Prescriptions for contraindicated category X drugs in pregnancy among women enrolled in TennCare

• Published in: Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 2004-03, Vol.18 (2), p.106-111
• Main Authors: Cooper, William O., Hickson, Gerald B., Ray, Wayne A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Competence - statistics & numerical data; Contraindications; Drug Prescriptions - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Managed Care Programs - statistics & numerical data; Medicaid - statistics & numerical data; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care - statistics & numerical data; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Risk Factors; Tennessee
• ISSN: 0269-5022; 1365-3016
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2003.00542.x

Summary Filling of prescriptions for medications labelled as category X by the United States Food and Drug Administration (considered to be contraindicated for use in pregnancy) was identified among 95 284 women enrolled in TennCare, Tennessee's programme for Medicaid enrollees and individuals without health insurance. Using administrative claims data, 391 women (4.10/1000) were identified as having filled category X prescriptions during pregnancy. This included 118 women (1.24/1000) who filled prescriptions for non‐contraceptive oestrogens, 81 (0.85/1000) for sedatives, and 71 (0.75/1000) for statins. While many women had physician visits with a diagnosis consistent with a possible indication for an individual drug outside of pregnancy, none of these indications is included for use during pregnancy. Older women and disabled women were more likely than younger women (P