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Medicines & Pregnancy a quick fyi
Medicines and Pregnancy
All medicines affect your body in some way. When you’re pregnant, you need to be extra careful about taking medicine. You shouldn’t take any type of medicine without first asking your doctor. Check with your doctor or nurse about any prescription or over-the-counter medicines as well as herbal supplements.
What medicines can I take?
Many pregnant women aren’t sure what types of medicines are safe to take. Below are some recommended medicines for common discomforts, colds, and the flu.
For headaches, muscle aches, or mild pain, you may take 2 regular strength acetaminophen(ah-SEE-tah-min-oh-fen) tablets (325mg), like Tylenol, every 6 hours as needed.
For head congestion or stuffy nose, try saline nasal spray. You may take 2 squirts in each nostril every 6 hours. If you are more than 3 months pregnant, you may take 1 to 2 pseudoephedrine (sue-doe-eh-FEH-drin) tablets (30mg to 60mg), like Sudafed, every 6 hours as needed. Talk to your doctor about using Sudafed during the first 3 months of pregnancy. If your doctor says not to use Sudafed during the first 3 months, you may use diphenhydramine (die-fen-HI-dra-meen), like Benadryl. Take 1 to 2 Benadryl tablets (25mg to 50mg), every 6 hours as needed. Use Benadryl with caution. It may make you drowsy.
For a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water or mouthwash. Suck on cough drops or throat lozenges.For a cough, you may take cough medicines with dextromethorphan (dex-tro-meth-ORfan) and guaifenesin (gwy-FEN-ih-sin), like Robitussin DM, as directed.
For seasonal allergies or hay fever, which may include watery eyes and a runny nose, you may take Benadryl (25mg to 50 mg), every 6 hours as needed. Use caution when taking Benadryl. It may make you drowsy.
For heartburn or indigestion, try taking an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, or Mylanta as directed.
For dental procedures, you may have a local anesthetic without epinephrine (epeh-NEF-rin). You may take Tylenol for pain relief.Most antibiotics and mild narcotic pain medicines are safe, but talk to your doctor first.
Avoid tetracycline (teh-tra-SYE-kleen), doxycycline (dock-sih-SYE-kleen), and ciprofloxacin (sip-row-FLOX-ah-sin). Do not take cotrimoxazole (ko-try-MOX-ahzol) (Bactrim) during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
When you have a cold or the flu
Colds and the flu are viruses that can be spread easily to others. Symptoms usually will improve on their own after a few days. There is no cure for colds or the flu. Antibiotics do not cure them. Taking the medicines listed on this sheet for pain, cough, and sore throat may help you feel better until the virus is gone.When you are pregnant and have a cold or the flu, follow these suggestions:Wash your hands often.Get as much rest or sleep as possible.Use paper tissues, instead of handkerchiefs. Throw the tissues away in a trash basket.To help loosen congestion, drink plenty of fluids. You should drink hot decaf drinks or juices with vitamin C, like orange, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, apple, and pineapple.Avoid having too many dairy products, like milk. These can thicken mucus secretions.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor if you have any of the following:
Chills and fever (temperature above 101 F)Trouble keeping down liquids or food for more than 24 hoursConstant sore throat or severe problems swallowingSevere and constant headache not relieved by TylenolCoughing up thick, greenish-yellow mucusWheezing, difficulty breathing, or chest pain FINDFind a DoctorRequest an AppointmentFind UPMC LocationsPay My BillMyUPMCGet My Medical RecordsUrgent CareEXPLOREOur Clinical ServicesClasses & EventsVideo LibraryCareer OpportunitiesNews & MediaUPMC Health PlanCarePagesCONNECTFacebookYouTubeLinkedInTwitterGoogle+Share ThisDISCOVERMyUPMCMyUPMC is the new, comprehensive way to connect to your health care online.Sign up or log-in now >Contact UPMC Website/E-mail Terms of Use Medical Advice Disclaimer Privacy Information Privacy and Breach Alerts© 2014 UPMC | Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions. All rights reserved.
All medicines affect your body in some way. When you’re pregnant, you need to be extra careful about taking medicine. You shouldn’t take any type of medicine without first asking your doctor. Check with your doctor or nurse about any prescription or over-the-counter medicines as well as herbal supplements.
What medicines can I take?
Many pregnant women aren’t sure what types of medicines are safe to take. Below are some recommended medicines for common discomforts, colds, and the flu.
For headaches, muscle aches, or mild pain, you may take 2 regular strength acetaminophen(ah-SEE-tah-min-oh-fen) tablets (325mg), like Tylenol, every 6 hours as needed.
For head congestion or stuffy nose, try saline nasal spray. You may take 2 squirts in each nostril every 6 hours. If you are more than 3 months pregnant, you may take 1 to 2 pseudoephedrine (sue-doe-eh-FEH-drin) tablets (30mg to 60mg), like Sudafed, every 6 hours as needed. Talk to your doctor about using Sudafed during the first 3 months of pregnancy. If your doctor says not to use Sudafed during the first 3 months, you may use diphenhydramine (die-fen-HI-dra-meen), like Benadryl. Take 1 to 2 Benadryl tablets (25mg to 50mg), every 6 hours as needed. Use Benadryl with caution. It may make you drowsy.
For a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water or mouthwash. Suck on cough drops or throat lozenges.For a cough, you may take cough medicines with dextromethorphan (dex-tro-meth-ORfan) and guaifenesin (gwy-FEN-ih-sin), like Robitussin DM, as directed.
For seasonal allergies or hay fever, which may include watery eyes and a runny nose, you may take Benadryl (25mg to 50 mg), every 6 hours as needed. Use caution when taking Benadryl. It may make you drowsy.
For heartburn or indigestion, try taking an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, or Mylanta as directed.
For dental procedures, you may have a local anesthetic without epinephrine (epeh-NEF-rin). You may take Tylenol for pain relief.Most antibiotics and mild narcotic pain medicines are safe, but talk to your doctor first.
Avoid tetracycline (teh-tra-SYE-kleen), doxycycline (dock-sih-SYE-kleen), and ciprofloxacin (sip-row-FLOX-ah-sin). Do not take cotrimoxazole (ko-try-MOX-ahzol) (Bactrim) during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
When you have a cold or the flu
Colds and the flu are viruses that can be spread easily to others. Symptoms usually will improve on their own after a few days. There is no cure for colds or the flu. Antibiotics do not cure them. Taking the medicines listed on this sheet for pain, cough, and sore throat may help you feel better until the virus is gone.When you are pregnant and have a cold or the flu, follow these suggestions:Wash your hands often.Get as much rest or sleep as possible.Use paper tissues, instead of handkerchiefs. Throw the tissues away in a trash basket.To help loosen congestion, drink plenty of fluids. You should drink hot decaf drinks or juices with vitamin C, like orange, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, apple, and pineapple.Avoid having too many dairy products, like milk. These can thicken mucus secretions.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor if you have any of the following:
Chills and fever (temperature above 101 F)Trouble keeping down liquids or food for more than 24 hoursConstant sore throat or severe problems swallowingSevere and constant headache not relieved by TylenolCoughing up thick, greenish-yellow mucusWheezing, difficulty breathing, or chest pain FINDFind a DoctorRequest an AppointmentFind UPMC LocationsPay My BillMyUPMCGet My Medical RecordsUrgent CareEXPLOREOur Clinical ServicesClasses & EventsVideo LibraryCareer OpportunitiesNews & MediaUPMC Health PlanCarePagesCONNECTFacebookYouTubeLinkedInTwitterGoogle+Share ThisDISCOVERMyUPMCMyUPMC is the new, comprehensive way to connect to your health care online.Sign up or log-in now >Contact UPMC Website/E-mail Terms of Use Medical Advice Disclaimer Privacy Information Privacy and Breach Alerts© 2014 UPMC | Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions. All rights reserved.
Bump
Also its important for people to know that herbal and homeopathic remedies count as medication and your Dr needs to be aware of all of them that you use!
But yes this post is very helpful thanks for sharing!
Its always good to ask your ob any questions. I would never come on here and ask questions about my pregnancy. Not because I Don't trust any of you but because every pregnancy situation is different. I can't take some of the meds for a cold because I already have high blood pressure. This is a fun site to me that allows me to not feel alone with my pregnancy but to know other pregnant women can relate or vice versa.
I Do believe I was told no on Melatonin, which sacked because I used it frequently for sleep before I was pregnant. But ask your Doc maybe just in case! I was told Unisom is okay in small doses, basically it's just the same ingredient as Benadryl.
Gpie that's one thing I was wondering too, I'll have to ask my Dr next time because I used to take 10mg every night for cluster headache prevention.
My doctor said not to take anything but Tylenol. I've basically just been suffering throughout my cold without taking anything at all.
Does anyone know if it's safe to take Melatonin to help sleep? I've been having awfully restless nights and I'm only 7w3d
Does anyone know if it's safe to take Melatonin to help sleep? I've been having awfully restless nights and I'm only 7w3d
My doctor gave me a list in categories. All women should ask their OB for this information. Sometimes they won't remember so you should ask questions when they ask you if you have any. Do your own research as well.
I haven't had my first appointment yet and of course I got a cold. I had to ask my pharmacist. She basically told me not to take ANYTHING except Tylenol, ha ha.
It would be great if this could be stickied at the top of the forum with a little disclaimer about always consulting your doctor first!
It would be great if this could be stickied at the top of the forum with a little disclaimer about always consulting your doctor first!
When I first saw my doctor she gave me an list of things I could take organized by symptom. Best sheet of paper I've gotten all pregnancy.
I was sick as a dog over the weekend and my dr was on vacation. Covering dr gave a whole bunch of things I couldnt take, so I did a bit of research and found this info. Its true, for a medical website, you would think all this would be here. Now it is! hope everyone finds it as useful as I did.
I'm so glad you posted this! I'm about done with this site for the very reason that I think this kind of info should already be on here. This is a medical site and yet it offers very little medical facts beyond the weeks and what to expect. I see so many posts where women are being told wrong info and I find it irresponsible on the part of med help. Its mostly just opinion not fact. Good for you for trying to truly help out.
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