NSAIDs may be risky early in pregnancy
Some common painkillers appear to more than double the odds of losing fetus
By Nathan Seppa
The popular anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and naproxen could contribute to the risk of miscarriage when taken early in pregnancy, researchers report online September 6 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Other research has indicated that the common painkillers collectively known as NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can impart some danger to a fetus. Pill bottles caution pregnant women to consult their doctors before taking the drugs, and specifically to avoid NSAIDs during the final three months of gestation. The new study bolsters evidence that would extend that caution to the first trimester.