Teratogenic Drugs:A Clinical Review

Drugs taken during pregnancy can have positive as well as negative effects on the developing embryo. Many drugs are prescribed by the doctor for the benefits of the foetus like the multivitamin supplements which reduce the risks of cardiovascular defects; oral clefts and urinary tract defects in their infants.Some drugs can also have many complicated effects on the foetus. Mother suffering from diseases and the medications taken for the treatment of such diseases during pregnancy will lead to abnormal changes in the baby. Anticonvulsant drugs have been known to be one of the most commonly used drugs which is unavoidable and hence the harmful effect of the drug on the foetus. The drugs which are known to cause harmful effects on the foetus are phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, tetracycline, thalidomide, warfarin. The complications of the drugs do not only depend on the type of drug taken but also on the the dosage, gestation time, number of times the drug taken and various other factors.This review addresses some of the routinely used drugs on their teratogenic effects.