Tag Archives: Birth Defects
Study Finds Increased Use of Medications During Pregnancy
According to Max Health, an increasing number of pregnant women are using medications. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the rise of medications during pregnancy may raise the risk of fetal damage. The study reiterated that drugs such as isotretinoin, thalidomide, Phenobarbital and valporate have been known to cause birth defects. However, little is known about the effects of the majority of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are commonly taken during pregnancy. The study suggests it is impossible for pregnant women to know if medications they are taking pose a potential threat to the fetus. At the same time, information about birth defects and medications use may prompt some women to stop taking medications they need to treat a serious health condition. The study was a collaboration between Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center, Harvard School of Publish Health and the Centers for Disease…
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Posted in Birth Defects Tagged Birth Defects, drug usage, medication, Pregnancy, pregnancy drug, prescription Comments Off on Study Finds Increased Use of Medications During Pregnancy
FDA Warns Johnson and Johnson of Topamax Side Effects
According to the Food and Drug Administration, Topamax should be closely monitored for increases in depression and potential mood changes that may result in an increase of suicidal thoughts. Topamax is a migraine and anticonvulsant medication linked to an increased risk of birth defects, specifically oral. Oral birth defects include cleft lip and cleft palate and occur in the first trimester of pregnancy when the lip or palate fails to fuse properly during development. A pregnant woman taking Topamax during the first trimester is 20 times likely to risk their child developing an oral birth defect than a woman not taking the medication, says Reuters. The FDA warns pregnant women that they are at risk of having a baby develop the facial anomalies when exposed to dangerous drugs such as Topamax. While Topamax has an FDA-approved seal to treat seizures and migraine headaches, it is being used off-label by doctors…
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Posted in Dangerous Drugs Tagged Birth Defects, cleft lip, cleft palate, dangerous drug, FDA, oral birth defect, Topamax, warning Comments Off on FDA Warns Johnson and Johnson of Topamax Side Effects
Babies Born Late May Face Increased Cerebral Palsy Risk
According to a new study, late-term and preterm babies face a slightly greater risk of developing cerebral palsy than those born at term. That preterm babies face greater risks is well known but this is the first study to link cerebral palsy to infants born after 40 weeks of gestation. Researchers caution that the risks are very small and the data are not sufficient to recommend intervention. According to the study, published Sept. 1 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the risk for infants born at 37 weeks developing cerebral palsy was 90 percent. At 38 weeks, the risk dropped to 30 percent. But at 42 weeks and later, the risk for cerebral palsy increased to 40 percent. The study looked at a group of infants who had no other birth defects. The report concluded that the causes for this are unclear and more research into late-term risks…
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Posted in Birth Defects, Cerebral Palsy Tagged Birth Defects, cerebral palsy Comments Off on Babies Born Late May Face Increased Cerebral Palsy Risk
