Pregnant women should stop medications which cause birth defects: “Psychiatric drugs can & should be avoided”

Dr. Anick Berard, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, said medications such as those which treat severe acne, anxiety and psychiatric drugs, antibiotics, and many drugs prescribed for heart disease and medical conditions “can and should be avoided” by women who are pregnant.

The Daily Inquirer
November 29, 2009

Canadian researchers are saying that women who are planning to become pregnant should take an inventory of the medications they take.

The researchers have found that many pregnant women still take medications which can cause birth defects.

Dr. Anick Berard, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, said drugs that control epilepsy are essential during pregnancy, albeit known to have fetal risk.

However, medications such as those which treat severe acne, anxiety and psychiatric drugs, antibiotics, and many drugs prescribed for heart disease and medical conditions “can and should be avoided,” according to Berard.

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