Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: Do Not Let Your Patients Down
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Nine in ten women report taking at least one medication during pregnancy. A great need exists to provide medication safety information to all women of childbearing potential. Prenatal care should start well before conception. Still, for most, prenatal care begins once they realize they are pregnant (or later), leaving a gap in care from conception to the first consultation with a healthcare provider. Identifying pregnancy and lactation status is a major barrier to intervention by pharmacy staff. In addition, women of childbearing potential may have chronic conditions requiring prescription medication. Understanding medication safety is important to improve maternal and infant health. Patient education prevents unnecessary premature infant weaning and non-adherence to medications. Although some medications are known teratogens, information about safety in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Trusted information resources help determine appropriate medications.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize common pregnancy-related ailments and medication safety resources
- Describe the effects of medication use during pregnancy and lactation
- List safe and effective over-the-counter medications for patients who are pregnant or lactating
- Identify methods to determine pregnancy or breastfeeding status
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Women of Childbearing Potential
III. Barriers to Care
Medication Safety
IV. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
V. Pregnancy Registries and Research Studies
VI. Chronic Conditions Requiring Medication
VII. Pregnancy-related Ailments
A. Nausea and Vomiting
B. Constipation
C. Pain
D. Drugs in Breast Milk
E. Lactation-related Ailments
VIII. Learning More
IX. Summary
From September 5, 2024 through September 5, 2027, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Ashley Walsh, PharmD, Jeannette Y. Wick, RPh, MBA, FASCP, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo, Jeannette Y. Wick, and Ashley Walsh have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.