Medicines in Pregnancy: To Take or Not to Take

What can the expectant mother do when she doesn't feel well?

Dr. Robert Carpenter, obstetrician/ gynecologist at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, advises women to avoid taking over-the-counter medications until at least the eighth week of pregnancy. "Everything the mother takes into her body is passed through the placenta into the baby's blood," says Dr. Carpenter. "It is very important to avoid taking medications, if possible, during the first eight weeks when the baby's heart, lungs, and brain system are being formed since some medications might affect the baby's development."

Dr. Carpenter recommends first using other ways to relieve symptoms:

Try treating a cold by drinking extra fluids, sleeping with your head propped up, using a cool-mist vaporizer, or trying a saline-type nasal spray; suck on hard candies for a persistent cough or make your own honey and lemon cough syrup (4 tsp honey, 1 tsp lemon, 2 tsp hot water); recuperate from a headache by lying down in a quiet, dark room and putting an ice pack on your forehead or applying heat to the back of your neck.

Sometimes it may be necessary for the doctor to prescribe medicines during pregnancy. If so, it is important to follow the doctor's prescription exactly as given, advises Dr. Carpenter. "If you are prescribed an antibiotic, take all of it, unless you can't tolerate it. In that case, be sure to let your doctor know."

Some over-the-counter medications are considered safe to take beyond the first eight weeks of pregnancy, including:

Chlortrimeton, Sudafed, and Actifed for cold symptoms and hay fever; Robitussin or Robitussin DM for coughs; Docusate, Metamusil, Citrucel, Fibercon or Milk of Magnesia for constipation; Datril, Tylenol or acetaminophen for headaches or body aches (do not take aspirin since it may interfere with blood clotting, and, because it readily crosses the placenta, it can potentially cause such problems as intercranial hemorrhage or pulmonary hypertension; do not take ibuprofen unless instructed by your physician); Anusol-HC or Preparation H for hemorrhoids; Amphogel, Gelusil, Rolaids, Tums or Maalox for heartburn; Tylenol for fever less than 100.5 degrees that lasts less than 48 hours (if the fever lasts longer or is higher, call your doctor).

"Expectant mothers should remember that if their primary symptoms do not go away, or if they experience other symptoms, they should check with their doctor. The occasional, moderate use of medications is generally considered safe during pregnancy, but when in doubt ask your doctor, or try to avoid taking any medications altogether," adds Dr. Carpenter. "During pregnancy, decreasing stress and increasing rest is the most important thing an expectant mom can do - whether she is sick or not."

- From St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/12_01_97-medicines.html