DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2026.3.45
L.E. Radeckaya,G.D. Korobov, N.S. Deikalo, I.N. Ogrizko
Pharmacotherapy during pregnancy: a view through the decades (according to the survey of maternity patients in Vitebsk)
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2026;25(3):45-51.
Abstract.
Objectives. To analyze the practice of using medicines by pregnant women in Vitebsk in dynamics (2009 and 2022), the compliance of dosages and regimens with the principles of safe antenatal medicine.
Material and Methods. A voluntary anonymous handout survey of 117 maternity patients was conducted in the obstetric hospital of Vitebsk City Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care in 2009 and 77 in 2022.
Results. Each pregnant woman took an average of 6 (4;8) medications, not counting folic acid and iodine. There is a high frequency of prescribing iron, progesterone, vitamin and mineral complexes. Over the past decade, there has been a positive trend in intake, namely, an increase in the frequency of folic acid and iodine intake, a decrease in calcium intake, vascular active drugs, and vitamin and mineral complexes. The literature data on the possible negative effect on the pregnant woman’s body of unjustified prescriptions of vitamins and minerals are presented.
Conclusions. There is a continuing significant level of drug consumption by pregnant women in Vitebsk. The fascination with vitamins and minerals continues, albeit to a lesser extent. The expediency of the high frequency of prescribing iron, magnesium, progesterone, vitamin and mineral complexes is questionable. At the same time, positive trends have been noticed over the past decade: an increase in the frequency of folic acid and iodine intake, a decrease in calcium, vascular-active drugs and vitamin-mineral complexes.
Keywords: pregnancy, vitamins, minerals, vitamin-mineral complexes, undesirable reactions.
References
1. Strizhenok EA, Gudkov IV, Strachunskiy LS. Drug use in pregnancy: results of multicenter pharmacoepidemiological study. Klinicheskaya Mikrobiologiya i Antimikrobnaya Khimioterapiya. 2007;9(2):162-175. (In Russ.).
2. Romanova IS, Gavrilenko LN, Kozhanova IN, Sachek MM. Pregnancy and drugs. Pharmacoepidemiological study. Zdravookhranenie. 2013;(11):28-33. (In Russ.).
3. Radetskaya LE, Matsuganova TN, Deykalo NS. Use of drugs and vitamins during pregnancy. Reproduktivnoe Zdorov'e Vostochnaya Evropa. 2012;(5):418-421. (In Russ.).
4. Lee NM, Brady CW. Liver disease in pregnancy. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009 Feb;15(8):897-906. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.15.897
5. Kudrin AV, Gromova OA. Mikroelementy Micronutrients in Neurology: UNESCO Training Programmes. Moscow, RF: GEOTAR-media; 2006. 303 р. (In Russ.).
6. Folic acid. V: Vidal': spravochnik lekarstvennykh sredstv. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/folic_acid__23890 [Accessed 21th May 2026].
7. Мurphy MM, Molloy AM, Ueland PM, Fernandez-Ballart JD, Schneede J, Arija V, et al. Longitudinal study of the effect of pregnancy on maternal and fetal cobalamin status in healthy women and their offspring. The Journal of Nutrition. 2007 Aug;137(8):1863-1867. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.8.1863
8. Naderi N, House JD. Recent Developments in Folate Nutrition. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research. 2018:83:195-213. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.afnr.2017.12.006
9. Qin X, Cui Y, Shen L, Sun N, Zhang Y, Li J, et al. Folic acid supplementation and cancer risk: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Cancer. 2013 Sep;133(5):1033-1041. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28038
10. Excessive Folate, B12 in Pregnancy Dramatically Ups Autism Risk. In: Medscape. URL: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/863216 [Accessed 21th May 2026].
11. Clinical protocol "Medical observation and care for women in obstetrics and gynecology": postanovlenie M-va zdravookhraneniya Resp Belarus' ot 19 fevr 2018 g № 17: s izm ot 16 marta 2023 g. V: ETALON: inform-poiskovaya sistema [Accessed 21th May 2026]. (In Russ.).
12. WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience. In: National Library of Medicine. URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK409099/ [Accessed 21th May 2026].
13. Cluver CA, Rohwer C, Rohwer AC. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2025 Dec;12(12):CD001059. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001059
14. Magvit: instruktsiya po primeneniyu. V: Vidal: spravochnik lekarstvennykh preparatov. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/magvit__30295 [Accessed 21th May 2026]. (In Russ.).
15. M-vo zdravookhraneniya Ros Federatsii. Normal pregnancy: klin rekomendatsii. URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1phzHAPdlAJszo0kyR-nkzCLM4bCXRoa-/view [Accessed 21th May 2026]. (In Russ.).
16. WHO antenatal care recommendations for a positive pregnancy experience. WHO Guidelines Nutritional interventions update: multiple micronutrient supplements during pregnancy. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560384/ [Accessed 21th May 2026].
17. Instruction on the medical use of the drug D3-caps of ulter. URL: https://www.rceth.by/NDfiles/instr/19_09_2965_s.pdf [Accessed 21th May 2026].
18. Utrogestan®: instruktsiya po primeneniyu. V: Vidal: spravochnik lekarstvennykh preparatov. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/utrogestan__21350 [Accessed 21th May 2026].
19. Picciano MF, McGuire MK. Use of dietary supplements by pregnant and lactating women in North America. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009 Feb;89(2):663S-667S. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.26811B
Submitted 04.02.2025
Accepted 19.06.2026
Information about authors:
Lyudmila E. Radeckaya – Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor of the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.;
G.D. Korobov – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Practical Skills and Medical Simulation Practical Centre, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University;
I.N. Ogrizko – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University;
N.S. Deikalo – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University.
