Is Ventolin Safe to Take During Pregnancy?
Ventolin HFA
® (
albuterol inhaler) may not be safe for women who are pregnant. In animal studies that looked at the effects of
albuterol during pregnancy, the drug caused birth defects.
Ventolin and Pregnancy Category C
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
Ventolin was given a pregnancy Category C rating because of its potential problems to the fetus in animal studies. When given to pregnant mice, Ventolin caused birth defects, especially a cleft palate. In pregnant rabbits, Ventolin caused brain and skull problems. In pregnant humans, Ventolin can increase heart rate and blood sugar levels in the fetus.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. A pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child. Because "rescue" medications like Ventolin are usually essential for people with
asthma, healthcare providers typically recommend that pregnant women continue to take Ventolin. Several references state that Ventolin is compatible with pregnancy. In fact, albuterol, the active ingredient in Ventolin, is sometimes used to treat premature labor, usually without causing any problems to the fetus.
