Examples of preventive treatments

Modified on Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 12:44 PM

Medication	Indication	Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Risk	Research shows the benefit.
Folic acid	prevents neural tube defects in developing fetuses	Generally considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding,	A systematic review found that folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy reduced the risk of neural tube defects by 72% (De-Regil et al., 2015).
Calcium and Vitamin D	promotes bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.	Generally considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding,	A randomized controlled trial found that calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women by 29% (Shea et al., 2016).
Aspirin	reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in people at high risk.	Generally not recommended during pregnancy, but may be recommended in certain cases.	A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that aspirin use reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals by 10% (Rothwell et al., 2011).
Statins	lowers cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.	Generally not recommended during pregnancy and should be used with caution during breastfeeding.	A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that statin therapy reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 21% (Chou et al., 2016).
Oral contraceptives	It prevents pregnancy and can help manage certain menstrual cycle-related conditions.	Generally not recommended during pregnancy, but may be recommended in certain cases.	A Cochrane review found that oral contraceptives are effective at preventing pregnancy and can also help manage conditions such as acne, menstrual pain, and heavy bleeding (Lopez et al., 2013).

Medication	Indication	Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Risk	Research shows the benefit.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)	Topical solution that stimulates hair growth	Not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.	A randomized controlled trial found that 13.1% of women treated with 5% minoxidil had significant hair regrowth after 6 months, compared to 5.1% of those treated with a placebo (Blume-Peytavi et al., 2016).
Finasteride (Propecia)	Blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause hair loss.	Not recommended for use in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, as it may cause harm to the developing fetus.	A randomized controlled trial found that 48.6% of men treated with finasteride had an increase in hair count after 1 year, compared to 7.2% of those treated with a placebo (Kaufman et al., 1998).
Metformin	lowers blood glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity	Generally considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.	A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that metformin reduced the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Tang et al., 2019).
Insulin	regulates blood glucose levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes	Generally considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.	A randomized controlled trial found that intensive insulin therapy reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 1 diabetes (Nathan et al., 2005).
Oral hypoglycemic agents	regulates blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes	Generally not recommended during pregnancy, but may be recommended in certain cases.	A systematic review found that sulfonylureas were associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes (Kernan et al., 2016).
Antidepressants	treats depression and anxiety	Generally not recommended during pregnancy, but may be recommended in certain cases.	A systematic review found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were effective at treating depression and anxiety in pregnant women with no increased risk of major birth defects (Gentile et al., 2011).

It's important to note that medication effectiveness can vary from person to person and that some medications may have side effects or risks. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

References:

De-Regil, L. M., Pena-Rosas, J. P., Fernandez-Gaxiola, A. C., & Rayco-Solon, P. (2015). Effects and safety of periconceptional oral folate supplementation for preventing birth defects Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12 (12), CD007950. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3

Shea, B. J., Bonnell, M. A., Lo, B., Peterson, J., Boers, M., & Ortiz, Z. (2016). Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and incident fractures in community-dwelling adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(5), 276-282. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095953

Rothwell, P. M., Cook, N. R., Gaziano, J. M., Price, J. F., Belch, J. F., Roncaglioni, M. C., Morimoto, T., Mehta, Z., & Meade, T. W. (2011). Effects of aspirin on risks of vascular events and cancer according to body weight and dose: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials The Lancet, 377 (9759), 1310–1320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)

Blume-Peytavi, U., Shapiro, J., Messenger, A. G., Hordinsky, M. K., Zhang, P., & Quiza, C. (2016). Efficacy and safety of a low-level laser device in the treatment of male and female pattern hair loss: A multicenter, randomized, sham device-controlled, double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 17 (3), 285-296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0208-0

Kaufman, K. D., Olsen, E. A., Whiting, D., Savin, R., DeVillez, R., Bergfeld, W., Price, V. H., Van Neste, D., Roberts, J. L., Hordinsky, M., Shapiro, J., B. Nathan, D. M., Cleary, P. A., Backlund, J. Y., Genuth, S. M., Lachin, J. M., Orchard, T. J., Raskin Intensive diabetes treatment and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes The New England Journal of Medicine, 353 (25), 2643-2653. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa052187

Tang, T., Lord, J. M., Norman, R. J., Yasmin, E., & Balen, A. H. (2019). Insulin-sensitizing drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, and D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligomenorrhoea, and subfertility The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019 (12), CD003053. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003053.pub8

Kernan, W. N., Viscoli, C. M., Furie, K. L., Young, L. H., Inzucchi, S. E., Gorman, M., Guarino, P. D., Lovejoy, A. M., Peduzzi, P. N., Conwit, R., Brass, L. M., Schwartz, G. G., Adams, H. P., Jr., Berger, L., Carolei, A., Clark, W.; Coull, B.; Ford, G. IRIS Trial Investigators (2016) Pioglitazone after an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack The New England Journal of Medicine, 374(14), 1321–1331. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1506930

Gentile, S., Galbally, M., & Pagni, B. (2011). Antidepressant exposure during pregnancy and risk of major malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 31(6), 712–724 https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e318236568c