TERATOGENIC EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DRUG AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF PREGNANCY

In the evolving landscape of modern medicine, teratogenicity has gained renewed attention due to the rising prevalence of drug exposure during pregnancy, both intentional and unintentional. With the advancement of pharmacotherapy, women of reproductive age are increasingly prescribed complex medication regimens, leading to a higher risk of fetal developmental toxicity. Teratogenic effects arise when drugs interfere with normal embryonic or fetal development, resulting in congenital anomalies, growth retardation, or functional disorders. The outcome largely depends on the timing of exposure—where the embryonic period (3rd to 8th week) is most critical for organ formation, while the fetal stage is sensitive to functional and growth disturbances. This review explores the stage specific teratogenic mechanisms of diverse drug classes such as antiepileptics, retinoids, anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic agents. It further highlights recent trends emphasizing the role of pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence, and predictive modeling in identifying teratogenic risks before clinical manifestation. Additionally, emerging issues like polypharmacy, selfmedication, and environmental drug contamination are discussed as novel contributors to developmental toxicity. The unique perspective of this review lies in connecting classical teratogenic knowledge with modern predictive science to support safer drug design and personalized therapy during pregnancy. Future research focusing on molecular biomarkers and AI-driven teratogen screening could revolutionize prenatal drug safety and minimize preventable birth defects.[1,2,3]