An overview: extent of teratogenicity of common medications in fetal development

Abstract

Fetal development is regulated by several important factors, such as maternal physiology and health condition, lifestyle, use of different types of drugs and susceptibility to various chemical, physical, and biological agents. An imbalance, abuse, misuse, or undesirable exposure to these factors can prove to be teratogenic. Drugs can act as teratogens depending on its extent of use, gestational age at which the drug is administered and the drug’s pharmacokinetics. This is possible since most drugs can cross the placental barrier and disrupt the optimal environment of the amniotic fluid, causing birth abnormalities. Some drugs can even cross the fetal blood brain barrier and cause neurological disorders. In this review paper, the extent of teratogenicity of common gestational drugs has been explored, along with their mechanisms of action that lead to congenital deformities.