Certain complications may occur with the use of Lodine, and pregnancy problems are a potential risk. While the medicine has not been studied in humans, in animal studies, it caused problems for the fetus. Thus, if you are taking Lodine and pregnancy occurs, your healthcare provider may prescribe the drug if the benefits to you outweigh the risks to your unborn child.
Lodine and Pregnancy: An Overview
Most healthcare providers do not recommend taking
Lodine® (
etodolac) during pregnancy because it can possibly cause problems for the unborn child or complicate
labor and delivery. Taking Lodine at all during the
third trimester should be avoided. Early in the pregnancy, it is possible that your healthcare provider may recommend Lodine because he or she feels that the benefits to you outweigh the risks to the fetus.
Lodine and Pregnancy Category C
Lodine is considered a pregnancy Category C medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been tested in pregnant women but that show side effects to the fetus in animal studies. However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. A pregnancy Category C medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn child.
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Lodine, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider the benefits and risks of Lodine during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
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