Prescribing in Pregnancy

Key points

• • Weigh benefit to the mother against risk to the fetus; avoid non-essential drugs, especially in the first trimester.
• • Known teratogens: warfarin, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, sodium valproate, isotretinoin, methotrexate, tetracyclines.
• • Prefer well-established, safer options (e.g. labetalol or methyldopa for hypertension).
• • Check specialist sources; many drugs also pass into breast milk.