NSAIDs and Pregnancy

Are NSAIDs Safe During Pregnancy?

Most healthcare providers do not recommend taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during pregnancy because they can cause problems to the unborn child or complicate labor and delivery. You should avoid taking NSAIDs at all during the third trimester.

 

NSAIDs and Pregnancy Category C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (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 have not been studied in pregnant humans but that do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating. A pregnancy Category C medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child.

 

The FDA has given NSAIDs a pregnancy Category C rating because when these medicines were tested in animals, problems were seen with the unborn fetus. This data suggests that NSAIDs could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do.

 

Final Thoughts

Before taking NSAIDs, let your healthcare provider know if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. He or she will consider the benefits and the risks of taking NSAIDs during pregnancy before making a recommendation in your particular situation.