Safety of Fluconazole During Pregnancy

Vaginal candidiasis is common in pregnant women, who are often given 150-mg oral fluconazole (particularly for recurrent infections). Concern has been raised that higher doses of this medication during the first trimester confer excess risk for birth defects. Danish investigators linked national birth, prescription, and childhood health records to assess the effects of oral fluconazole on risk for birth defects when given at typical cumulative doses (mostly 150 or 300 mg) during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Nearly 1 million live born infants were studied, <1% of whom were exposed to fluconazole during the first trimester. Of these infants, 87% were exposed to <300 mg in total. First-trimester exposure was not associated with excess risk…