Thousands of pregnant and breast-feeding women take a prescription or over-the-counter drug each day. Though for the most part safe, a small percentage of these actions will have unintended adverse consequences for either mother or child. An additional percentage proves ineffective, due in part to the unique physiology of pregnancy or breastfeeding. And while an unnecessary drug should never be given to the pregnant or breast-feeding woman, an important therapy should never be withheld because of her status. Health care givers are now accustomed to routinely checking the FDA classification of a drug before prescribing it. Unfortunately, this classification system, though simple in concept, is dated, rarely revised as new information becomes available, and too simplistic to account for the physiology and health care needs of pregnant and breast-feeding women. Few drugs are approved by the FDA for use during pregnancy, and even oxytocin is a Category X agent. The important information provided by the manufacturer is often couched in protective legalese and never focuses on the needs of the obstetrical health care provider. Prior attempts to provide the caregiver the needed information have proven dense and filled with descriptions of studies, but not their implications. As a result, they are used in practice as a source of the FDA pregnancy category.
So much has changed since the publication of the first edition. I would like to thank the many healthcare providers who provided valuable feedback now incorporated into the second edition. In addition to the several hundred new drugs added since the first publication, I have attempted to further enhance the value of the text by adding International Names and relevant Drug Interactions. The text continues its user-friendly format available in both electronic and hardcopy media.
The purpose of this text remains to provide a user-friendly, pregnancy-lactation-focused reference for the use of the concerned health care provider. Do not use this as a reference when prescribing for a man. And though we recommend consulting a more complete reference before prescribing an unfamiliar agent, the information provided will aid the safe prescribing of drugs familiar to the physician. The number of new drugs released over the last decade is great, and their known impact on pregnancy and lactation, and vice versa often limited to absent. This is indeed a living text, coupled to a convenient, user-friendly hand-held electronic version that will be updated and expanded on a regular basis. Conflicts in FDA class with existing knowledge are pointed out, and recommendations made wherever possible based on medical evidence. Over the next few years, the FDA has embarked on a new and more detailed classification of drug safety during pregnancy. It is my intent to include this information wherever possible into the updates provided free to the electronic version.
Key Features
- Describes each substance's mechanism of action, side effects, drug-drug interactions, dosage, cost of therapy, and degree of safety during pregnancy or lactation, providing the thorough details you need to choose the most effective course of treatment.
- Indicates not only whether the FDA has approved a drug based on clinical trials, but also whether the drug is generally considered to be safe in the absence of FDA approval.
- Includes over-the-counter drugs and alternative medications as well as prescription drugs, to give you a broad background of available drugs.
- Features an alphabetical organization by both trade and generic name ... a special index listing drugs by category...and an easy-to-read page format that make reference more efficient.
- Uses an eye-catching icon to highlight known teratogens.
Foreword to the Second Edition
This is a dream come true for all of those who care for pregnant and non-pregnant women. There is nothing like this in medical literature. In the past, I have been involved in the publications of several texts on drugs and pregnancy. This new text is on the leading edge of science and knowledge for women and drugs, with more than 720 generic drugs with their 1500 trade names listed in alphabetical order to make identification easy for each drug. Over-the-counter drugs are also included. The information provided in both hard text and electronic versions is very extensive, concise, and user friendly. Its availability as an electronic version that will be updated for the life of the edition, is particularly exciting. This will not only benefit all health care workers in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, but will also allow instantaneous access to drug related questions.
Included in text and electronic versions are the following headings:
- Name
- Class
- Indications
- Dosage with Qualifiers
- Maternal Considerations
- Fetal Considerations
- Breastfeeding Safety
- References
- Summary
Additionally, there are lists of known teratogens, pregnancy drug registries, AHA endocarditis guidelines, FDA category definitions, and the percent of drugs assigned to them also included.
Thanks go to Dr. Weiner for his ingenuity in taking a complicated problem and making it straightforward and simple for those who care for pregnant and non-pregnant women.
The combination of Elsevier–the world's largest health sciences publisher–and Dr. Weiner–an individual who has a long-term interest in female reproduction and especially high-risk obstetrics–assures success of the project.
This is the new frontier in medical publishing and we will look forward to additions and revisions in the electronic format.
Frederick P. Zuspan, MD
Professor and Chairman, Emeritus, The Ohio State University School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology;
Emeritus Editor, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Las Vegas, Nevada
Website Features
- Consult the book from any computer at home, in your office, or at any practice location.
- Instantly locate the answers to your clinical questions via a simple search query.
- Quickly find out more about any bibliographical citation by linking to its MEDLINE abstract.
- Drugs: Quickly find reliable information on drug dosages and indications, listed both by brand and generic names.
Product Details
- Hardcover: 1120 pages
- Publisher: Saunders; 2 edition (May 7, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1416040137
- ISBN-13: 978-1416040132
- Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.6 x 2 inches
List Price: $148.00