Veramyst and Pregnancy: An Overview
Veramyst™ (
fluticasone furoate nasal spray) is a prescription medication approved to treat nasal
allergies in adults and children as young as two years old. Veramyst belongs to a group of medications known as corticosteroids. Animal studies have shown that corticosteroids can increase the risk of problems, including birth defects.
Veramyst and Pregnancy Category C
The U.
S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy 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 studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
Veramyst was given a pregnancy Category C classification because it is a corticosteroid. When given to pregnant animals, corticosteroids can increase the risk of problems such as birth defects (such as cleft palate), low fetal weight, and slow bone development. However, when Veramyst was given to pregnant rats and rabbits, no problems occurred.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
