Prevalence of periconceptional folic acid use and perceived barriers to the postgestation continuance of supplemental folic acid: survey results from a Teratogen Information Service.

Background: Fewer than 40% of U.S. women are taking folic acid supplements periconceptionally at a time when the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) can be reduced by supplementation.

Postmarketing surveillance for drug safety in pregnancy: the Organization of Teratology Information Services project.

Background: Although medications are frequently used during pregnancy, premarketing studies exclude pregnant women, with the result that maternal and fetal risks of medications are largely unknown prior to marketing.

Methods: To demonstrate the feasibility of using Teratology Information Services (TISs) to identify potential subjects who may participate in postmarketing surveillance studies regarding medications taken during pregnancy, maternal characteristics and pregnancy exposure data routinely collected from callers to member agencies of the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS) were pooled for two one-month periods.

Results: A total of 3536 calls inquiring about 7746 different agents were received from pregnant women.

Pregnancy outcomes after first trimester exposure to phentermine/fenfluramine.

Background: Fenfluramine was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1997 because of its association with cardiac-valve abnormalities in adults.