If you’re a medical student, nurse, or anyone involved in the field of healthcare, you’ve probably heard of teratogenic drugs. These are basically drugs that can cause birth defects or malformations in a developing fetus if taken by a pregnant woman. As you can imagine, it’s crucial to know which drugs fall under this category, so you can avoid prescribing or taking them during pregnancy. One way to remember these drug names is through the use of an easy-to-remember mnemonic.
In this article, we’ll be sharing with you a mnemonic to help you remember teratogenic drugs. Here’s a fun Teratogenic Drugs Mnemonic that you can use: 🙂
“WARFARIN and ACE are bad for BABYFACE”
Let’s break it down for you: 🙂
W – Warfarin: This is an anticoagulant drug used to prevent blood clots. However, it can cause severe birth defects, including fetal hemorrhage and central nervous system abnormalities.
I used this to remember Warfarin’s teratogenicity:
Cruel Warfarin wages war on the babies 🙁
A – ACE inhibitors: These drugs are used to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. However, they can cause severe fetal abnormalities, including renal dysfunction, skull malformations, and lung hypoplasia.
R – Retinoids: These are drugs used to treat acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. However, they can cause severe birth defects, including craniofacial abnormalities, neural tube defects, and cardiac anomalies.
F – Fluoroquinolones: These are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. However, they can cause cartilage damage in the fetus, leading to skeletal malformations.
A – Alcohol: This is not a drug, but it’s important to remember that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, which includes facial malformations, developmental delays, and intellectual disability.
R – Radiations: This is not a drug either, but it’s essential to remember that exposure to radiation during pregnancy can cause fetal abnormalities, including growth retardation, mental retardation, and developmental delays.
I – Isotretinoin: This is a retinoid used to treat severe acne. However, it can cause severe birth defects, including craniofacial abnormalities, neural tube defects, and cardiac anomalies.
N – NSAIDs: These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to relieve pain and inflammation. However, they can cause fetal renal dysfunction, constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus, and delayed labor.
So, there you have it. “WARFARIN and ACE are bad for BABYFACE” is a fun and easy way to remember teratogenic drugs.
Here’s another mnemonic to help you remember the teratogenic drugs:
Teratogenic Drugs “W/ TERATOgenic”:
- W: Warfarin
- T: Thalidomide
- E: Epileptic drugs: phenytoin, valproate, carbamazepine
- R: Retinoid
- A: ACE inhibitor
- T: Third element: lithium
- O: OCP and other hormones (e.g. danazol)
Bonus mnemonic:
Of course, it’s important to note that these are just two of many mnemonics out there, and it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication during pregnancy.
Stay safe, and happy learning! 🙂
