This sheet is about exposure to montelukast in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.

What is montelukast?

Montelukast is medication that has been used to treat asthma and allergies. While montelukast has been used to lower the chance of having an asthma attack, it does not stop an asthma attack. Montelukast is sold under the brand name Singulair®.

Sometimes when women find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy.

Asthma that is not well-treated can increase the chance of complications for the woman who is pregnant as well as the pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet on asthma at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/asthma-and-pregnancy/.

I take montelukast. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

Studies have not been done in humans to see if montelukast can make it harder to get pregnant. Animal studies showed no effect on fertility (ability to get pregnant).

Does taking montelukast increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. It is not known if montelukast can increase the chance of miscarriage. One study did not show an increase in the rate of miscarriage with use of montelukast during pregnancy.

Does taking montelukast increase the chance of birth defects?

Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Most available information suggests that the use of montelukast in pregnancy does not increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. Medical record reviews of thousands of pregnancies reportedly exposed to montelukast did not find an increased chance of birth defects. Other studies looking at a combined total of over 200 pregnancies exposed to montelukast have not suggested an increased chance of birth defects.

Does taking montelukast in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

A few studies have reported a chance for some pregnancy complications when montelukast was used during pregnancy, such as lower birth weight, preterm delivery (delivery before week 37), and preeclampsia (high blood pressure and problems with organs, such as the kidneys), which can lead to seizures (called eclampsia). However, the women in these studies who needed montelukast often had severe asthma and sometimes needed more than one medication. It is not clear if the reported complications are due to montelukast, the condition being treated, or other factors. One study did not report a difference in the birth weight of babies exposed to montelukast when compared to babies exposed to other asthma treatments.

Does taking montelukast in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?

Studies have not been done to see if montelukast can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child.

Breastfeeding while taking montelukast:

Montelukast gets into breastmilk in small amounts. One study found that nursing infants would likely receive less of the medication in breastmilk than the dose used to treat an infant directly. Usually, no special precautions are required when using montelukast while breastfeeding. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions.

If a man takes montelukast, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?

Studies have not been done in humans to see if montelukast could affect a man’s fertility (ability to get a woman pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. Animal studies showed no effects on fertility. In general, exposures that men have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet on Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.

Please click here for references.

MotherToBaby is currently conducting a study looking at asthma and the medications used to treat asthma in pregnancy. If you are interested in learning more, please call 1-877-311-8972 or visit https://mothertobaby.org/join-study.

This sheet is about exposure to loratadine in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on published research studies. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. 

What is loratadine?  

Loratadine is an over-the-counter antihistamine. It has been used to treat symptoms of allergic reactions and colds, such as sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat, and hives. Some brand names for loratadine are Claritin® and Alavert®. In the body, loratadine breaks down into desloratadine. Desloratadine is also sold as a prescription antihistamine under the brand name Clarinex®.  

Sometimes when women find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy. 

I take loratadine. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant? 

It is not known if loratadine can make it harder to get pregnant. One animal study did not report problems getting pregnant in females exposed to loratadine.  

Does taking loratadine increase the chance of miscarriage?   

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. A study of 163 loratadine exposures during the first trimester of pregnancy did not show an increased chance of miscarriage. 

Does taking loratadine increase the chance of birth defects?  

Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. We look at research studies to try to understand if an exposure, like loratadine, might increase the chance of birth defects in a pregnancy. 

Taking loratadine is not expected to increase the chance of birth defects. One early study raised concern about a possible link between loratadine use in pregnancy and hypospadias (a birth defect where the opening of the penis is shifted toward the underside rather than the tip). However, after later studies did not find the same link, the researchers stated that the cases of hypospadias in their original study were most likely due to chance or other factors instead of exposure to loratadine.  

Other studies of loratadine use during pregnancy have not found an increased chance of any kind of birth defect, including hypospadias. Also, studies have not found that infants with hypospadias were more often exposed to loratadine during pregnancy than infants without hypospadias.  

Does taking loratadine in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?  

Studies of loratadine use in pregnancy have not reported an increased chance of pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth).  

Does taking loratadine in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?   

Studies have not been done to see if loratadine can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child.  

Breastfeeding while taking loratadine:  

Loratadine passes into breast milk in small amounts. The amount of loratadine in breastmilk is too low to cause problems for most babies. Loratadine is one of the preferred antihistamines for use during breastfeeding because it is less likely to cause drowsiness (sleepiness) than some other antihistamines. If you suspect the baby has any symptoms (such as being too sleepy), contact the child’s healthcare provider.  

Taking loratadine might decrease the amount of milk that is made, especially if it is taken in combination with other medications. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions. 

If a man takes loratadine, could it affect his fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?  

Studies have not been done to see if loratadine could affect male fertility (ability to make healthy sperm) or increase the chance of birth defects. In general, exposures that men have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.  

Please click here for references.  

This sheet is about exposure to lurasidone in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on published research studies. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers. 

What is lurasidone? 

Lurasidone is a medication that has been used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It belongs to a class of medications known as atypical antipsychotics. Lurasidone is sold under the brand name Latuda®. 

Sometimes when women find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy. 

I take lurasidone. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?  

Studies have not been done in humans to see if taking lurasidone can make it harder to get pregnant. 

Does taking lurasidone increase the chance of miscarriage? 

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not been done to see if taking lurasidone can increase the chance of miscarriage.  

Does taking lurasidone increase the chance of birth defects? 

Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. It is not known if lurasidone can increase the chance of birth defects because information on the use of lurasidone in pregnancy is limited. Two reports on around 150 pregnancies with exposure to lurasidone did not report an increased chance of birth defects. 

Does taking lurasidone in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems? 

Studies have not been done to see if lurasidone can increase the chance of pregnancy-related problems such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). 

I need to take lurasidone during my pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?  

The use of antipsychotic medications like lurasidone during the third trimester of pregnancy can cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal and can include uncontrolled muscle movements, changes in muscle tone, being too sleepy, trouble breathing, and/or trouble with feeding.  

Not all babies who are exposed to antipsychotic medications during pregnancy will have these symptoms. Also, these symptoms have not been reported with use of lurasidone during pregnancy. However, it is important that your healthcare providers know you are taking lurasidone so that if symptoms occur, your baby can get the care that is best for them. 

Does taking lurasidone in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?   

Studies have not been done to see if lurasidone can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child. 

Breastfeeding while taking lurasidone: 

Lurasidone has not been well-studied for use while breastfeeding.  

Very little of this medication is expected to get into breast milk. Among reports of women who breastfed while taking lurasidone, no side effects were reported in the nursing child. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about using lurasidone and what treatment is best for you. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions. 

If a man takes lurasidone, could it affect his fertility or increase the chance of birth defects? 

Studies have not been done in humans to see if lurasidone could affect male fertility (ability to make healthy sperm) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that men have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.  

Please click here for references. 

This sheet is about exposure to misoprostol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.

What is misoprostol?

Misoprostol is sold under the brand name Cytotec®.

The product label for misoprostol recommends that women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant not use this medication. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about using misoprostol and what treatment is best for you.

I am taking misoprostol, but I would like to stop taking it before becoming pregnant. How long does the drug stay in my body?

People eliminate medication at different rates. In healthy adults, it takes up to 2 to 4 hours, on average, for most of the misoprostol to be gone from the body. However, the manufacturer has recommended to wait at least 1 month or through 1 menstrual cycle after stopping misoprostol before trying to get pregnant.

I take misoprostol. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

Studies have not suggested that misoprostol can make it harder to get pregnant.

Does taking misoprostol increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Misoprostol can cause uterine contractions and has been used to treat miscarriages (to help pass tissue from a pregnancy that is no longer viable). Therefore, an increased chance of miscarriage is expected. The increased chance of miscarriage with the use of misoprostol depends on dose, timing, use of other medications, and other factors.

Does taking misoprostol increase the chance of birth defects?

Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Most infants born to women who use misoprostol during pregnancy do not have birth defects. However, misoprostol can cause poor blood flow to the fetus (called vascular disruption) and increase the chance of birth defects in early pregnancy. Birth defects related to misoprostol exposure in pregnancy are poor growth of limbs (missing parts of finger/toes, or parts of arms/legs), Moebius syndrome (weakness or paralysis of the facial and eye muscles), cleft lip and/or cleft palate (lip and or roof of mouth formed with a split), arthrogryposis (stiff joints), muscle weakness, and club foot (foot points downward and inward).

Does taking misoprostol in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

Misoprostol use in pregnancy might increase the chance for preterm delivery (birth before week 37), poor growth (baby smaller than expected), and uterine rupture (when the wall of the uterus tears open during late pregnancy or during labor). It can also increase the chance of the fetus having its first bowel movement (called meconium) while still in the uterus instead of after delivery. Meconium passage in the uterus might cause the fetus to get meconium in its lungs (meconium aspiration), which might need treatment after delivery.

Does taking misoprostol in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?

It is not known if misoprostol increases the chance for behavior or learning issues. Some of the reported birth defects associated with misoprostol could affect brain development. Changes in brain development could affect future learning or behavior.

What screenings or tests are available to see if my pregnancy has birth defects or other issues?

Prenatal ultrasounds can be used screen for some birth defects, such as a poor limb growth, cleft lip, and club foot. They can also be used to monitor the growth of the pregnancy. Talk with your healthcare provider about any prenatal screenings or testing that are available to you. There are no tests available during a pregnancy that can tell how much effect there could be on future behavior or learning.

Breastfeeding while taking misoprostol:

Misoprostol gets into breast milk in very small amounts. No side effects have been reported in breastfeeding infants. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions.

If a man takes misoprostol, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?

Studies have not been done to see if misoprostol could affect a man’s fertility (ability to get a woman pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that men have are unlikely to increase the risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.

Please click here for references.

This sheet is about exposure to tildrakizumab in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.

What is tildrakizumab?

Tildrakizumab (Ilumya®) is a medication that has been used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. For more information about psoriasis in pregnancy, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/psoriasis-and-pregnancy/.

Sometimes when people find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy.

I am taking tildrakizumab, but I would like to stop taking it before getting pregnant. How long does the drug stay in my body?

The time it takes the body to metabolize (process) medication is not the same for everyone. In healthy non-pregnant adults, it takes up to 138 days (about 5 months), on average, for most of the tildrakizumab to be gone from the body.

I take tildrakizumab. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

Studies have not been done in humans to see if tildrakizumab could make it harder to get pregnant. Animal studies did not report an effect on fertility (ability to get pregnant).

Does taking tildrakizumab increase the chance of miscarriage? 

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. A report of 14 human pregnancies exposed to tildrakizumab in the first trimester noted miscarriages in 2 of those 14 pregnancies. This is similar to the rate of miscarriage in the general population. Animal studies did not report a higher chance of miscarriage.

Does taking tildrakizumab increase the chance of birth defects?

Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. We look at research studies to try to understand if an exposure, like tildrakizumab, might increase the chance of birth defects in a pregnancy. In a report on 14 human pregnancies exposed to tildrakizumab in the first trimester, no birth defects were reported in the infants. Animal studies done by the manufacturer also did not show a higher chance of birth defects with exposure to tildrakizumab.

Does taking tildrakizumab in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

Studies have not been done in humans to see if tildrakizumab increases the chance of pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth).

Does taking tildrakizumab in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?

Studies have not been done to see if tildrakizumab can cause behavior or learning issues for the child.

Can my baby receive live vaccines before one year of age if I take tildrakizumab later in pregnancy?

Since tildrakizumab may suppress the immune system of the person taking it, there is a theoretical concern that the same thing could happen to the baby if they are exposed during pregnancy. If someone has a weakened immune system, they may be more likely to develop an infection from a live vaccine. Live vaccines contain a small amount of live virus. Inactivated vaccines do not contain live virus, so they cannot cause the disease they protect against. In the United States, rotavirus is the only live vaccine routinely given in the first year of life. Most people can get inactivated vaccines in the first year of life.

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about your exposure to tildrakizumab during pregnancy. They can talk with you about the vaccines your child should receive and the best time for your child to receive them.

Breastfeeding while taking tildrakizumab:

Tildrakizumab has not been studied for use during breastfeeding. Tildrakizumab is a very large protein, so not much of the medication is likely to pass into breast milk. Any small amounts that might get into the breast milk are likely to be destroyed in the baby’s stomach. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions.

If a man takes tildrakizumab, could it affect his fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?  

Studies have not been done in humans to see if tildrakizumab could affect male fertility (ability to get a woman pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects. Animal studies did not report an effect on male fertility. In general, exposures that fathers or sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/.

MotherToBaby is currently conducting a study looking at tildrakizumab and other medications in pregnancy. If you are interested in learning more, please call 1-877-311-8972 or visit https://mothertobaby.org/join-study.

Please click here for references.