September 6, 2011
Many women take over-the-counter painkillers, such as Ibuprofen or naproxen, for everyday aches and pains; however, they may not be aware that if they are in the early stages of pregnancy, these drugs increase their chances of a miscarriage. MSNBC reports on findings in the newest issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The study noted that 17 percent of pregnant women take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and found their risk for miscarriage in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy was double that of women not taking the drug. The study looked at the medical records of more than 50,000 Canadian women. The study compared the records of 4,705 women who had miscarriages in the first 20 weeks to some 47,050 women who did not. Researchers found that 352 women who had taken NSAIDs had miscarriages compared to 1,213 who did not. They determined the women were taking the drugs if they had been issued a prescription right before or in the early stages of the pregnancy. Using these numbers and calculating in other factors such as age, health, and stress, researchers determined women taking NSAID medications were 2.4 times more likely to suffer a miscarriage.
If you have been caused bodily harm by a medication and were not warned of the affects it may have on you, you may be able to hold the drug’s manufacturer and/or the prescribing doctor accountable for their irresponsible action. The Texas Drug Injury Lawyers with Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel are available anytime to discuss your case with you.