Prescription Drug Use in Pregnancy: A Retrospective, Population-Based Study in British Columbia, Canada (2001-2006)

The majority of pregnant women in British Columbia filled at least 1 prescription, and ∼1 in 13 filled a prescription for a drug categorized as D or X by the FDA. The prevalence of maternal prescription drug use emphasizes the need for postmarketing evaluation of the risk-benefit profiles of pharmaceuticals in pregnancy. Future research on prenatal drug use based on administrative databases should examine maternal treatment adherence and the determinants of maternal drug use, considering maternal health status, sociodemographics, and the characteristics and providers of prenatal care.