Prescribing in pregnancy

Most drugs can cross the placenta and some of these have adverse foetal effects. Organogenesis occurs between 18 days and 10 weeks of gestation and this is the highest risk period for teratogenic effects. However, later exposure may cause growth or developmental effects while exposure near term may be associated with neonatal toxicity or withdrawal syndromes. This article provides an update on prescribing during pregnancy, concentrating on the management of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, epilepsy and depression, as well as treatments for autoimmune disease and organ transplantation.