Choosing appropriate medication doses for pregnant women is a difficult balancing act, as the mother’s need for treatment must be weighed against the risk of fetal harm. The latter is often considered to be the most pressing concern, with the result that drugs are discontinued or doses reduced. However, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs may be affected by the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Consequently, pregnant women sometimes need higher and not lower medication doses.
This presentation provides an overview of the impact of physiological changes in pregnancy on drug pharmacokinetics and gives some general advice on how to plan for and monitor drug dosing in pregnant women.