FYI about UTI meds and pregnancy

[Amber]

From MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33588427...lth-pregnancy/

Common antibiotics tied to birth defects
Study: Drugs to treat urinary infections could cause heart, brain problems

Common antibiotics tied to birth defects

CHICAGO - Researchers studying antibiotics in pregnancy have found a surprising link between common drugs used to treat urinary infections with birth defects. Reassuringly, the most-used antibiotics in early pregnancy — penicillins — appear to be the safest.

Bacterial infections themselves can cause problems for the fetus if left unchecked, experts said, so pregnant women shouldn't avoid antibiotics entirely. Instead, women should discuss antibiotics choices with their doctors.

The new study is the first large analysis of antibiotic use in pregnancy. It found that mothers of babies with birth defects were more likely than mothers with healthy babies to report taking two types of antibiotics during pregnancy: sulfa drugs (brand names include Thiosulfil Forte and Bactrim) and urinary germicides called nitrofurantoins (brand names include Furadantin and Macrobid).
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It was the first time an association had been seen between urinary tract treatments and birth defects, said lead author Krista Crider, a geneticist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which funded the research. "Additional studies are going to need to be done to confirm these findings."

Before rigorous safety testing
Used for many decades, the antibiotics in question predate the Food and Drug Administration and its requirements for rigorous safety testing. The FDA now grades all drugs for safety to the fetus based on available research, but rigorous studies are so lacking in many cases, that no antibiotics get the highest grade of "A."

Sulfa drugs are the oldest antibiotics and some animal studies have found harm during pregnancy. Nitrofurantoins previously have been viewed by doctors as safe to treat urinary tract infections during pregnancy.

The study, appearing in November's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, may cause doctors to change the drugs they choose to treat pregnant women with infections. The findings were released Monday.

Dr. Susan Mehnert-Kay, a family practice doctor in Tulsa, Okla., who has written about diagnosing and managing urinary tract infections, said the research is "very interesting" and would cause her to reconsider antibiotic choices in early pregnancy.

The study is important because it looked at drugs that have been used for decades without large studies of their safety in pregnant women, said Dr. Michael Katz of the March of Dimes.

"Some physicians are not as attuned to this as they ought to be, so patients have the right to ask questions," Katz said.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 13,000 mothers whose infants had birth defects and nearly 5,000 women who lived in the same regions with healthy babies.

The women were interviewed by phone from six weeks to two years after their pregnancies. Those who remembered taking antibiotics during the month before conception through the first three months of pregnancy were identified as exposed to antibiotics.

The women's memories could have been faulty, a substantial weakness of the study, which the authors acknowledged. About one-third of the women who took antibiotics couldn't remember the specific type of drug they took.

It's also unclear whether the birth defects were caused by the drugs or by the underlying infections being treated, Crider said.

Birth defects linked to sulfa drugs included rare brain and heart problems, and shortened limbs. Those linked to nitrofurantoins included heart problems and cleft palate. The drugs seemed to double or triple the risk, depending on the defect.

"These defects are rare. Even with a threefold increase in risk, the risk for the individual is still quite low," Crider said.

[leftover]

I tried a WHOLE LOT harder to prevent UTIs when I was pregnant.

I drank tons of water, started a probiotic regimen, was meticulous about keeping myself clean, stopped taking baths, and took showers instead, and made sure I emptied my bladder completely.. Pregnancy is war on your urethra. You have to be careful!

[EMSeyeCandy]

I had a UTI when I was about 9 weeks pregnant. They gave me some sort of antibiotic to take but I took one and immediately threw up. So I ended up not taking anymore and just drinking lots of water to flush my system. Thankfully it was a very small infection. I'm also allergic to sulfa meds though so I wouldn't be prescribed those.

[leftover]

Originally Posted by EMSeyeCandy I had a UTI when I was about 9 weeks pregnant. They gave me some sort of antibiotic to take but I took one and immediately threw up. So I ended up not taking anymore and just drinking lots of water to flush my system. Thankfully it was a very small infection. I'm also allergic to sulfa meds though so I wouldn't be prescribed those.

I'm allergic to Sulfa (and penn) too, but Macrobid was on the list. I KNOW I took that one in early pregnancy. That was the first antibiotic they gave me.

[EMSeyeCandy]

Originally Posted by leftover I'm allergic to Sulfa (and penn) too, but Macrobid was on the list. I KNOW I took that one in early pregnancy. That was the first antibiotic they gave me.

I think I got the generic for macrobid? Nitrofurantoin mono/mac.

[Amberlyn]

Originally Posted by leftover I'm allergic to Sulfa (and penn) too, but Macrobid was on the list. I KNOW I took that one in early pregnancy. That was the first antibiotic they gave me.

I believe Macrobid is what I took with my first pregnancy.. I had to take it the entire 9 months..!! (this was in 1997-98)....

[MyFlyBoy]

God thats not comforting I got a really Bad UTI about 3 weeks ago and was on the medication for it .. I take the Pain relievers (AZO ones) cause I can usually flush it out within 3 days.

[clsmarathon]

Please keep the bold in mind.

Originally Posted by Amber From MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33588427...lth-pregnancy/ Common antibiotics tied to birth defects Study: Drugs to treat urinary infections could cause heart, brain problems Common antibiotics tied to birth defects CHICAGO - Researchers studying antibiotics in pregnancy have found a surprising link between common drugs used to treat urinary infections with birth defects. Reassuringly, the most-used antibiotics in early pregnancy — penicillins — appear to be the safest. Bacterial infections themselves can cause problems for the fetus if left unchecked, experts said, so pregnant women shouldn't avoid antibiotics entirely. Instead, women should discuss antibiotics choices with their doctors. The new study is the first large analysis of antibiotic use in pregnancy. It found that mothers of babies with birth defects were more likely than mothers with healthy babies to report taking two types of antibiotics during pregnancy: sulfa drugs (brand names include Thiosulfil Forte and Bactrim) and urinary germicides called nitrofurantoins (brand names include Furadantin and Macrobid). Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here It was the first time an association had been seen between urinary tract treatments and birth defects, said lead author Krista Crider, a geneticist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which funded the research. "Additional studies are going to need to be done to confirm these findings." Before rigorous safety testing Used for many decades, the antibiotics in question predate the Food and Drug Administration and its requirements for rigorous safety testing. The FDA now grades all drugs for safety to the fetus based on available research, but rigorous studies are so lacking in many cases, that no antibiotics get the highest grade of "A." Sulfa drugs are the oldest antibiotics and some animal studies have found harm during pregnancy. Nitrofurantoins previously have been viewed by doctors as safe to treat urinary tract infections during pregnancy. The study, appearing in November's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, may cause doctors to change the drugs they choose to treat pregnant women with infections. The findings were released Monday. Dr. Susan Mehnert-Kay, a family practice doctor in Tulsa, Okla., who has written about diagnosing and managing urinary tract infections, said the research is "very interesting" and would cause her to reconsider antibiotic choices in early pregnancy. The study is important because it looked at drugs that have been used for decades without large studies of their safety in pregnant women, said Dr. Michael Katz of the March of Dimes. "Some physicians are not as attuned to this as they ought to be, so patients have the right to ask questions," Katz said. The researchers analyzed data from more than 13,000 mothers whose infants had birth defects and nearly 5,000 women who lived in the same regions with healthy babies. The women were interviewed by phone from six weeks to two years after their pregnancies. Those who remembered taking antibiotics during the month before conception through the first three months of pregnancy were identified as exposed to antibiotics. The women's memories could have been faulty, a substantial weakness of the study, which the authors acknowledged. About one-third of the women who took antibiotics couldn't remember the specific type of drug they took. It's also unclear whether the birth defects were caused by the drugs or by the underlying infections being treated, Crider said. Birth defects linked to sulfa drugs included rare brain and heart problems, and shortened limbs. Those linked to nitrofurantoins included heart problems and cleft palate. The drugs seemed to double or triple the risk, depending on the defect. "These defects are rare. Even with a threefold increase in risk, the risk for the individual is still quite low," Crider said.

Fun fact of the day: my first cubicle at my first real job was across from Krista.

[amazinggrace]

I had to ate antibiotics in the first trimester. I have a horrible, and needed two rounds of treatment. My little one was, is fine.

I was very, very careful after that one horrible one, and it was the first I had had since I think age 12, to not take baths/drink lots of water/wash and clean very well after any kind of physical activites. I was able to avoid any the rest of my pregnancy.

[Amber]

I have had a yeast infection but so far so good on the UTI. I will just have to keep myself hydrated and keep being good about peeing after sex.