What is the pregnancy category for epinephrine 1:1000?

• A. Category A
• B. Category D
• C. Category C
• D. Category X

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how the FDA pregnancy categories describe fetal risk. Category C means that animal studies have shown potential fetal harm and there aren’t enough well-controlled human studies, but the drug may still be used if the potential benefits to the mother (and thus to the fetus) outweigh the risks.

Epinephrine 1:1000 is used in life-threatening situations like anaphylaxis. In such emergencies, stabilizing the mother is the priority because maternal shock and poor perfusion pose a far greater threat to the fetus than the potential fetal risk from the drug. That makes epinephrine fall into Category C: not without risk, but justifiable and necessary when benefits exceed potential harms.