Medications During Pregnancy

One of the most common phone calls we get from our pregnant patients is: "what can I take for ____".  Every medication bottle tells you to contact your physician before taking if you're pregnant, and we know it can be overwhelming to try and research on your own.  Earlier, we posted about essential oils that are safe during pregnancy.  Here is a list of what we recommend for medications based on symptom.  If you are one of our patients, this is included in your new OB bag that you get at your first visit with us (but we know sometimes it is hard to hold on to paper).

Allergy/Sinus

• Tylenol
• Breathe Right Strips
• Benadryl
• Alavert
• Claritin
• Zyrtec
• Nasal washes (Neti Pot or NeilMed sinus rinse)
• Saline Nasal Spray

Constipation

• Colace
• Miralax
• Metamucil
• Fibercon
• Surfak
• And always: fluids fluids fluids!

Cold/Upper Respiratory Infection

• Robitussin cough and congestion liquid
• Robitussin DM
• Tylenol cold severe congestion daytime caplets
• Tylenol flu daytime gel caps

Cough

• Suppressant:
  • Robitussin DM
• Expectorant:
  • Robitussin PE
• Congestion:
  • Robitussin CF
• Supressant and Expectorant:
  • Mucinex DM 
  • Coricidin HBP chest congestion and cough soft gels
• Decongestant plux Expectorant:
  • Mucinex D
    • If you are less than 20 weeks pregnant you CANNOT take pseudoephedrine.  Please contact your provider for recommendations

Decongestant

• Sudafed 12 or 24 hour tablets
  • If you are less than 20 weeks pregnant you CANNOT take pseudoephedrine.  Please contact your provider for recommendations

Diarrhea

• Donnagel
• Immodium
• CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IF DIARRHEA LASTS MORE THAN 72 HOURS

Gas

• Mylicon-80
• Mylanta II
• Gas-X
• Be sure to drink water with fiber increase to avoid bloating and gas

Headache/Pain

• Acetaminophen, Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol
• NO ADVIL, ALEVE, ASPIRIN, MOTRIN, EXCEDRIN

Heartburn

• Tums
• Pepcid/ Pepcid AC

Hemorrhoids

• Warm bath soaks
• Dermoplast spray
• Preparation H
• Witch Hazel
• Tucks pads

Insomnia

• Tylenol PM
• Benadryl
• Unisom
• NO MELATONIN

Leg Cramps

• Slow Mag
• Increase calcium intake
• Quinine Water
• Stretch leg muscles and decrease activity before bed

Nausea

• Ginger tablets
• Vitamin B6
• B-natal pops and lozenges

Sore throat

• Tylenol
• Salt Water Gargles
• Sucrets or Cepacol lozenges
• Chloraseptic throat spray

By no means is this every medication out there that you can take.  But, these are the symptoms we commonly experience in pregnancy and this list is a nice reference to have.

Stay safe, stay happy, stay healthy!