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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
09:04
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Placenta-Targeted Drug Delivery Using Three Complementary Methods
Published on: September 10, 2018
Pharmacotherapy in pregnancy and lactation
Niharika Mehta1, Lucia Larson1
1Division of Obstetric and Consultative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
Clinics in Chest Medicine
|February 1, 2011
Summary
Prescribing medications for pregnant and breastfeeding patients requires careful consideration due to limited safety data and perceived risks. This guide helps clinicians select the safest and most effective medication strategies.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Pharmacotherapy
Background:
- Medication prescribing for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals presents unique clinical challenges.
- Clinicians face insufficient data on medication safety during pregnancy and lactation.
- Overestimation of medication risks by patients and providers, alongside litigation concerns, complicates prescribing decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide guidance for clinicians on safe and effective medication prescribing for pregnant and breastfeeding patients.
- To address the challenges of limited safety information and perceived risks in pharmacotherapy during lactation and gestation.
Main Methods:
- This article provides a clinical guidance framework.
- It synthesizes current evidence and expert recommendations on medication safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The approach focuses on risk-benefit assessment and informed decision-making.
Main Results:
- The article outlines strategies for evaluating medication safety profiles.
- It discusses approaches to minimize potential risks to both the mother and the infant.
- It emphasizes shared decision-making between clinicians and patients.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing pharmacotherapy for pregnant and breastfeeding patients is achievable with appropriate guidance.
- Clinicians can navigate prescribing challenges by utilizing evidence-based strategies and risk assessment.
- Prioritizing maternal and infant well-being is paramount in medication selection.
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