Pregnancy prophylaxis

Mefloquine prophylaxis can be undertaken v/ith caution in cardiac conduction disorders. It should be avoided in epilepsy, during pregnancy and breastfeeding and for 3 months after pregnancy. 

Valproate, carbamazepine, and other anticonvulsants pose teratogenic risks. Despite this, treatment should continue during pregnancy, as the potential threat to the fetus by a seizure is greater However, it is mandatory to administer the lowest dose affording safe and effective prophylaxis. Concurrent high-dose administration of folate may... 

Antithrombin III is used in the management of acute thrombotic episodes and for prophylaxis during surgery and pregnancy in patients with antithrombin III deficiency. Several mediators of the... 

Dunner DL, Eieve RR Clinical factors in lithium carbonate prophylaxis failure. Arch Gen Psychiatry 30 229-233, 1974 Edmonds LD, Oakley GP Ebstein s anomaly and maternal lithium exposure during pregnancy. Teratology 41 551-552, 1990 Emrich HM Studies with oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) in acute mania. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 5 83-88, 1990... 

It is mainly used in prophylaxis of malaria in combination with chloroquine in areas with low chloroquine resistance among P. falciparum. It can be safely used in pregnancy. 

It is indicated in night blindness, vitamin A deficiency (in infants, in pregnancy, lactation, malabsorption syndrome), for prophylaxis of vitamin A deficiency, acne, ichthyosis, psoriasis, xerophthalmia, Bitot s spots (especially children). 

The normal requirement of vitamin A for adults is supplied by an adequate diet. The rational uses of retinol are in the treatment of vitamin A deficiency and as prophylaxis in high-risk subjects during periods of increased requirement, such as infancy, pregnancy, and lactation. Once vitamin A deficiency has been diagnosed, intensive therapy should be instituted. The patient should then be maintained on a proper diet. 

PGE alprostadil (used to maintain the patency of the ductus arteriosus in neonates with congenital heart defects, and for erectile dysfunction by injection into the corpus cavemosum of the penis) misoprostol (used for prophylaxis of peptic ulcer associated with NSAIDs) gemeprost (used as pessaries to soften the uterine cervix and dilate the cervical canal prior to vacuum aspiration for termination of pregnancy). 

Pregnancy. The extra iron required by mother and fetus totals 1000 mg, chiefly in the latter half of pregnancy. The fetus takes iron from the mother even if she is iron deficient. Dietary iron is seldom adequate and iron and folic acid (50-100 mg elemental iron plus folic acid 200-500 micrograms/day) should be given to pregnant women from the fourth month. Opinions differ on whether all women should receive prophylaxis or only those who can be identified as needing it. There are numerous formulations. Parents should be particularly warned not to let children get at the tablets. 

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