Antiepileptic drugs (AED) have chronic teratogenic effects, the most common of which are congenital heart disease, cleft lip/palate, urogenital and neural tube defects.

What medications are teratogens?

Drugs that are capable of acting as teratogens include:

• ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors such as: ...
• Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane, Retin-A).
• Alcohol ingested chronically or in binges.
• Androgens (male hormones).
• Antibiotics tetracycline (Achromycin), and doxycycline (Vibramycin), and streptomycin.

Are antiepileptic drugs safe to use in pregnancy?

Of the new anti-seizure medications, lamotrigine and levetiracetam are the most widely used due to their known safety during pregnancy. Clearance of lamotrigine and levetiracetam doubles during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy.

What are teratogens examples?

A teratogen is something that can cause birth defects or abnormalities in a developing embryo or fetus upon exposure. Teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, health problems such as uncontrolled diabetes in pregnant people.

Is carbamazepine a teratogen?

Therefore, carbamazepine is considered a human teratogen as it leads to major and minor abnormalities in fetuses and babies such as developmental problems, abnormal IQ and growth retardation (32).

Pharmacology - ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS (MADE EASY)

36 related questions found

Are drugs teratogens?

Certain drugs such as alcohol, some illegal drugs, and some prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Drugs that can cause birth defects are called 'teratogens'.

Is nicotine a teratogen?

The potentially teratogenic effect of nicotine was clearly demonstrated in both genders by changes in developmental reflexes, exploratory and novelty seeking behavior, as well as a higher level of anxiety, and changes in individual and group responses in learning and memory.

Which substance is not a teratogen?

Examples of non-teratogenic agents: spermicides, acetaminophen, prenatal vitamins, using a microwave to cook food. A non-teratogenic agent is one which does not cause birth defects.

Is smoking a teratogen?

Known teratogens include alcohol, smoking, toxic chemicals, radiation, viruses, some maternal health conditions, and certain prescription drugs. Amount: The amount of harm to a fetus increases the more the pregnant person consumes or is exposed to a teratogen.

What antiepileptic drug is not safe in pregnancy?

Intrauterine exposure to certain antiepileptic drugs, particularly valproate, may be associated with the development of foetal malformations. Intrauterine valproate exposure is also associated with lower IQ values, neurodevelopment delay and autism.

What antiepileptic drug should not be used in pregnancy?

However, previous studies consistently have found that babies born to women who take certain antiepileptic medications during pregnancy have an increased risk for birth defects. Studies have shown that valproic acid presents the most risk to the developing baby.

What is the safest anticonvulsant drug?

"[Lamictal] seems to be the winner," Marson says. The second trial looked at 716 patients newly diagnosed with generalized epilepsy. It compared the older drug valproic acid (in the U.S., Depakote is the most popular member of this drug family) to Lamictal and Topamax.

Are antibiotics teratogens?

Some antibiotics are known to be teratogenic and should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. These include streptomycin and kanamycin (which may cause hearing loss) and tetracycline (which can lead to weakening, hypoplasia, and discoloration of long bones and teeth).

Is Tylenol a teratogen?

Acetaminophen is widely used during pregnancy. Although there is no known association with teratogenicity, few clinical data are available to support the lack of association.

What is the most common teratogen?

Alcohol: One of the most commonly used teratogens is alcohol, and because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, it is recommended that women of child-bearing age take great caution against drinking alcohol when not using birth control or when pregnant (CDC, 2005).

What are 4 teratogens?

Teratogens are classified into four types: physical agents, metabolic conditions, infection, and finally, drugs and chemicals. The word teratogen originates from the Greek word for monster, teratos.

What are environmental teratogens?

Teratogens are defined as any environmental factor that can produce a permanent abnormality in structure or function, restriction of growth, or death of the embryo or fetus.7.

Which of the following is caused by teratogen?

During this time, teratogens can cause neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Some organs are sensitive to teratogens during the whole pregnancy. This includes the baby's brain and spinal cord. Alcohol affects the brain and spinal cord, so it can cause harm at any time during pregnancy.

Is alcohol a teratogen?

Both alcohol and its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde, are teratogenic. Exposure during pregnancy may lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and this is said to occur in a substantial proportion of infants born to mothers who are chronic, heavy daily drinkers.

What is meant by teratogen?

A teratogen is any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy. Teratogens are usually discovered after an increased prevalence of a particular birth defect. For example, in the early 1960's, a drug known as thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness.

Is caffeine a teratogen?

In humans, caffeine does not present any teratogenic risk. The increased risk of the most common congenital malformations entailed by moderate consumption of caffeine is very slight.

Which antiepileptic drugs are teratogenicity?

Valproate is the drug with the highest risk, whereas prevalence of MCMs is lowest with lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and oxcarbazepine. For valproate, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, the risk of MCMs is dose-dependent.

Which antiepileptic is most teratogenic?

The most commonly used AED were valproic acid and carbamazepine in monotherapy. The percentage of major anomaly was 6.8% in all children.

Is valproic acid a teratogen?

Valproic acid is a recently identified human teratogen now clearly associated with neural tube defects in offspring of exposed pregnant women. Other recent studies have suggested an increased risk for congenital heart disease and facial clefts.