Metcort Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Use in pregnancy: Corticosteroids may cause fetal damage (ie, cleft palate, intrauterine growth retardation and adverse effects on brain growth and development) and abortion when administered to pregnant animals. Although there is no evidence that the use of corticosteroids result in an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities eg, cleft palate in man, corticosteroids may increase the risk of intrauterine growth retardation when administered for long periods or repeatedly during pregnancy.
Women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant while receiving corticosteroids should inform their physician. Methylprednisolone should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Methylprednisolone readily crosses the placenta. Carefully monitor infants born to women who received corticosteroids during pregnancy for symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.
There are no known effects of corticosteroids on labor and delivery.
Use in lactation: Corticosteroids are excreted in breast milk. Corticosteroid distributed into breast milk may suppress growth and interfere with endogenous glucocorticoid production in breastfeeding infants. Methylprednisolone should be administered to a breastfeeding mother only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the infant.