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  • Original Article
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Patterns of pregnancy exposure to prescription FDA C, D and X drugs in a Canadian population

Journal of Perinatology volume 28, pages 324–329 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine prescription Food and Drug Administration (FDA) C, D and X drugs in general obstetric population.

Study Design:

Historical cohort study.

Result:

A total of 18 575 women who gave a birth in Saskatchewan between January 1997 and December 2000 were included. Among them, 3604 (19.4%) received FDA C, D or X drugs at least once during pregnancy. The pregnancy exposure rates were 15.8, 5.2 and 3.9%, respectively, for category C, D and X drugs, and were 11.2, 7.3 and 8.2%, respectively, in the first, second and third trimesters. Salbutamol (albuterol), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), ibuprofen, naproxen and oral contraceptives were the most common C, D, X drugs used during pregnancy.

Conclusion:

About one in every five women uses FDA C, D and X drugs at least once during pregnancy, and the most common prescription drugs in pregnancy are antiasthmatic, antibiotics, nonsteroid anti-inflammation drugs, antianxiety or antidepressants and oral contraceptives.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported, in part, by a grant from Physicians Services Incorporated (grant no. PSI 02-23), a Research Allowance from The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (SWW) and Ontario Premier's Award for Research Excellence (SWW). Drs SW Wen and MC Walker are recipients of New Investigator's Award from the Canadian Institute of Health Research. Dr D Krewski is the NSERC/SSHRC/McLaughlin Research Chair in Population Health Risk Assessment. This study was based on nonidentifiable data provided by the Saskatchewan Department of Health. The interpretation and conclusions contained herein do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Saskatchewan or the Saskatchewan Department of Health.

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Author notes

  1. C Nimrod and P Garner: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, OMNI Research Group, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    S W Wen, T Yang, Q Yang & M C Walker

  2. Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    S W Wen, T Yang, Q Yang & M C Walker

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    S W Wen & D Krewski

  4. School of Public Health,

    S W Wen & T Yang

  5. Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    S W Wen & T Yang

  6. McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    S W Wen, T Yang & D Krewski

  7. Risk Sciences International, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    D Krewski

  8. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, QC, Canada

    W Fraser

  9. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saskatchewan Faculty of Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    O Olatunbosun

Authors
  1. S W Wen
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Correspondence to S W Wen.

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Wen, S., Yang, T., Krewski, D. et al. Patterns of pregnancy exposure to prescription FDA C, D and X drugs in a Canadian population. J Perinatol 28, 324–329 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.6

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