In this chapter, the most important dermatological medications as well as other frequently used topical therapeutics will be discussed. More extensive information on individual medications can be found under the substance headings in other chapters. Anti-infectives are discussed in Chapter…
Due to their lipid solubility, general anesthetic agents rapidly cross the blood–brain barrier and the placenta. In addition to their sleep-inducing effect in the brain, they also frequently have a depressant effect on the respiratory center. Thus, during the perinatal…
Hormones are the body’s own messenger substances which carry out specific regulating functions in the cells of their respective effector organs and thereby control physiologic processes. Their regulation takes place on three levels, the hypothalamic level (primary releasing function), the…
Uterine contraction agents and tocolytics are among the most frequently used drugs in obstetrics. The former are generally effective but carry the risk of uterine overstimulation and fetal asphyxia in cases of labor induction or augmentation. They should be titrated…
Malignant disease is rare in pregnancy and requires expert interdisciplinary medical and psychosocial support. To give a pregnant woman the best chance for survival, cancer is often treated in the same way that it would be if the woman were…
Immunomodulators include immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory agents. Within the group of immunosuppressants (Sections 2.12.1–2.12.3 ) a differentiation is made between glucocorticoids, conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs and biologics. The immunostimulatory drugs (Sections 2.12.5–2.12.6 ) basically include the cytokines, interferons, glatiramer and colony…
Women of childbearing age are often affected with depressive, psychotic or other psychiatric disorders, which require medication during pregnancy. Psychopharmaceuticals during pregnancy constitute both a potential risk to the developing fetus as well as a possible benefit through improvement of…
Epilepsy affects 0.4–0.5% percent of pregnant women ( ). About 80% of these women take at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) and are able to control their seizures ( ). In addition, antiepileptic drugs are also used to manage other…
During pregnancy, the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is substantially increased. Antithrombotic therapy is indicated for the prevention and treatment of VTE, but such treatment is challenging because these medications have the potential to cause adverse effects in the developing…
Profound hemodynamic changes take place during pregnancy. The blood volume starts to expand at the fifth gestational week, and by the end of pregnancy it has increased by 50%. Vascular resistance and blood pressure decrease, while the resting pulse increases…