A REVIEW ARTICLE ON DRUG SAFETY EVALUATION OF PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Drug safety during pregnancy and lactation is a critical aspect of maternal and child health. Physiological changes in pregnancy and breastfeeding can after drug absorption, distribution, and elimination, increasing the complexity of safety evaluation .Drugs may cross the placenta or pass into breast milk, potentially affecting the fetus or infant. However, limited clinical data and ethical constraints make risk assessment challenging. This review highlights key factors influencing drug safety, including teratogenicity, drug transfer mechanmisms, and infant exposure. It also emphgasizes the importance of a risk-benefit approach, careful drug selection, and monitoring. Improving research, awareness, and regulatory guidelines is essential to ensure safe and effective medication use during pregnancy and lactation.