What Medications Are Safe to Use During Pregnancy?

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We cannot guarantee that any medication is safe to use during pregnancy. In general, we recommend avoiding medications in the first trimester (first three months of pregnancy). We feel the following list of medications has no conclusive evidence that they are harmful to use during pregnancy. You may substitute the generic forms. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive. If you have any questions, please call the office before taking the medication. NO IBUPROFEN, ALEVE, ADVIL, MOTRIN, OR ANY OTHER TYPES OF NSAIDS SHOULD BE TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY. Notify our office if you regularly take any medications (prescription or over-the-counter). 

Vitamins:

• Any over the counter prenatal vitamin with 0.8 mg Folic Acid

Headaches:

• Acetaminophen (any Tylenol product without Aspirin)

Nausea and Vomiting: 

• Sea-Bands
• Vitamin B6 50 mg, twice daily or 25 mg four times a day for a 5-day trial and continue if it helps
• Emetrol, Antacids, Tums, Rolaids, Ginger/Ginger Tea, Hard Candy
• Unisom 25 mg twice daily or 12.5 mg four times a day
• Zyrtec 10 mg daily
• Preggie Pops

Heartburn:

• Antacids (Mylanta, Riopan, Tums, Rolaids, Maalox)
• Tums Chewy Delight (blue plastic bag, not available in bottle, not gummy)
• Tagamet (Cimetidine), Nizatidine (Axid), Famotidine (Pepcid), Omeprazole (Prilosec) - May be used after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Protonix 20 mg by mouth daily

Hemorrhoids: 

• Tucks pads
• Anusol or Anusol HC (Suppositories, Ointment)
• Preparation H (Suppositories, Cream, Ointment)

Constipation:

• Increase Fluids
• High fiber diet
• Metamucil, Citrucel, Perdiem, Milk of Magnesia, Senokot, Fibercon, Colace

Diarrhea:

• Kaopectate, Immodium A-D

Sore Throat:

• Throat Lozenges
• Acetaminophen
• Saline Gargles

Cough:

• Cough drops or lozenges
• Robitussin DM or Mucinex - May be used after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Congestion/Seasonal Allergies: 

• Saline Nasal Spray
• Vick Vapor Rub or nasal spray
• Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) or Chlorpheniramine
• Sudafed - May be used after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Zyrtec (cetirizine) 

Topicals (itching and irritation):  

• Hydrocortisone 0.5% or 1% cream or ointment
• Benadryl (Chewable, tablets, liquid, or cream)

Yeast Infection:

• Clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin, FemCare, Mycelex)
• Miconazole (Monistat)
• Terconazole

Sleep Aid:

• Tylenol PM
• Benadryl 25 or 50 mg
• Unisom 25 mg
• Natural Calm

Leg Cramping:

• Natural Calm

*Danger Signs to Report: *

• Vaginal bleeding
• Severe menstrual-type cramping
• Fever greater than 100.5 F
• Vomiting or diarrhea for greater than 24 hours