What Medication Can You Take Whereas Pregnant?

No remedy is totally risk-free for pregnant individuals. Nonetheless, there are instances the place not taking a drugs may cause you extra hurt than taking it.

Throughout your being pregnant, your physician will prescribe drugs which can be as protected as doable for you and your child whereas nonetheless successfully treating your situation.

A number of frequent being pregnant signs, equivalent to nausea and heartburn, may immediate you to hunt care utilizing prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. You may additionally have signs circuitously associated to your being pregnant, equivalent to allergy or chilly signs, that require medication.

Some drugs could also be protected to take throughout being pregnant to offer aid from these signs. Nonetheless, all the time seek the advice of your main care physician or OB-GYN to verify these drugs are protected for you earlier than taking them, even when they’re accessible with out a prescription.

Allergy symptoms

Some drugs that could be protected to make use of to handle allergy symptoms throughout being pregnant embody:

Loratidine (Claritin, Alavert)Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Aller-Tec)Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Aller-Chlor)Fexofenadine (Allegra)Fluticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Aid)Budesonide (Rhinocort)

Complications and Ache Aid

Some drugs which were discovered to be protected in relieving complications, migraines, or ache throughout being pregnant embody:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): That is the popular OTC ache reliever for ache aid throughout any trimester.Ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve): These ought to solely be used within the second trimester for complications that don’t reply to acetaminophen. Keep away from use in any respect within the third trimester.Sumatriptan: Could pose some threat to the child. Ensure to speak to your physician earlier than taking sumatriptan throughout being pregnant. Keep away from mixture sumatriptan tablets containing naproxen.

Chilly and Flu Signs

A number of OTC chilly and flu drugs could also be used safely in being pregnant. Nonetheless, most are solely thought-about protected when used for a brief time period and should not protected for individuals of their first trimester.

Some chilly and flu drugs that could be thought-about protected throughout being pregnant embody:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)Loratadine (Claritin)Certrizine (Zyrtec)Topical menthol rubs (Vicks)Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)  

Heartburn

Heartburn tends to be worse in the course of the third trimester. Some drugs you need to use safely throughout the advisable dose to handle heartburn throughout being pregnant embody:

Antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (first-line therapy in being pregnant). SucralfatesHistamine receptor antagonist (H2RAs) equivalent to cimetidine and ranitidine. H2RAs are generally utilized in pregnant individuals who don’t reply to antacids.Proton pump inhibitors equivalent to esomeprazole and omeprazole. This kind of remedy is commonly reserved for individuals who don’t reply to antacids or H2RAs.

Diarrhea

Typically, diarrhea will usually disappear by itself inside a few days. Healthcare suppliers suggest using oral rehydration and food plan change for pregnant individuals with diarrhea.

Nonetheless, if the diarrhea doesn’t clear up, your physician could suggest drugs to assist. Some drugs that could be protected for pregnant individuals with diarrhea embody:

Kaolin preparationsPectin preparationsLoperamide (the bottom doable dose for individuals with extreme diarrhea)

Constipation

Way of life adjustments like growing fluid consumption, consuming extra fiber, and getting gentle train are sometimes the first-line therapy to handle constipation in being pregnant. Nonetheless, if these fail, your healthcare supplier can suggest drugs to assist enhance bowel motion. 

Some drugs that could be protected for managing constipation in being pregnant embody:

Bulk-forming laxatives, equivalent to Psyllium (Metamucil), Calcium polycarbophil (FiberCon), and Methylcellulose (Citrucel). These drugs should not nicely absorbed by the physique, so they’re usually protected.Polyethylene glycol answer

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are frequent throughout being pregnant. Healthcare suppliers suggest using vaginal lotions and suppositories solely to deal with yeast infections in being pregnant. Some therapies for yeast infections that could be protected in pregnant individuals embody:

Vaginal lotions or suppositories that comprise miconazole or clotrimazoleNystatin lotions

Nausea and Vomiting

Consultants suggest pyridoxine (a type of vitamin B) as the primary selection for managing nausea and vomiting throughout being pregnant.

Different protected choices could embody:

Doxylamine succinate (Decapryn, Doxy-Sleep-Assist, Unisom)Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Hydramine)Meclizine (Antivert, Bonine)Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)Ondansetron (Zofran). That is reserved for when different drugs don’t work.

Some drugs have been linked to beginning defects or could hurt the child, particularly in the course of the first three months of being pregnant. This is the reason it is essential to not use any remedy with out discussing the dangers and advantages together with your main care physician and OB-GYN.

Listed here are some drugs it’s possible you’ll wish to keep away from throughout being pregnant:

Allergy symptoms:

PseudoephedrineTriamcinolone (Nasacort allergy)Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

Complications and ache:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and diclofenac (Cataflam). Ibuprofen and naproxen could also be protected to be used within the second trimester, however needs to be prevented within the first and third trimesters.
Ergotamine

Heartburn:

Sodium bicarbonateBismuth subsalicylate or any Bismuth-containing compounds  

Chilly and flu signs (keep away from these within the first trimester):

Phenylephrine (Preparation H, Sudafed PE)Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)Guaifenesin (Mucinex)

Heartburn:

Antacids containing sodium bicarbonateCalcium-containing antacids (larger than 1,000 milligrams elemental calcium per day) Vonoprazan

Diarrhea:

Diphenoxylate-atropine (Lomotil)Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) 

Constipation:

Mineral oil
Stimulant laxatives equivalent to bisacodyl (Dulcolax) and senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax)
Merchandise containing bismuth and castor oil

Yeast Infections:

Different drugs that you could be wish to keep away from throughout being pregnant, as they’ve a excessive threat of hurt to a fetus, embody:

Systemic retinoidsValproic acidHigh quantities of vitamin A (considerably greater than 25,000 IU retinol per day)Tetracycline antibiotics, together with doxycycline (Doryx) and minocycline (Minocin)Thalidomide

It’s not unusual to make use of one or two drugs to handle some being pregnant signs. Nonetheless, you could take these drugs with warning.

Earlier than utilizing any remedy, discuss to your physician. They may assess the chance of well being issues equivalent to beginning defects, untimely beginning, or being pregnant loss. They will even give you choices to assist handle your situation. 

Typically, they could counsel life-style and dietary adjustments as a primary choice to handle your signs. If you happen to do require remedy, they may place you on the drugs least more likely to trigger you or your child hurt.

If you don’t discover aid from OTC drugs, your physician can suggest protected alternate options.

It’s essential to not assume a drug is protected in being pregnant simply because it is accessible over-the-counter. All the time seek the advice of your physician earlier than taking any remedy.

It’s usually preferable to keep away from drugs throughout being pregnant, particularly within the first trimester when the fetus is creating.

A number of pure cures could assist relieve frequent being pregnant illnesses and different signs. Making an attempt these as a primary step may help you keep away from or decrease remedy use: 

Allergy symptoms

Do a nasal rinse to assuage irritated nasal passagesUse HEPA air filters to scale back allergens in your homeTake a bathe after spending time outdoors to take away pollen and different allergens

Complications and ache

Apply a heat compress round your eyes and nostril
For a stress headache, place a chilly compress, a moist towel, or an ice pack on the base of your neck
Get a lightweight shoulder and neck therapeutic massage to assist relieve stress complications
Take a brief nap
Speaking to your physician about protected rest workouts that may assist relieve complications or migraines

Chilly and flu

Get loads of relaxation
Drink heat liquids
Use a humidifier
Eat rooster soup or some other nutrient-dense meals to help your immune system
Gargle salt water for sore throat signs. Honey and lemon may additionally assist

Heartburn

Elevate the pinnacle of your mattress by about 10-15 centimetersTry chewing gum, as it could assist clear acid buildup within the esophagusAdd ginger tea for its soothing results. Ginger is protected within the first trimester. Nonetheless, seek the advice of your physician if it is okay so that you can have ginger teaSit up after eatingWalk extra, if doable

Diarrhea

Drink loads of water to keep away from dehydration
Attempt the BRAT food plan (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast)

Constipation 

Eat extra fiber, aiming for about 25-30 grams of dietary fiber every dayTry prune juice or stewed prunesMove extra, if doable

Yeast infections

Drink yogurt that accommodates dwell tradition of micro organism, particularly Lactobacillus acidophilusWear unfastened and breathable underwear

Nausea and vomiting

Eat bland mealsTake into account the BRATT food plan (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea)Add ginger to your meal

No remedy is 100% protected in being pregnant. All the time seek the advice of a physician to find out which remedy is finest for you and your child. 

If doable, contemplate pure methods to handle your signs. If this doesn’t work, discuss to a healthcare supplier. Generally, taking remedy to handle your signs could also be one of the best factor you are able to do.