Bontril and Pregnancy: An Overview
Bontril® (
phendimetrazine tartrate) is a prescription weight loss aid. It is not known if the medication is safe for use during pregnancy.
Bontril and Pregnancy Categories
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. There are specific requirements for each category, but generally, the categories are defined as follows:
- Category A -- safe
- Category B -- probably safe
- Category C -- may or may not be safe
- Category D -- probably not safe
- Category X -- definitely not safe.
Bontril was not assigned a pregnancy Category rating, probably because it is an older medication. Similar medications have been assigned a pregnancy Category X rating, while others were given C ratings. Bontril is closely related to amphetamines, a group of medications that can cause birth defects and miscarriages. Also, there is no legitimate reason why Bontril should be used during pregnancy, as the possible risks of the drug greatly outweigh the benefits and because weight loss can be achieved through safer means. Bontril has never been studied in any pregnant women or animals.
Bontril and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant, it is always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medication. Bontril should probably not be used during pregnancy. If you are concerned about your weight during pregnancy, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
