Assessing the information in the Summaries of Product Characteristics for the use of medicines in pregnancy and lactation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Arguello, B (Author) Other; Salgado, TM (Author) Other; Fernandez Llimos, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Vol. 79

Pages: 537-544

ISSN: 0306-5251

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 31 Citations

Scopus - 37 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-91H

DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12515

Abstract (EN): AimsTo assess the completeness and applicability of information for the use of medicines in pregnancy and lactation contained in European Summaries of Product Characteristics (SmPCs). MethodsSmPCs available on the EMA website in April 2011 were retrieved, and information on the use of medicines during pregnancy and lactation was analyzed. A form was designed to extract information regarding drug concentrations crossing the placenta, excretion of the drug in milk, the existence of pre-clinical and clinical studies and clinical experience describing the use of the medicine in pregnancy and lactation, medicine effects on human fertility, medicines use in women of child-bearing potential and specific recommendations for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. SmPCs were classified as containing conclusive' or ambiguous' information depending on whether (or not) they provided clear instructions regarding medicine use in pregnancy and lactation. ResultsOf the 534 SmPCs, 89.3% did not mention whether the drug crossed the placenta, 67.6% indicated that there was no clinical experience during pregnancy and in 61.4% it was unknown whether the medicine was excreted in human milk. Recommendations for medicine use during pregnancy and breastfeeding were ambiguous in 57.0% and 16.5% of the SmPCs, respectively, and medicine use was restricted in over 90% SmPCs for both pregnancy and breastfeeding, despite no information supporting these restrictions being reported. The time elapsed since a SmPCs first approval was not associated with an increase in information quality. ConclusionsImportant information deficits on the use of medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding were found in European SmPCs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8