During pregnancy, many women may need to continue taking medications during pregnancy to manage pre-existing conditions or pain. However, the effects of many medications on the fetus remain unclear. To help doctors and patients make informed decisions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a medication rating system for pregnancy.
According to the FDA's classification, drugs are categorized into five classes, A, B, C, D, and X. Each class represents the degree of potential risk the drug poses to the fetus.
Class A drugs are the safest option. These drugs have no evidence of harmful effects on the fetus in a large number of human studies and are the drugs of choice during pregnancy.
Class B drugs have found no evidence of harmful effects on the fetus in animal studies, but there are limited data in human studies. Nonetheless, class B drugs are still considered relatively safe options.
The safety of Class C drugs has not been established in animal studies or there is not enough data from human studies. Physicians need to weigh the pros and cons when considering prescribing Class C drugs to pregnant women.
Class D drugs have definite fetal risks but may be necessary in the treatment of serious diseases. The use of class D drugs requires a detailed risk assessment and adequate communication with the patient.
Class X drugs are drugs that are absolutely prohibited for use during pregnancy because they have been shown to be harmful to the fetus. Class X drugs should be avoided under all circumstances.
Overall, it is important to choose your medications carefully during pregnancy and to use them as directed by your doctor. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, be sure to let your doctor know so they can provide you with treatment options that are best for you and your fetus. We wish you and your baby the best of health!
EN 
ZH_TW 
ZH