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Specialties & Services

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Primary Care

Specialties & Services

Medications in Pregnancy

fetus_iconSome medications are considered safe to take during pregnancy; the effects of other medications on your unborn baby are unknown.

Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to medications you take while you are pregnant, especially during the first trimester, a crucial time of development for your baby.

 

Check with your healthcare provider about prescription medications, and inform them of your pregnancy.

  • Prenatal vitamins are now available without a prescription, are safe to take during pregnancy.

  • Ask your health care provider about the safety of taking other vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements during pregnancy.

  • Most herbal preparations and supplements have not been proven to be safe during pregnancy.

  • Do not take any over-the-counter medication unless it is necessary.

  • Do not take Aspirin or Ibuprofen/Motrin during pregnancy.

The following medications and home remedies have no known harmful effects during pregnancy when taken according to the package directions.

 

*Please Note: No drug can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy.

 

CONDITION SAFE MEDICATIONS TO TAKE DURING PREGNANCY*

ALLERGY

  • Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec

COLD AND FLU

  • Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Tylenol Cold

  • Warm salt/water gargle

  • Saline nasal drops or spray

  • Sudafed, Actifed, Dristan Mucinex

  • Robitussin DM, Trind-DM, Vicks Cough Syrup, Romilar, Halls*

*Do not take “SA” (sustained action) forms of these drugs or the “Multi-Symptom” forms of these drugs.

CONSTIPATION

  • Metamucil, or Citrucel

  • Benefiber

  • Fiberall/Fibercon

  • Colace

  • Milk of Magnesia

  • Senekot

  • Miralax

DIARRHEA

For 24 hours, only after 12 weeks of pregnancy:

 

  • Kaopectate

  • Imodium

FIRST AID OINTMENT

  • Bacitracin

  • J & J First-Aid cream

  • Neosporin

  • Polysporin

HEADACHE

  • Tylenol (acetaminophen) – do not exceed 4000 mg per day

HEARTBURN

  • Maalox

  • Mylanta

  • Tums

  • Riopan

  • Titralac

  • Gaviscon

  • Pepsid AC and Zantac, only after 12 wks gestation

HEMORRHOIDS

  • Preparation H

  • Anusol

  • Tucks

  • Witch hazel

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

  • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 25 mg tab q 6-8 hrs, (not to exceed 200 mg/day, including amount in Prenatal vitamins)

  • Unisom (doxylamine) 25mg – 1⁄2 tab am & afternoon, and 1 tablet HS

  • Sea Bands

  • Emetrol (if not diabetic)

  • Emetrex

  • Ginger, ginger candy/gum, Ginger root 250 mg capsules 4x/day

RASHES

  • Benadryl cream

  • Caladryl lotion or cream

  • Hydrocortisone cream or ointment

  • Oatmeal bath (Aveeno)

All rashes should be evaluated by provider

YEAST INFECTION

  • Monistat – Do not insert applicator too far

SLEEP

  • Unisom (doxylamine) per label instructions or Benadryl 50 mg at bedtime

AVOID THESE ORAL SUPPLEMENTS:

Arbor vitae, Beth root, Black cohosh, Blue cohosh, Cascara, Chaste tree berry, Chinese angelica (Dong Quai), Cinchona, Cotton root bark, Feverfew, Ginseng, Golden seal, Juniper, Kava kava, Licorice, Meadow saffron, Pennyroyal, Poke root, Rue, Sage, St. John’s wort, Senna, Slippery Root, Tansy, White peony, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow dock, vitamin A (large doses can cause birth defects).

AVOID THESE AROMATHERAPY ESSENTIAL OILS:

Calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram, and thyme.

Patient Resources

Pregnancy Exposure Info Line “Mother To Baby” – (877) 311-8972
Medications in Pregnancy (webMD.com)

Medications in Pregnancy (PDF)

 

Learn more about InterMed Prenatal and Ob-gyn services here.

 

Ob-Gyn Blog

Our Obstetrics and Gynecology Blog is a great source of information for all your questions about pregnancy, postpartum, and other OB/GYN topics.