Why FDA Is Warning Pregnant Women Not to Use Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Common over-the-counter pain relievers are often thought of as a risk-free way to resolve minor pains, but that is not the case.antoniodiaz/Shutterstock

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on Oct. 15 to health care professionals and women about the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The warning comes after the FDA added its post-marketing surveillance data to the accumulating information appearing in medical journals. Consumers spent $4.3 billion on more than 760 million bottles of NSAIDs in 2019. This includes those bearing the brand names Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Ecotrin, and Bayer Aspirin and generic versions of ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.