Canadian researchers are saying that women who are planning to become pregnant should take an inventory of the medications they take.

The researchers have found that many pregnant women still take medications which can cause birth defects.

Dr. Anick Berard, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, said drugs that control epilepsy are essential during pregnancy, albeit known to have fetal risk.

However, medications such as those which treat severe acne, anxiety and psychiatric drugs, antibiotics, and many drugs prescribed for heart disease and medical conditions “can and should be avoided,” according to Berard.

Between January 1998 and the last day of 2002, Berard and colleagues analyzed the prescriptions filled by pregnant women for drugs available at the time and known to pose fetal

The advice was for women to plan pregnancies and avoid or minimize risks by understanding the side effects of any drug they are taking.

(via Reuters)