Pregnancy Bliss | Reproductive Health Answers

Drugs for diabetes in pregnancy

 

Diabetes is another common complication of pregnancy. How safe are drugs used to manage this condition?

Pre-existing diabetes in this age group will almost always be controlled with insulin. The woman will almost always be on this already. In the unlikely event that she has used dietary control, conception will almost certainly mean a switch to insulin..

 

Insulin is not only safe, it is actually beneficial in preventing birth defects. Those diabetic mothers whose diabetes had been well controlled before conception reduce the risk of congenital malformation quite significantly.  In poorly controlled diabetics, the risk of major malformation in their children is up to three times that of the general population.

 

 

Apart from insulin, what other drugs are used to control diabetes in pregnancy?

In non-pregnant individuals, there is a place for what are known as "oral hypoglycaemics". These have an effect of lowering blood-sugar levels, to various degrees. Most of them (Chlorpropamide, Glibenclamide, Gliquidone, Glipizide and Tolbutamide) cross the placenta and are likely to cause a catastrophic fall in fetal blood-sugar. They are not used in pregnancy.

 

Metformin (Glucophage®) is arguably the most commonly used oral hypoglycaemic used in Type 2 diabetes. It is also known to cross the placenta but there is no evidence of adverse effect when used in pregnancy. Despite this safety profile it is rarely used in pregnancy. This is because insulin is infinitely better and more reliable. Over the last few years, many experts have advocated programs where Metformin is used alongside Insulin in special situations. These may include situations such as with some very obese diabetic expectant mothers - where insulin has failed to bring about the required control and Metformin has proved itself to be a useful supplement. This  strategy has been increasingly employed with a fair degree of success and with no apparent adverse effects.

 

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Pregnancy

Some people suffering from SLE are maintained on "antimalarials" such as hydroxy-chloroquine (Plaquenil®). What is the advice regarding their use in pregnancy?

These drugs are very effective in controlling the disease. Discontinuing their use can cause a flare-up of the disease. Moreover, such a step may increase the risk of miscarriage or fetal death in the uterus quite substantially. It is known for a fact that women suffering from SLE are prone to repeated pregnancy loss. Stopping this medication will therefore not only have an adverse effect on the mother but on the fetus as well. It is also true that there is no evidence that use of this drug in pregnancy has any adverse effect on the baby, short or long-term. Plaquenil® is also used for active rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Treating coughs and colds in Pregnancy

There is a wide choice of cough preparations on the market. How safe are these for use in pregnancy?

For coughs, there are two main groups of preparations: the cough suppressants and the expectorants.

Cough suppressants are marketed with a claim that they will reduce the frequency and intensity of coughing. Their effect is modest at best and they may help the person to sleep better. Most of them are based on opioids, especially codeine and sedatives such as diphenhydramine.

 

Cough medicines containing codeine will tend to cause constipation. Constipation is a common problem in pregnancy and if the pregnant woman is already having this trouble, then she should think hard before taking such preparations. They are likely to make the problem worse without really giving her much benefit.

 

Those cough suppressants based on sedatives will cause drowsiness and may not be ideal for a pregnant woman who is working, looking after small children or needs to drive. Their effectiveness, again, is modest at best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Effectiveness of cough medicines is modest at best. In most cases, they make no difference.