Is Abilify Safe During Pregnancy?
Abilify® (
aripiprazole) may not be safe for women who are pregnant. In previous animal studies that looked at the
effects of Abilify during pregnancy, Abilify increased the chances of miscarriage and birth defects.
Abilify 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.
When given to pregnant rats, Abilify caused low birth weight, slow development, and undescended testicles. Also, the female offspring were less fertile that normal. Abilify also caused miscarriages and skeletal birth defects.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to her unborn child.
If you are taking Abilify and pregnancy occurs (or you are thinking of becoming pregnant), let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of Abilify during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
