Relpax and Pregnancy

The FDA has classified Relpax as a pregnancy Category C medication, meaning that the medication may not be safe to take while pregnant. In studies involving Relpax and pregnancy, the medication caused birth defects and miscarriages when it was given to pregnant rats and rabbits.

 

An Overview of Relpax and Pregnancy

Relpax® (eletriptan hydrobromide) may not be safe for women who are pregnant. Animal studies that looked at the effects of Relpax during pregnancy showed that the drug caused birth defects and miscarriages in rats and rabbits.
 

Relpax 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.
 
Relpax was given a pregnancy Category C rating based on studies of pregnant animals. For example, Relpax has shown to cause birth defects and miscarriages in rats and rabbits. Also, the newborn rats and rabbits weighed less than normal.
 
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 the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
 

Recommendations Concerning Relpax and Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant and migraines are a problem, let your healthcare provider know. Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and the risks of taking Relpax during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;