Safety of Common Medications During Early Pregnancy

In two large population-based studies, neither opioids nor macrolide antibiotics were associated with substantial increases in risk for birth defects.

Data on the effects of many medications during pregnancy are limited despite common indications for their use. Now, two population-based studies examined risk for birth defects associated with first-trimester exposure to opioids and macrolides. In the first study, investigators analyzed risk for major malformations among U.S. infants born to mothers who received opiate prescriptions during early pregnancy. Among >1.5 million publicly insured and >1.1 million commercially insured women, 4.4% and 1.1%, respectively, received opioids during the first trimester. Risk for malformations was somewhat increased in unadjusted analyses but not in analyses that adjusted for confounders, with the exception of cleft palate (risk remained elevated; relat…

Reviewing Author

Anna Wald, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris

Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases

Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)