Taking medicine and pregnancy

Expectant mothers may need to take medicines during their pregnancy. This may be needed to treat a long-term condition or to treat new health issues or pregnancy-related complications.

Should you need to take a medicine during pregnancy, it is important that you understand both the benefits and any known risks involved.

Always consult with your healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication during pregnancy.

Safety information on medicine use and pregnancy

While many medicines are safe to use during pregnancy, some can pass through the placenta and may affect the baby. Other medicines may impact the placenta or the womb and may affect the pregnancy.

Any potential effects of a medicine on the unborn baby or pregnancy need to be considered carefully with your healthcare professional. In some specific cases, certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy due to the nature of the risks involved.

Important: Always discuss with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to understand the benefits and risks of the medicine for you and your baby. They can advise whether continuing, stopping, or switching a medicine is best. Do not discontinue a prescription medicine without first consulting a healthcare professional.

In addition to talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist, you can find information about the use of a medicine in pregnancy in the package leaflet that comes with your medicine box. This includes information describing when the medicine should be used, special warnings and precautions, and known side effects. Reading the package leaflet, including any updates, is essential when using a medicine.

Some medicines may also have additional patient guides or cards with further details on using a medicine during pregnancy. These should be provided to you by your healthcare provider.

The package leaflet and any additional patient materials for a medicine are available through Find a Medicine by searching for the medicine you want more information about.

Highlighted topics related to medicines and pregnancy

Sodium Valproate (Epilim▼) PREVENT pregnancy prevention programme: Medicines containing valproate (also known as sodium valproate or valproic acid) are approved in Ireland to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Valproate medicines can cause birth defects and problems with the development and learning of the child if the mother takes this medicine during pregnancy. Therefore, there are important contraindications, strengthened warnings and risk minimisation measures to prevent exposure during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy prevention programme in place for valproate medicines, which includes measures to ensure patients taking valproate are fully aware of the risks and the need to avoid becoming pregnant while taking it.

Learn more about the use of valproate in women of childbearing potential and during pregnancy, and precautionary measures for use of valproate in male patients.

Topiramate (Topamax▼) pregnancy prevention programme: Topiramate-containing medicines, marketed under the brand name Topamax▼ are approved in Ireland to treat different types of epilepsy, either alone or with other medicines. Topiramate is also used in adults to prevent migraines after other possible treatment options have been considered. Topiramate can harm an unborn child when taken during pregnancy. Important contraindications, warnings and risk minimisation measures are in place to prevent topiramate exposure during pregnancy, including a pregnancy prevention programme.

Find out more about the topiramate pregnancy prevention programme.

Important: Do not discontinue your prescription medicine without consulting your doctor.

Reporting the use of medicines during pregnancy

The HPRA encourages reporting of any suspected side effects of medicines experienced from use during pregnancy, including pregnancy outcomes. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medicines. All reports help improve the safety and understanding of medicine use during pregnancy.

You can use the online form to report a suspected side effect.

Alternatively, download and complete the side effect from medicine for human use form or the side effect for COVID-19 vaccines form as appropriate and email it to medsafety@hpra.ie or send it by Freepost to:

Pharmacovigilance Section,

HPRA,

Kevin O'Malley House

Earlsfort Centre

Earlsfort Terrace

Dublin 2, D02 XP77, Ireland

You can contact the HPRA's pharmacovigilance section by phone at +353-1-6764971