Conception & pregnancy
FDA determinations
The following table shows FDA-approved psoriasis treatments and their category for use by pregnant and nursing women.
| Generic name |
Brand name |
FDA category |
Comments |
| Acitretin |
Soriatane |
X |
Causes birth defects. Absolutely avoid.
|
| Adalimumab |
Humira |
B |
Long-term animal studies showed no harm. No human studies conducted. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Alefacept |
Amevive |
B |
Long-term animal studies showed no harm. No human studies conducted. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Anthralin |
|
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Calcipotriene |
Dovonex |
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
Calcipotriene
and
betamethasone
dipropionate |
Taclonex |
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Calcitriol |
Vectical ointment |
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Cyclosporine |
|
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Efalizumab |
Raptiva |
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary. On April 8, 2009, Genentech, Inc. announced a voluntary withdrawal of Raptiva from the U.S. Market, this drug is no longer available. Please contact your dermatologist for further information.
|
| Etanercept |
Enbrel |
B |
Long-term animal studies showed no harm. No human studies conducted. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Infliximab |
Remicade |
B |
Long-term animal studies showed no harm. No human studies conducted. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Methotrexate |
|
X |
Even small doses can cause defects in first trimester. Absolutely avoid.
|
| PUVA |
|
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects, although PUVA affects DNA. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| Tazarotene |
Tazorac |
X |
Risk of internal absorption. Absolutely avoid.
|
| Topical steroids |
|
C |
No clear evidence of birth defects. Avoid unless necessary.
|
| UVB |
|
— |
Safe during pregnancy. May cause skin discoloration.
|
|
Key to FDA categories
|
| B |
Studies with animals have not found risk to the fetus but no studies have been done in humans.
|
| C |
Safety is not substantiated by animal or human studies. |
| X |
Risk in pregnancy outweighs any benefits |