Pregnancy is a specific state in a woman's life, which is associated with an array of physiological as well as potentially pathological changes requiring treatment. ln addition to modified pharmacokinetics of drugs due to the mentioned physiological changes, there is a risk of teratogenic drug effects on the fetus upon its passage through the placenta. The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a classification of drugs for use in pregnancy and lactation. As trials cannot be performed in pregnant women for ethical reasons, caution in the use of drugs in pregnancy is even more strongly warranted. Drugs of choice for various pathological states in pregnancy are presented, and the potential risks identified according to recent literature. The most common diseases in pregnant women that require continuous treatment or represent an unavoidable indication for the use of drugs in pregnancy are described. Due attention is paid to the uncontrolled use of over-the-counter medicina! products, use of vitamins, and the potential risk of cutaneous agents that may pose fetal risk by absorption. The need of an appropriate approach to pregnant women, difficulties and discomforts, careful choice of safe medication when necessary, and active roles of the physician and pharmacist are emphasized.