most medicines are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, some can cause considerable harm to your baby. Find out things you need to consider if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-05-20 00:00:00 |
| MedicinesTalk No. 36 Summer 2010 | Safe medicine use during pregnancy, the use of pain relief and their side effects and instructions on how to accurately measure medicines for children. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2011-07-29 00:00:00 |
| Nurse Update January 2012 | This issue of Nurse Update talks about NPS's support of the TGA cancelling 4 pain relief medicines, issues relating to taking medicines during pregnancy, resources to help patients decide between different medicine brands and the new features to NPS's awarding winning Medicines List iPhone app |
Professional publication - Nurse Update | Health Professionals | 2012-01-05 00:00:00 |
| What is gestational diabetes? - Independent medicine & health information | Gestational diabetes develops if a pregnant women’s pancreas can’t produce the extra insulin needed during pregnancy, causing above normal blood glucose (sugar). It is treated with diet & exercise, & may improve or disappear after the baby is born. Some women may need insulin injections. Read more. |
Web page | Consumers,Others,Research & Evaluation community | 2011-11-14 00:00:00 |
| Information on medicines in pregnancy from Australian Prescriber | Links to information about medicines in pregnancy from Australian Prescriber. |
Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2011-11-21 00:00:00 |
| NPS News 35 (INSERT): Choosing antidepressant drugs | Table of antidepressants for special patient groups including suicidal patients, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly, and those with cardiovascular disease or anxiety |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2004-08-01 00:00:00 |
| What you need to know to complete the Management of Depression self-audit | Clinical audit used to assist pharmacists to review prescribed doses of antidepressants and to identify counselling points for patients prescribed these medicines. |
Professional activity - Pharmacy Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2008-04-26 00:00:00 |
| Ferrous fumarate 310 mg with folic acid 300 microgram (Ferro-F-Tab) tablets — unrestricted listing | Ferrous fumarate 310 mg with folic acid 300 mg (Ferro-F-Tab) tablets was listed on the PBS after the deletion of FGF (ferrous sulfate 250 mg with folic acid 300 micrograms). |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2006-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Complementary medicines and the common cold: Information for health professionals | Information on efficacy, precautions and safety issues associated with the use of vitamin C, echinacea, or zinc for treatment or prevention of the common cold. |
Professional publication - NPS factsheet | Health Professionals | 2004-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Dyspepsia management | Pharmacy letter on the 'step-up' management of dyspepsia in the community. |
Professional publication - Pharmacy Letter | Health Professionals | 2003-08-01 00:00:00 |
| Hormonal contraceptive types, failure rates, risks and additional indications | Table of hormonal contraceptive types, failure rates, risks and additional indications. |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2009-12-11 00:00:00 |
| Hormonal contraception: Tailoring for the individual | Explores the range of hormonal contraceptives currently available in Australia and factors to consider when prescribing, including missed pills, adverse effects, and non-oral dosage forms. |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2009-12-11 00:00:00 |
| Depression management in primary care | Discusses effectiveness of antidepressants in treatmenting depression, postnatal depression, Mental Health Care initiative and antidepressants in breastfeeding. |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2005-10-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 18: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on strategies to help reduce antibiotic use in URTIs (includes two patient information leaflets) along with advice on antibiotic selection in UTIs. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2002-05-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 4: Reviewing long term use of benzodiazepines and managing the new patient with insomnia | Information on reviewing the need to continue, reduce or cease an individuals long term use of benzodiazepines. A plan for managing insomnia is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 1999-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in general practice | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections and advice on illness prevention through immunisation. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2007-03-01 00:00:00 |
| Women delay perinatal depression help, to avoid medicines | The earlier that a mother or mother-to-be gets help for depression, the better it is for her and the baby and the more likely she is to be helped without using medicines, Professor of Women's Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, Anne Buist says. “Signs of depression before the birth of a baby may indicate a postnatal risk. |
Media release | Others | 2008-04-22 19:00:00 |
| Major risk of harm in popular acne drug | Isotretinoin can cause a range of adverse effects, including severe birth defects, so effective contraception is important. |
Media release | Others | 2005-06-08 00:00:00 |
| Minimising birth defect risk for pregnant women with epilepsy | Women taking antiepileptic drugs and planning a pregnancy are advised to prepare well ahead of conception to reduce the risk of birth defects |
Media release | Others | 2008-07-16 00:00:00 |
| Women taking epilepsy medicines advised: plan early for pregnancy | To reduce the risk of birth defects, women taking medicines for epilepsy and planning a family are advised to prepare well before pregnancy |
Media release | Others | 2008-07-16 15:00:00 |
| Video: Medicines during pregnancy: doing my homework about medicines helps me | I was very cautious during my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding, and I like to do my own research before I talk to my doctor and pharmacist about taking a medication or drug — Myung Jin talks about her experience. |
Consumer resource - Story | Consumers | 2011-01-24 00:00:00 |
Information on this website is published by NPS — an independent, evidence based, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
NPS develops its information under the guidance of experts in their field, editorial panels, expert reviewers and consumers. Find out more about how we develop our content.
Date published: 2010-11-21 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
