birth defects 11
COMMON TERATOGENIC MEDICATIONS
Medication Taken to Treat Kinds of Birth Defects
Pregnancy Category X Medications
antimetabolitic CHEMOTHERAPY CANCER craniofacial anomalies, anencephaly,
drugs (aminopterin, cytarabine, absence of kidneys, HEARTmalformations
methotrexate, methyl aminopterin) risk highest in first trimester
danazol (Danocrine) ENDOMETRIOSIS, FIBROCYSTIC BREAST PSEUDOHERMAPHRADITISM
DISEASE, hereditary ANGIOEDEMA
finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) male pattern baldness (Propecia), malformation of male GENITALIA
BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY(BPH)
(Proscar)
pregnant women are at risk if they
handle the pills
flurazepam (Dalmane) SLEEP DISORDERS isolated cleft palate
lovastatin (Mevacor) HYPERLIPIDEMIA SPINA BIFIDA
retinoic acid, isotretinoin severe ACNE craniofacial anomalies, heart malformations,
(Accutane) limb deformities, LIVERmalformations
highest risk in early first trimester
temazepam (Restoril) sleep disorders isolated cleft palate
triazolam (Halcion) sleep disorders isolated cleft palate
thalidomide (Thalomid, Synovir) HANSEN’S DISEASE(leprosy), severely shortened or missing long bones in
AIDS-related wasting disease the arms and legs
(cachexia)
warfarin (Coumadin) blood clots (preventive) constellation of birth defects commonly
referred to as fetal warfarin syndrome
multiple skeletal deformities and
malformations occur with exposure in early
first trimester
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMdamage occurs with
exposure in second and third trimesters
Pregnancy Category D Medications
angiotensin-converting enzyme HYPERTENSION KIDNEYdeformities or absence of kidneys, limb
(ACE) inhibitor medications contractures, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
(benazepril, captopril, enalapril, risk highest in second and third trimesters
fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril,
ramipril, trandolapril)