Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
Open Access

Medications in pregnancy: Potential pitfalls in the evaluation of postnatal effects in the offspring

8^th Annual Pharma Middle East Congress

October 10-12, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Rafael Gorodischer

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pharma Care Health Sys

Abstract :

Fetal exposure to medications has been implicated in the development of childhood illnesses. Large cohort studies have reported increased risk of childhood asthma following maternal use of paracetamol, antibiotics and antacids in pregnancy. A greater risk for epilepsy in childhood has been attributed to fetal exposure to antibiotics; use of macrolides, in particular, was related to the development of cerebral palsy and epilepsy in the offspring. Prenatal exposure to antibiotics has been implicated in increased risk of offspring obesity. However, maternal consumption of antacids (proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers) 2 years after delivery (and not during pregnancy) was also related to the development of asthma in the offspring. Maternal use of paracetamol 30 days prior to the first menstrual period was reported to increase the risk of childhood asthma but this association was also found for the use not in pregnancy but one year after birth. Those contradictory reports may be explained by untested potential confounders; they stress the necessity more extensive pharmacoepidemiological investigations.

Biography :

Email: rafaelg@bgu.ac.il