If they become pregnant, birth defects and preterm birth are possible risks
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Too many women of childbearing age take narcotic painkillers, putting any unborn babies at risk, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Thirty-nine percent of females aged 15 to 44 who were enrolled in Medicaid filled a prescription for a narcotic painkiller each year from 2008 to 2012, says a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among privately insured women, that rate was 28 percent.
"We are concerned because we know that 50 percent of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned," said CDC epidemiologist Jennifer Lind.
Using narcotic painkillers in early pregnancy can increase the risk for certain birth defects, including spina bifida (a defect of the spine), gastroschisis (a defect of the abdominal wall) and heart defects, Lind said. These drugs also have been linked with preterm birth, she said.
In addition, infants exposed to narcotics in the womb can be born with a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome, according to the report. These babies experience symptoms of withdrawal from the drugs taken by the mother during pregnancy.
The study appears in the Jan. 23 issue of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Lind said that most of the women in the study were prescribed narcotic painkillers to treat moderate to severe pain, such as after surgery.
"We encourage doctors to make sure that they are discussing pregnancy potential with their patients and understand that they may be treating two patients whenever they are prescribing reproductive-aged women," Lind said.
"We recommend that they use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time possible, and birth control to reduce the risk of becoming pregnant while taking them," Lind said.
Dr. Jose Cordero, a member of the March of Dimes Board of Trustees, agreed. "If you are using an opioid painkiller, you should also be practicing effective birth control," he said in a statement Thursday.
"If you decide to get pregnant or do become pregnant, tell your health care provider about all the medications you are taking right away. You may be able to switch to a safer alternative," Cordero said.
source : Many Women of Childbearing Age Take Narcotic Painkillers: CDC
