What Medications Are Safe During Pregnancy?

When you are pregnant, whatever you put into your body can affect your growing child. So when you have a headache, an allergy, or any other common ailment, what medications are safe during pregnancy?

Pay Special Attention During The First Trimester

Many medications that will be acceptable later in your pregnancy should not be taken during the first trimester. This is a crucial time for the development of your baby. Ask Birmingham OBGYN about any prescription medications you were taking before pregnancy and whether they are safe to continue. We will determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Medications for high blood pressure and asthma are necessary, however, check with your obstetrician anyway. Some antibiotics are safe and some are not, so again ask Birmingham OBGYN.

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Safe Medications During Pregnancy

Some over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications are acceptable after the first trimester, but nothing is 100% safe.

These OTC meds are safe when taken as directed:

• Colds and flu: Robitussin, Vicks, saline nasal drops and spray, Flonase, Actifed, Nasocort, Sudafed (not in first trimester), Tylenol and Tylenol cold. Do not use sustained action forms or multiple symptom forms of these drugs.
• Allergies: Zyrtec, Benadryl, Allegra, Tavist, Claritin, Afrin spray, Flonase, Nasacort, Neo Synephrine.
• Constipation: Citrucel, Colace, Metamucil, Senecot, Milk of Magnesia.
• Diarrhea: only after 12 weeks, Imodium. Kaopectate, Parepectolin
• First Aid: Bacitracin, Neosporin
• Headaches: Tylenol
• Heartburn: Gaviscon, Mylanta, Tums, Nasolox,
• Hemorrhoids: Preparation H, Anusol, Witch Hazel

Medicines To Avoid

Certain OTC medicines can increase the chances of birth defects and should be avoided.

Decongestants like Phenylephrine or Pseudoephedrine and Pepto Bismol should be avoided, especially during the first trimester.

Tobacco, alcohol and all illegal drugs including marijuana contribute to premature birth, birth defects, low birth rate, fetal alcohol syndrome, miscarriage, stillbirth, and developmental and behavioral problems.

Let Birmingham OBGYN know if you have taken any of these prior to finding out you were pregnant.

In addition, be sure to reveal an addiction to any of these drugs.