A Danish study raises a red flag about the use of popular painkillers during
pregnancy.
The research, published in Saturday's British Medical Journal, finds the class
of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, like Ibuprofen, may
increase the risk of miscarriage.
Scientists studied thousands of pregnant women and say miscarriage was more common among those who filled a prescription for an anti-inflammatory in the weeks before the loss.
The researchers say it's too early to tell whether taking the medicine during pregnancy actually causes miscarriage, or whether other factors like the medical conditions suffered by the women who got the prescription were involved.
The study confirms earlier research that taking the medicine during pregnancy
does not appear to lead to birth defects or preterm birth.
Drugs like Ibuprofen are rarely prescribed in the U.S. during pregnancy. But
they are a staple of many medicine chests. Researchers say its iportant to talk
with your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy.
To view the complete study, go to
British Medical Journal.
