MEDICATIONS CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY

Drug	Comments
Vitamin A and its derivatives including isotretinein, accutane and etretinate.	Significant risk of spontaneous abortion and risk of many significant anomalies
ACE inhibitors	May cause kidney damage in the fetus when used in II and III trimester, decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid and deformities of face, limbs and lungs
Anticoagulants- warfarin	Use during I trimester produces defects like nasal hypoplasia and a depressed nasal bridge; termed as Fetal warfarin Syndrome. Use during II and III trimesters is associated with increased risk of fetal malformations.
- Heparin	Safe but if taken for long time osteoporosis and decrease in number of platelets in pregnant women occurs.
Estrogen and Androgens	Genital tract malformations.
Thyroid preparations-
Methimazole	Overactive and enlarged Thyroid gland
Carbimazole	Overactive and enlarged Thyroid gland
Radioactive iodine	Underactive Thyroid gland in fetus
Propylthiouracil	Safe.
Anticonvulsants-
Carbamazepine	Risk of birth defects
Phenytoin, Phenobarbitone	Bleeding problem in the newborn which can be prevented if pregnant woman takes Vit. K by mouth every day for a month before delivery or if the newborn baby is given an injection of Vit. K soon after birth.
	Risk of birth defects.
Trimethadione	Increased risk of miscarriage in the women
Sodium valproate	Increased risk of birth defects in fetus; including a cleft palate and abnormalities of the heart, face, skull, hands or abdominal organs.
Antidepressants- Lithium	Birth defects (mainly of the heart), lethargy, decreased muscle tone, underactivity of Thyroid gland and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in the new born. Ebstein's anomaly (tricuspid valve malformation) has been reported in a number of foetuses exposed to this drug.
NSAIDs
Aspirin and other Salicylates	Delay in start of labor, premature closing of ductus arteriosus, jaundice, brain damage in the fetus and bleeding problems in the woman during and after delivery and in the newborn.
Antibiotics- Tetracycline	Slowed bone growth, permanent yellowing of the teeth and increased susceptibility to cavities in the body.
Chloramphenicol	Gray Baby Syndrome.
Ciprofloxacin	Possibility of joint abnormalities (seen in animals)
Kanamycin and Streptomycin	Damage to fetus's ear resulting in deafness (risk of ototoxicity)
Sulfonamides	Jaundice and brain damage in newborn
Antineoplastic agents-
Busulfan	Birth defects such as less than expected growth before birth, underdevelopment of lower jaw, cleft palate, abnormal development of skull bones, spinal defects, ear defects and club foot.
Chlorambucil
Cyclophosphamide
Methotrexate
Oral Hypoglycemic drugs	A very low level of sugar in the blood of newborn. Inadequate control of diabetes in the pregnant woman
Chlorpropamide
Tolbutamide

List of some of the drugs whose use is contraindicated during pregnancy along with the harmful /damaging effects they may produce on the fetus. (National Library of Medicines)