What Medications Can You Take While Pregnant? Finally, A Study

The FDA and a group of HMOs have finally banded together to conduct a huge study on the effects of common medications on pregnancy.  The first study of its kind, the findings would help expecting moms feel confident in taking — or not taking –  medications that could be helpful for common ailments.

Two out of three pregnant women in the U.S. take some kind of medicine during pregnancy, yet very few drugs are tested for pregnant women. The study will analyze health care data on about 1 million U.S. births from 2001 to 2007 and gather information on all medications prescribed for pregnant women and to look for health effects and birth outcomes.

The data gathered from the study “will guide regulatory policy and influence medical practice,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said.