Learning Objectives
After completing this application-based continuing education activity, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be able to:
| · EXPLAIN how historical events shaped the evaluation and labeling of medications used during pregnancy |
| · IDENTIFY preconception interventions that may improve pregnancy outcomes |
| · APPLY current evidence when counseling patients about medication use during pregnancy |
Release Date
Release Date: September 20, 2026
Expiration Date: September 20, 2029
Course Fee
FREE
There is no funding for this CE.
ACPE UANs
Pharmacist: 0009-0000-26-050-H01-P
Pharmacy Technician: 0009-0000-26-050-H01-T
Session Codes
Pharmacist: 26POD45-PTX39
Pharmacy Technician: 26POD45-XPT93
Accreditation Hours
0.5 hours of CE
Accreditation Statements
| The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Statements of credit for the online activity ACPE UAN 0009-0000-26-050-H01-P/T will be awarded when the post test and evaluation have been completed and passed with a 70% or better. Your CE credits will be uploaded to your CPE monitor profile within 2 weeks of completion of the program. |  |
Disclosure of Discussions of Off-label and Investigational Drug Use
The material presented here does not necessarily reflect the views of The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences or its co-sponsor affiliates. These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products, processes, procedures and inferred diagnoses that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity.
Faculty
Dylan Decandia PharmD
Freelance Medical Writer, Franklyn’s Pharmacy
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Faculty Disclosure
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines, The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences requires that faculty disclose any relationship that the faculty may have with commercial entities whose products or services may be mentioned in the activity.
Dylan Decandia PharmD has no relationships with ineligible companies.
Dylan Decandia, PharmD discusses topics in the pharmacy world with a new guest each episode. Catch the next episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
DELVING BEYOND THE SHELVING PODCAST EPISODE 3
Listen on an App
Listen on ApplePodcasts COMING SOONPharmacist Post Test (for viewing only)
Delving Beyond the Shelving: Episode #3: History, Recommendations, and Acetaminophen Controversy: A Pregnancy Review
26-050 Pharmacist post-test
After completing this continuing education activity, pharmacists will be able to
| · EXPLAIN how historical events shaped the evaluation and labeling of medications used during pregnancy |
| · IDENTIFY preconception interventions that may improve pregnancy outcomes |
| · APPLY current evidence when counseling patients about medication use during pregnancy |
- What drug, originally used as a non-barbiturate sedative, caused fetal abnormalities in over 10,000 newborns across Europe in the 1950s?
A. Thalidomide
B. Folate
C. Warfarin
*
2. What is the name of the newly hired medical officer at the FDA, who helped prevent tragedy in newborns in the United States?
A. Dr William McBride
B. Dr Widukind Lenz
C. Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey
*
3. What is the name of the amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that improved safety and efficacy requirements following thalidomide incidents?
A. Kefauver–Harris Amendments
B. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
C. Pure Food and Drug Act
*
4. Why are the new post-marketing surveillance systems preferred to the previous pregnancy categories classification?
A. The new system added additional categories such as class F and Z to incorporate alternative outcomes from real life data acquired by the surveillance system
B. The new system allows providers to make informed decisions based on real life data, whereas the old system was too rigid by forcing medications into categories
C. The new system only collects data from real world exposures; the FDA is assessing this data before releasing it as guidelines to the public, so we cannot determine the benefits over the old system yet
*
5. What is the best way to describe acetaminophen's current role in therapy based on available studies?
A. Acetaminophen is recommended in pregnant patients with high-grade fevers
B. Acetaminophen is linked with neurological conditions in children such as ADHD and autism, so therapy is contraindicated in pregnant women
C. Acetaminophen is associated with increased bleed risk in pregnant women, NSAID treatment for fevers is preferred
*
6. Which over the counter is contraindicated in pregnancy?
A. NSAIDs
B. Benadryl
C. TUMS
*
7. What source, recommended by the CDC, is helpful to patients and healthcare professionals to review the effects of medications on pregnant patients?
A. Instagram
B. Mothertobaby
C. Barbara from accounting
*
8. Which statement best describes the effects of discontinuing oral birth control on ovulation and pregnancy?
A. Each patient is different, but generally the body returns to ovulation after 2 weeks. Patients can begin trying to conceive.
B. The female body takes at least 3 months to return to ovulation after last dose for most birth controls. Patients are required to wait at least 3 months to prevent possible fetal abnormalities.
C. A patient’s cycle may never be the same; oral birth control tablets have a long history of lifetime effects.
*
9. Birth defects like Spina bifida and anencephaly are associated with deficiency in which B-vitamin?
A. B3: Niacin
B. B7: Biotin
C. B9: Folate
*
10. How does obesity impact the chances of conception for men and women patients?
A. Obesity has no impact on conception for men and women; the main impacts are smoking and alcohol intake.
B. Obesity has a positive impact for male patients; excess fat buildup around the scrotal area warms sperm in men, making it more mobile and fertile.
C. Obesity has a negative impact for men and women; decreased fertility rates, reduced sperm counts, anovulatory infertility, and other side effects of obesity lead to worse pregnancy outcomes.
Pharmacy Technician Post Test (for viewing only)
Delving Beyond the Shelving: Episode #3: History, Recommendations, and Acetaminophen Controversy: A Pregnancy Review
26-050 Pharmacy Technician Post-test
After completing this continuing education activity, pharmacists will be able to
· EXPLAIN how historical events shaped the evaluation and labeling of medications used during pregnancy
· IDENTIFY preconception interventions that may improve pregnancy outcomes
· APPLY current evidence when counseling patients about medication use during pregnancy
- What drug, originally used as a non-barbiturate sedative, caused fetal abnormalities in over 10,000 newborns across Europe in the 1950s?
A. Thalidomide
B. Folate
C. Warfarin
*
2. What is the name of the newly hired medical officer at the FDA, who helped prevent tragedy in newborns in the United States?
A. Dr William McBride
B. Dr Widukind Lenz
C. Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey
*
3. What is the name of the amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that improved safety and efficacy requirements following thalidomide incidents?
A. Kefauver–Harris Amendments
B. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
C. Pure Food and Drug Act
*
4. Why are the new post-marketing surveillance systems preferred to the previous pregnancy categories classification?
A. The new system added additional categories such as class F and Z to incorporate alternative outcomes from real life data acquired by the surveillance system
B. The new system allows providers to make informed decisions based on real life data, whereas the old system was too rigid by forcing medications into categories
C. The new system only collects data from real world exposures; the FDA is assessing this data before releasing it as guidelines to the public, so we cannot determine the benefits over the old system yet
*
5. What is the best way to describe acetaminophen's current role in therapy based on available studies?
A. Acetaminophen is recommended in pregnant patients with high-grade fevers
B. Acetaminophen is linked with neurological conditions in children such as ADHD and autism, so therapy is contraindicated in pregnant women
C. Acetaminophen is associated with increased bleed risk in pregnant women, NSAID treatment for fevers is preferred
*
6. Which over the counter is contraindicated in pregnancy?
A. NSAIDs
B. Benadryl
C. TUMS
*
7. What source, recommended by the CDC, is helpful to patients and healthcare professionals to review the effects of medications on pregnant patients?
A. Instagram
B. Mothertobaby
C. Barbara from accounting
*
8. Which statement best describes the effects of discontinuing oral birth control on ovulation and pregnancy?
A. Each patient is different, but generally the body returns to ovulation after 2 weeks. Patients can begin trying to conceive.
B. The female body takes at least 3 months to return to ovulation after last dose for most birth controls. Patients are required to wait at least 3 months to prevent possible fetal abnormalities.
C. A patient’s cycle may never be the same; oral birth control tablets have a long history of lifetime effects.
*
9. Birth defects like Spina bifida and anencephaly are associated with deficiency in which B-vitamin?
A. B3: Niacin
B. B7: Biotin
C. B9: Folate
*
10. How does obesity impact the chances of conception for men and women patients?
A. Obesity has no impact on conception for men and women; the main impacts are smoking and alcohol intake.
B. Obesity has a positive impact for male patients; excess fat buildup around the scrotal area warms sperm in men, making it more mobile and fertile.
C. Obesity has a negative impact for men and women; decreased fertility rates, reduced sperm counts, anovulatory infertility, and other side effects of obesity lead to worse pregnancy outcomes.
References
Full List of References
1. Lenz W. A short history of thalidomide embryopathy. Teratology. 1988;38(3):203-215. doi:10.1002/tera.1420380303
2. Mcbride WG. Thalidomide and Congenital Abnormalities. The Lancet. 1961;2:1358.Accessed July 15, 2026. https://softenon.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Brief-McBride_The-Lancet-19611216.pdf
3. Vargesson N. Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2015;105(2):140-156. doi:10.1002/bdrc.21096
4. Kelsey FO. Thalidomide update: regulatory aspects. Teratology. 1988;38(3):221-226. doi:10.1002/tera.1420380305
5. Her Refusal to Approve a Dangerous Drug Changed Medical History. 19th News. October 22, 2025. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://19thnews.org/2025/10/frances-oldham-kelsey-history-medical-drug-safety/
6. Author of Thalidomide History Tells Drug’s Hidden Story. Yale Law School. October 30, 2023. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/author-thalidomide-history-tells-drugs-hidden-story
7. Frances Oldham Kelsey, FDA Scientist Who Kept Thalidomide Off U.S. Market, Dies at 101. The Washington Post. August 7, 2015. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/frances-oldham-kelsey-heroine-of-thalidomide-tragedy-dies-at-101/2015/08/07/ae57335e-c5da-11df-94e1-c5afa35a9e59_story.html
8. Roca C. An Evolution of Labeling Information for Pregnant Women: PLLR History and Background. U.S Food and Drug Administration. March 5, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/files/advisory%20committees/published/An-Evolution-of-Labeling-Information-for-Pregnant-Women--PLLR-History.pdf
9. Greene JA, Podolsky SH. Reform, regulation, and pharmaceuticals--the Kefauver-Harris Amendments at 50. N Engl J Med. October 18, 2012. Accessed July 17, 2026. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1210007
10. Folate (Folic Acid) -- Vitamin B9. Harvard School of Public Health The Nutrition Source. Updated March 2023. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/folic-acid/
11. Finelli R, Mottola F, Agarwal A. Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Male Fertility Potential: A Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. December 29, 2021. Accessed July 17, 2026. doi:10.3390/ijerph19010328
12. Preconception Health. OASH Office on Women’s Health. Updated September 26, 2025. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/preconception-health
13. Medicine and Pregnancy: An Overview. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 22, 2025. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/medicine-and-pregnancy/about/index.html
14. FDA Responds to Evidence of Possible Association Between Autism and Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy. U.S Food and Drug Administration. September 22, 2025. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-responds-evidence-possible-association-between-autism-and-acetaminophen-use-during-pregnancy
15. FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid. U.S Food and Drug Administration. Updated September 1, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-recommends-avoiding-use-nsaids-pregnancy-20-weeks-or-later-because-they-can-result-low-amniotic
16. Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Help You Quit Tobacco. American Cancer Society. Updated October 28, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking/nicotine-replacement-therapy.html
17. Pregnancy and Obesity: Know the Risks. Mayo Clinic. February 22, 2025. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-and-obesity/art-20044409
18. Obesity and Reproduction: A Committee Opinion. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/obesity-and-reproduction-a-committee-opinion-2021/
19. Medicine and Pregnancy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated February 3, 2025. Accessed July 14, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/medicine-and-pregnancy
20. Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the Pill. IVI Fertility. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://ivi-fertility.com/blog/signs-of-ovulation-after-stopping-the-pill/
21. Getting Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control. New York Presbyterian Health Library. Updated February 27, 2026. Accessed July 18, 2026. https://www.nyp.org/healthlibrary/articles/getting-pregnant-after-stopping-birth-control
22. Depo-Provera (Birth Control Shot). Cleveland Clinic. Updated April 7, 2025. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/4086-depo-provera-birth-control-shot
23. Caffeine. Mothertobaby. Updated November 1, 2025. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/caffeine-pregnancy/
24. Harvard’s Public Health Dean Was Paid $150,000 to Testify Tylenol Causes Autism. Harvard The Crimson. September 24, 2025. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/9/24/autism-dean-public-health/
25. Health Brief: Tylenol lawsuits roar back. The Washington Post. July 13, 2026. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-intelligence/health-brief/2026/07/13/health-brief-tylenol-lawsuits-roar-back/
26. Tylenol lawsuits are asking the wrong question. The Washington Post. July 21, 2026. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/07/21/tylenol-lawsuits-are-asking-wrong-question-about-use-pregnancy/
27. Niklewicz A. “The importance of vitamin B12 for individuals choosing plant-based diets.” European journal of nutrition vol. 62,3 (2023): 1551-1559. doi:10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4
28. Weight Gain During Pregnancy. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-infant-health/pregnancy-weight/index.html
29. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? U.S Food and Drug Administration. Updated August 28, 2024. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
30. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 2, 2026. Accessed August 11, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol-pregnancy/about/index.html
31. Liew Z, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Roberts AL, O'Reilly ÉJ, Ascherio A, Weisskopf MG. Use of Negative Control Exposure Analysis to Evaluate Confounding: An Example of Acetaminophen Exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Nurses' Health Study II. Am J Epidemiol. 2019;188(4):768-775.
32. Ji Y, Azuine RE, Zhang Y, et al. Association of Cord Plasma Biomarkers of In Utero Acetaminophen Exposure With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(2):180-189. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3259
33. Ahlqvist V, Sjöqvist H, Dalman C. Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. April 9, 2024. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406