Utilisation of teratogenic medicines before and during pregnancy in Australian women

BACKGROUND Given the potential hazards of teratogenic medicines, to a fetus exposed in utero, monitoring their use around pregnancy is imperative. AIM To measure utilisation of teratogenic medicines (Therapeutic Goods Administration's category D or X) in women who gave birth in New South Wales, Australia, during pregnancy and the 24 months prior. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used linked population-based datasets including dispensing and perinatal data for all deliveries in NSW between 2005 and 2012. We included pregnancies among concessional beneficiaries only, with complete ascertainment of dispensing claims. Pre-pregnancy and during-pregnancy periods were based on birth dates and gestational age. We determined prevalence of exposure using percent of pregnancies in which women had at least one dispensed teratogenic medicine in three-month time periods. RESULTS The study included 191 588 pregnancies (145 419 women). Prevalence of exposure to D/X medicines anytime during pregnancy was 2.0% (