Almost every pregnant woman will face a decision about taking medicines before and during pregnancy. However, not all medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Some medicines may cause birth defects, pregnancy loss, prematurity, infant death, or developmental disabilities.
After getting a positive pregnancy test, your body is in for lots of change. But what you probably didn’t know is that change can lead to infection and more antibiotics. A recent National Birth Defects Prevention Study of more than 13,000 pregnant women found that about 30 percent of women undergo at least one course of antibiotic treatment between the three months prior to conception and the end of their pregnancies, most commonly during the fourth month of pregnancy.
Select antibiotic use has the potential to cause congenital abnormalities in newborns. So do you take the antibiotic and get better, or skip it and risk birth defects? Don’t worry – according to the study, it’s not that black-and-white, and there are safe options available.
What is Adco Amoxyclav BD?
Adco Amoxyclav BD is a combination medication containing amoxicillin and clavulanic acid used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, including infections of the ears, lungs, sinus, skin, and urinary tract. Amoxicillin is in a class of medications called penicillin-like antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Clavulanic acid is in a class of medications called beta-lactamase inhibitors. It works by preventing bacteria from destroying amoxicillin.
Adco Amoxyclav also is used sometimes to treat certain sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. However, this medication will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
How does Adco Amoxyclav work?
The amoxicillin part of Adco Amoxyclav works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. It allows holes to appear in the bacterial cell walls and this kills the bacteria causing the infection.
Some types of bacteria have become resistant to penicillin-type antibiotics, because they have developed the ability to produce defensive chemicals called beta-lactamases that stop the antibiotics from working. The clavulanic acid part of Adco Amoxyclav is a beta-lactamase inhibitor. It stops bacteria from inactivating the amoxicillin, so it increases the range of bacteria that amoxicillin can kill.
Can You Take Adco amoxyclav BD During Pregnancy?
The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories – A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.
Adco Amoxyclav BD falls into category B. That means it’s considered safe to take while pregnant. The FDA assigned this category to help doctors understand whether or not a medication can cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women.
Studies in animals have failed to demonstrate a risk to the unborn baby and there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women. In a Michigan Medicaid Birth Defects Study, there were 556 first trimester exposures to amoxicillin clavulanate. Overall, 24 cases of birth defects were observed (24 expected). Two cases of spina bifida occurred compared with only 0.3 cases expected, representing a statistically significant increase in the incidence of this anomaly. It is not known if Adco Amoxyclav BD will harm your unborn baby.
If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor or midwife about any medicines you take, even over-the-counter ones. Some of them may be safe to take while you’re pregnant. But others may not be safe. Your doctor or midwife may have you stop taking a medicine or may switch you to another one. Some medicines that aren’t safe in the first trimester may be safe to use later in the pregnancy.
