Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (NCC) Practice Exam

The FDA categorizes medications during pregnancy into five categories: A, B, C, D, and X, based on the level of risk they may pose to a developing fetus. This classification system helps healthcare providers make informed decisions about prescribing medications to pregnant individuals.

Category A consists of medications that have been well-studied in pregnant humans and have shown no risk to the fetus. This category indicates that there is strong evidence of safety.

Category B includes medications that either have not shown any risk in human studies or have shown adverse effects in animal studies but not in human studies. These medications are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy.

Category C comprises drugs for which there are no adequate studies in humans, but animal studies may have shown adverse effects. The benefits of use may outweigh the risks in certain situations.

Category D indicates that there is evidence of risk to the fetus, but the medication may still be prescribed if the potential benefits justify the potential risks.

Finally, Category X denotes medications that are contraindicated in pregnancy due to evidence of fetal harm. The risks involved far outweigh any potential benefits.

Other categorizations, such as I, II, III, IV, and V or 1, 2, 3, 4, and