Category C Prescription Drugs

It's all a matter of weighing the benefits and the risks, I've been taking aspirin simply to sustain this pregnancy, due to a clotting issue. I've also been on prozac and ritalin. All my kids have been perfectly healthy and so far this baby seems to be doing well.

Yes -- I took insulin throughout both of my pregnancies. Insulin is a Category C pharmaceutical. Without it, both my baby and I would have died. I also took an antibiotic during one of my pregnancies.

I don't think the previous statement about "Category C means suspected of hurting the baby" is accurate at all! It has more to do with the fact that there are no scientific research studies to definitively document the impact on the fetus. And, really, what pregnant woman would sign-up to participate in a drug study while pregnant?! Basically, these drugs will always remain "Category C," as no one will experiment on pregnant woman.

There are many, many drugs in this category that are safely prescribed by OBs who have the expertise to determine if the need and impact to your body (and, potentially to your baby) outweighs the potential risk. The first thing I would do is ask your OB what will happen to you and your baby if you don't take it. And ask what will happen to you and your baby if you do take it. Then make your decision. But I'm willing to bet that you have a very acute need for whatever is prescribed. The last thing your OB wants is a lawsuit from you. She is looking out for the health of you and your baby.

Category A means there have been studies done in humans that found no harm. There are no drugs in category A. Category B means there are animal studies that found no harm and there is no reported harm in humans. Category C means there are animal studies that found harm but no reports of harm in humans or there are reports of harm in humans but no animal studies. There are no studies involving humans- it simply isn't ethical.

To put it in perspective Tylenol is Category B. So depending on what you are taking your drug for and what the benefits are compared to the risk will help you determine what to do. Often drugs are safer during a certain part of the pregnancy- for instance motrin is safe in early pregnancy but not in late pregnancy so most often women are told not to take it at all. Many drugs are considered safer in later pregnancy than early pregnancy becuase the baby has already physically developed.

Try googling Toxnet which is the government's drug safety website. Often there are alternative drugs that have a better rating (for instance there are many many antibiotics to choose from for a particular infection). Keep in mind that manufacturers often want their drugs labeled very conservatively (i.e. err on the side of more harmful) to reduce any risk.

yep, i'm taking prozac and adderall xr and i'm about 34 weeks pregnant. adderall is definantly category c, but benefits outweigh the risks. (i think prozac may be, but not sure). son's doing good so far. :)

I would suggest that you talk with your pharmacist about this...I think he/she is going to be able to give you some really solid information. You also need to weigh the risks of taking the drug vs the risks of NOT taking the drug. Good luck to you and congratulations on your baby!

I have taken alot of drugs during my pregnancies, I am pretty sure they are all category C. I have hyperemisis so I take alot of anti nausea(sp?) meds that are pretty hard core. When I expressed concern to my dr they told me that while they couldnt say with 100% certainity(sp? sorry) that they wouldnt have side effects, the benefits out weighed the risks and that he would tell his wife to take them while she was pregnant if she had to. Maybe you should weigh out your benefits and risks and do whats right for you. In my case I was throwing up so much I was dehydrated always and in and out of the hospital and literally not able to function. Without these meds my pregnancies would have had sever consequenses for me and my kids. Good luck!

Courtney G is right as far as the category meanings. You also have to keep in mind that when tested in animals they use extremely large doses compared to body weight. It really is a question of which risk is greater.

My OB prescribed a category C drug while I was pregnant, and I decided not to take it. I went to Walgreens, and spoke with the pharmacist about the medication. He was amazing - he looked up the medication, the risks associated with pregnancy, trials during pregnancy, etc. I hate to sound like a commercial, but I went to Walgreens because I trusted their pharmacy. I could never get a pharmacist to offer any personal help at another pharmacy. If you are uncomfortable, ask a professional. While OB are extremely, extremely knowledgeable in their fields, often times, they do not know the full ramifications of medications. I hope this helps - - Good luck with your upcoming delivery, and congratulations on a little bundle of joy!

I took Zoloft during my second pregnancy from 16 weeks until my baby was 6 months old. It's a class C medication, however my OB explained that it has been prescribed for many years and has actually been pretty well studied, and appears perfectly safe for mother and baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. He prescribed it because I had a history of PPD - it prevented PPD the second time around and I was SO glad that I took it. For the record, my "baby" is turning 5 next week and she is beautiful and has an IQ that's off the charts - so no harm done from the class C meds. =) I'm sure if your OB prescribed the medication, it was because the benefits would outweigh the risks for you.

Category C means it is suspected of hurting the baby. Simply being a category C I would run from it. I'm not sure what you are being treated for but I'm sure there is a natural alternative that you could use for the remainder of your pregnancy. If something happened to your little one because of it, especially questioning it, I don't think you would fare very well emotionally. If you cant find an ND in your area, get back to me and I'll see what I can do to help!

God bless and congratulations!

M.