What kind of birth defects can drugs cause?
These include breathing difficulties, poor muscle control, brain damage, learning difficulties, feeding difficulties, low birth weight, growth restriction, smaller head size, and many more. Also, teratogenic drugs can cause severe bleeding, preterm birth, and even fetal death.
Which drug caused severe birth defects?
Thalidomide was a widely used drug in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the treatment of nausea in pregnant women. It became apparent in the 1960s that thalidomide treatment resulted in severe birth defects in thousands of children.
What is the most harmful drug during pregnancy?
“Street” Drugs Cocaine is one of the most harmful drugs to unborn babies. Cocaine can cause a woman to miscarry and may cause preterm birth, bleeding, fetal death and fetal strokes, which can lead to brain damage and death.
Which drug is known for causing congenital anomaly during pregnancy?
When used in pregnancy, phenytoin can cause a syndrome of birth defects referred to with various names, such as Dilantin congenital defects, fetal hydantoin syndrome (FHS), Meadow syndrome, congenital hydantoin syndrome, Dilantin syndrome, fetal Dilantin syndrome, fetal phenytoin syndrome, and hydantoin syndrome.
Why do drugs cause birth defects?
However, drugs that do not cross the placenta may still harm the fetus by affecting the uterus or the placenta. Drugs that a pregnant woman takes during pregnancy can affect the fetus in several ways: They can act directly on the fetus, causing damage, abnormal development (leading to birth defects.
What is a thalidomide baby?
Thalidomide babies: Birth defects caused by a ‘harmless’ pill 60 years ago. One pill during pregnancy was enough, resulting in thousands of children worldwide born with severe deformities. In 1961, the manufacturer took thalidomide off the market. Survivors are still living with its effects.
Can recreational drugs affect birth control?
There’s currently no evidence to suggest that cannabis decreases the effectiveness of birth control.
What are the most common drugs used during pregnancy?
Drugs are used in over half of all pregnancies, and prevalence of use is increasing. The most commonly used drugs include antiemetics, antacids, antihistamines, analgesics, antimicrobials, diuretics, hypnotics, tranquilizers, and social and illicit drugs.