Celebrex and Pregnancy

Animal studies on the link between Celebrex and pregnancy have caused the drug to be given a pregnancy Category C rating. This means that although the drug has not been studied in humans, it can present a risk to the health of the unborn child. If you are taking Celebrex and pregnancy occurs, your healthcare provider will weigh the benefits for you against the risks to the fetus before making a recommendation.

 

Celebrex and Pregnancy: An Overview

Most healthcare providers do not recommend taking Celebrex® (celocoxib) during pregnancy because it can cause problems for the unborn child or complicate the delivery. Taking Celebrex at all during the third trimester should be avoided. Early in the pregnancy, it is possible that your healthcare provider may recommend Celebrex if he or she feels that the benefits to you outweigh the risks to your unborn child.
 

Celebrex and Pregnancy Category C

Celebrex is considered a pregnancy Category C medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that show side effects to the fetus in animal studies but no human studies in pregnant women have been done. It is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. A pregnancy C Category medicine may still be given to pregnant women if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn child.
 

Celebrex and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Celebrex, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider the benefits and risks of Celebrex during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;