FDA Pregnancy Categories

FDA PREGNANCY CATEGORIES
When pregnancy appears as a contraindication or precaution to the use of a drug, it is usually qualified by a category as assigned by the FDA.
A: Adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to show a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters. B: Animal studies have failed to show a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; or animal studies have shown an adverse effect but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters. C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, and the potential benefits may outweigh the risks; or there are no animal studies and no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans. D: Positive evidence of human fetal risk but the benefits may outweigh the risks. X: Animal or human studies have shown fetal abnormalities or toxicity, or both, and the risks clearly outweigh any possible benefits.

FDA PREGNANCY CATEGORIES

When pregnancy appears as a contraindication or precaution to the use of a drug, it is usually qualified by a category as assigned by the FDA.

A: Adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to show a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters.

B: Animal studies have failed to show a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; or animal studies have shown an adverse effect but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters.

C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, and the potential benefits may outweigh the risks; or there are no animal studies and no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans.

D: Positive evidence of human fetal risk but the benefits may outweigh the risks.

X: Animal or human studies have shown fetal abnormalities or toxicity, or both, and the risks clearly outweigh any possible benefits.

This article originally appeared on MPR

FDA Pregnancy Categories

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