THIS MEDICATION MAY CAUSE HARM TO YOUR BABY:
Limited information on the safety of moxifloxacin exposure during pregnancy is available. The risks and benefits of taking this medication should be weighed before using in pregnancy.
What is moxifloxacin?
Moxifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is used to treat respiratory bacterial infections.
What is moxifloxacin used to treat?
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat acute sinus infections, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia that develops outside the hospital setting, abdominal infections, and skin infections in adults.
How does moxifloxacin work?
Moxifloxacin interferes with bacterial production and replication, killing the bacteria in the body.
If I am taking moxifloxacin, can it harm my baby?
Limited evidence on the safety of moxifloxacin during human pregnancy is available. Some experts recommend avoiding all fluoroquinolone antibiotics during pregnancy to prevent cartilage defects in the developing baby. Available human studies offer a mixed opinion on the safety of moxifloxacin use during pregnancy. Animal studies suggest a possible link between moxifloxacin use during pregnancy and low birth weight and skeletal defects in the baby. Moxifloxacin is expected to cross the human placenta and reach the developing baby.
If I am taking moxifloxacin and become pregnant, what should I do?
It is important that you speak with your doctor if you become pregnant while taking moxifloxacin. If there are clear indications for use, moxifloxacin can be used during pregnancy; however, your doctor may recommend an alternative antibiotic that is considered safer in pregnancy.
If I am taking moxifloxacin, can I safely breastfeed my baby?
Moxifloxacin is expected to be excreted in breast milk. The effect of moxifloxacin exposure on breastfeeding infants is unknown. The American Academy of Pediatrics classifies other fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin as “compatible” with breastfeeding. It is important to use caution when administering moxifloxacin during breastfeeding. If breastfeeding infants are exposed to moxifloxacin, they should be monitored for diarrhea, diaper rash, and thrush (oral fungal infection).
If I am taking moxifloxacin, will it be more difficult to get pregnant?
Some animal studies suggest that moxifloxacin can negatively affect sperm development in males and the reproductive cycle in females.
If I am taking moxifloxacin, what should I know?
It is important to speak with your doctor to determine if you should take moxifloxacin therapy during pregnancy. Moxifloxacin should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the developing baby. Moxifloxacin should be used with caution in women who are breastfeeding.
If I am taking any medication, what should I know?
This report provides a summary of available information about the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Content is from the product label unless otherwise indicated.
You may find Pregistry's expert reports about infections here, reports about the individual medications used to treat infections here, and a report about quinolone antibiotics here. Additional information can also be found in the resources below.
For more information about moxifloxacin during and after pregnancy, contact http://www.womenshealth.gov/ (800-994-9662 [TDD: 888-220-5446]) or check the following link:
General information
It is very common for women to worry about having a miscarriage or giving birth to a child with a birth defect while they are pregnant. Many decisions that women make about their health during pregnancy are made with these concerns in mind.
For many women these concerns are very real. As many as 1 in 5 pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These rates are considered the background population risk, which means they do not take into consideration anything about the health of the mom, the medications she is taking, or the family history of the mom or the baby’s dad. A number of different things can increase these risks, including taking certain medications during pregnancy.
It is known that most medications, including over-the-counter medications, taken during pregnancy do get passed on to the baby. Fortunately, most medicines are not harmful to the baby and can be safely taken during pregnancy. But there are some that are known to be harmful to a baby’s normal development and growth, especially when they are taken during certain times of the pregnancy. Because of this, it is important to talk with your doctor or midwife about any medications you are taking, ideally before you even try to get pregnant.
If a doctor other than the one caring for your pregnancy recommends that you start a new medicine while you are pregnant, it is important that you let them know you are pregnant.
If you do need to take a new medication while pregnant, it is important to discuss the possible risks the medicine may pose on your pregnancy with your doctor or midwife. They can help you understand the benefits and the risks of taking the medicine.
Ultimately, the decision to start, stop, or change medications during pregnancy is up to you to make, along with input from your doctor or midwife. If you do take medications during pregnancy, be sure to keep track of all the medications you are taking.