what meds should I NOT be around while pregnant?!?!

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Hello..I'm an lpn and I work at a nursing home...Last week I found out that I am pregnant...I have tried to Google what meds not to touch or be around while pregnant and I have come up empty handed.. I know there are some because on a hall at my work one med says on the box, do not handle while pregnant! Really I'm worried to touch anything..Haha..Any help would be awesome thanks so much

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I only know for sure that you shouldn't handle avodart (male prostate med), and chemo meds. You can't have a pt that is on chemo either. That is all that I know of.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Finasteride (Propecia) should not be used by pregnant women, nor should pregnant women handle crushed pills (causes birth defects in male babies).

Here's a link on different meds that you shouldn't handle if you're pregnant:

http://www.uic.edu/pharmacy/services/di/faq/hazardous_drugs.php

Call the pharmacist at work and ask for their input.

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Misoprostol, or any other prostaglandin, is a no-no as well.

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If you have any HIV patients, do not handle AZT during your first trimester. Also misoprostol (Cytotec), you need to handle with gloves on. It is used "off label" to induce labor and abortions. Personally, when I was pregnant, I would get someone else to give these medications, and I would volunteer to help with something they needed. Better to be safe.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Please check with your physician, pharmacist or occupational health. This is too important an issue to rely on advice from an anonymous bulletin board.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in MICU.

Tamoxifen because of the hormones...

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do not handle or take thalidomide.

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.
ADreamersWife said:
If you have any HIV patients, do not handle AZT during your first trimester.

I thought women who were HIV + took AZT to decrease transmission to the fetus? So I guess I wonder why pregnant women can't touch it?

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?burntout said:
I thought women who were HIV + took AZT to decrease transmission to the fetus? So I guess I wonder why pregnant women can't touch it?

This is true. There is nothing harmful about handling AZT during pregnancy. Here is a link with more information:

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/illness/093.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0007

There are some HIV medications that should not be taken during pregnancy, but this would not apply unless the OP was HIV-infected or exposed.

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