Course Title

Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation

Course Number

7301506

Instructor Name

Samah Al-Jabi

Contact Information

[email protected]

Semester(s) and academic year(s)

First Semester 2020

Compulsory / Elective

Elective

This course is designed to introduce the pharmacy student to the usage of drugs during pregnancy and lactation and their possible risks on the fetus and the newborn. It provides a didactic framework for the therapeutic management of a number of common diseases during pregnancy and lactation life stages. Coverage will include the physiological and the pharmacokinetic changes during these two life stages.

With a thorough background established in pathophysiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and other courses in the curriculum, the aim of this course is to prepare students to develop the rational and specific drug therapies during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, this course aims to identify the students with the pharmacokinetic changes in pregnancy and lactation, risks of the drugs used on fetus and nursing baby, and the medications that can be used in the management of common diseases with the lowest risk during those two special life stages.

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

a. Knowledge and Understanding:

a.1. Identify the main drug classification used during pregnancy. 

a.2. Explain the important risks on fetus and baby from different medications if used during pregnancy and lactation.

a.3. Describe the main factors affecting the transfer of medications through the placenta and into the breast milk.

a.4. Explain the possible teratogenic effects of medications used during pregnancy.

a.5. List the most appropriate pharmacological agent of various diseases during pregnancy and lactation.

b. Intellectual Skills

b.1. Design appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic plans for selected diseases during pregnancy and lactation.

b.2. Compare between rational and irrational drug therapy for selected diseases.

b.3. Analyze relevant information for clinical case notes and assess problems in therapeutic management for pregnant and lactating mother.

c. Professional and Practical Skills

c.1. Evaluate and solve different pregnant and lactating-related problems.

c.2. Design monitoring plan for drug regimen during pregnancy and lactation.

c.3. Apply learned information in providing appropriate pregnant or lactating mother counseling.

d. General and Transferable Skills

d.1. Search the internet database for new updates in treatment guidelines.

d.2. Write a report and give oral presentations.

d.3. Work coherently and successfully as a part of a team.

d.4. Appreciate team work in a seminar.

TEXT BOOKS

Schaefer C, Peters P, Miller R (Eds). Drugs during Pregnancy and Lactation. Treatment options and risk assessment. 3^rd edition, 2014. Elsevier

REFERENCES

1. Briggs G, Freeman R., Towers C, Forinash A. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation:  A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. 11^th edition, 2017. Wolters Kluwer.
2. Weiner C, Buhimschi C. Drugs for pregnant and lactating women. 2^nd edition, 2009. Saunders/Elsevier.
3. New treatment guidelines.
4. Recent original and review articles