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CNN Live At Daybreak

Taking Medication While Pregnant

Aired February 04, 2004 - 05:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Pregnant women are usually told to avoid medication for fear of causing birth defects. But as is usually the case, there are exceptions to the rule.
Our Christy Feig gives us one example.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIKA ANTIN, MOTHER: Very good.

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Erika Antin was pregnant with her son Drew, she developed a condition much more than typical morning sickness.

ANTIN: I lost 30 pounds. I was violently vomiting 11 to 14 times a day. I was sleeping in my bathroom.

FEIG: She finally found a doctor who decided for her, the benefits of taking medicine while pregnant would outweigh the risks. By the last two and a half months of her pregnancy, she was taking seven medicines.

Dr. Mary D'Alton specializes in complicated pregnancies and says although Erika's case is extreme, it's not uncommon for pregnant women to take medication. In fact, with some diseases, like high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and seizures, it's often more dangerous to stop medicine. D'Alton says women battling depression also often continue their drugs.

DR. MARY D'ALTON, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: What I would say to patients who are on anti-depressants is avoid the newer ones because we don't have information about the newer drugs and their effect in pregnancy.

FEIG: D'Alton says although most drugs do not cause birth defects, many should be avoided early on.

D'ALTON: The ones we're concerned about are the ones that are given in the very early stages of pregnancy, in the first 10 weeks or so of pregnancy, where it can affect the fetus at a crucial time in development.

FEIG: Even so, all medication, including those available over the counter like aspirin, should only be taken under doctor's supervision.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig. (END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 4, 2004 - 05:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Pregnant women are usually told to avoid medication for fear of causing birth defects. But as is usually the case, there are exceptions to the rule.
Our Christy Feig gives us one example.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIKA ANTIN, MOTHER: Very good.

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Erika Antin was pregnant with her son Drew, she developed a condition much more than typical morning sickness.

ANTIN: I lost 30 pounds. I was violently vomiting 11 to 14 times a day. I was sleeping in my bathroom.

FEIG: She finally found a doctor who decided for her, the benefits of taking medicine while pregnant would outweigh the risks. By the last two and a half months of her pregnancy, she was taking seven medicines.

Dr. Mary D'Alton specializes in complicated pregnancies and says although Erika's case is extreme, it's not uncommon for pregnant women to take medication. In fact, with some diseases, like high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and seizures, it's often more dangerous to stop medicine. D'Alton says women battling depression also often continue their drugs.

DR. MARY D'ALTON, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: What I would say to patients who are on anti-depressants is avoid the newer ones because we don't have information about the newer drugs and their effect in pregnancy.

FEIG: D'Alton says although most drugs do not cause birth defects, many should be avoided early on.

D'ALTON: The ones we're concerned about are the ones that are given in the very early stages of pregnancy, in the first 10 weeks or so of pregnancy, where it can affect the fetus at a crucial time in development.

FEIG: Even so, all medication, including those available over the counter like aspirin, should only be taken under doctor's supervision.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig. (END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com