Receiving Helpdesk

approved otc medications during pregnancy

by Dr. Maiya Lind II Published 4 years ago Updated 2 years ago

not present

Complaint Approved Medication
Discomfort/Pain & Fever Tylenol or Tylenol Extra Strength at any ...
Tooth/Gum Pain Orajel-Maximum Strength, Lidocaine/Novac ...
Constipation Citrucel, Fibercon, Fiber Chews, Metamuc ...
Hemorrhoids TUCKS pads, frozen tea bags Preparati ...

Over-The-Counter Medications Allowed During Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Actifed.
  • Allegra.
  • Benadryl.
  • Claritin.
  • Claritin-D.
  • Chlor-Trimeton-D.
  • Chlor-Trimeton-DM.
  • Sudafed*

Full Answer

What medicines are safe during pregnancy?

The review based on studies involving around 65,000 pregnancies at different stages did not find any sign of higher risk of complications, miscarriages, preterm births or severe side-effects on the unborn babies from mRNA shots, the European Medicines Agency said.

What is a safe medication list for pregnancy?

Safe to take: Benadryl, Sudafed, Afrin nasal spray, Claratin, Robitussin DM, Vicks Formula 44, Halls cough drops. Over the counter medications are safe during pregnancy. Make sure you read the labels for the drug ingredients. Make sure you are taking for only the symptoms you have and take as directed.

What drugs are safe for pregnancy?

Other safe choices include:

  • Shrimp
  • Pollock
  • Tilapia
  • Cod
  • Catfish
  • Canned light tuna

Which over-the-counter cold medications are safe during pregnancy?

Over-the-counter medicines safe to use during pregnancy

  • Alavert ® or Claritin ® (loratadine)
  • Benadryl ® (diphenhydramine)
  • Zyrtec ® (cetirizine)

What OTC meds are safe during pregnancy?

Over-the-Counter Medications Safe to Take During PregnancyAntacids (Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta, Maalox, Pepcid, Prevacid)Simethicone (Gas-X, Mylicon for gas pain, Gaviscon)Immodium or BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast or tea) for diarrhea.

What medicine can I take for Covid while pregnant?

A: For mild symptoms, it is safe to take several over-the-counter medications in pregnancy. For symptoms of fevers, chills or body aches, it is safe to take acetaminophen. One gram of acetaminophen (two 500mg tablets) every six hours can help decrease a fever. If you have a cough, cough syrups are safe in pregnancy.

Can I take Emergen C while pregnant?

Immunity support products, like Emergen-C, are generally safe to take during pregnancy. Emergen-C and other immunity support products don't prevent colds. They may shorten the duration of a cold slightly. You can manage cold symptoms naturally by getting enough sleep, eating well, and keeping yourself hydrated.

What can I take for a headache while pregnant Besides Tylenol?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs are often used to relieve headache pain. These include over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin.

What is the most common medication used in the first trimester?

However, some women are not aware of their pregnancy prior to medication consumption in the early stages. A CDC study identified the most common medications used in the first trimester, with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, docusate, pseudoephedrine, aspirin, and naproxen being the most typically used OTC medications.

What is the role of a pharmacist?

Role of the Pharmacist. Pharmacists are often the main resource contacted by a patient or a healthcare professional to verify whether a medication is safe to take during pregnancy or lactation.

How many women take medication during pregnancy?

In the United States, over 90% of women take a form of medication during their pregnancy. 1 However, for ethical reasons, a majority of clinical trials do not include pregnant women; therefore, limited evidence is available to help evaluate the use of medications during pregnancy. 2-6 With the first trimester being a crucial part of the development of major organs in the fetus and when most birth defects are likely to happen, careful use of medications is recommended. However, some women are not aware of their pregnancy prior to medication consumption in the early stages.

What are the most common gastrointestinal complications in pregnant women?

Nausea and vomiting are the most common gastrointestinal complications in pregnant women. This may affect quality of life not only in the beginning of the pregnancy; in some women, the condition may impact much of their term. Multiple treatment options are available and may be considered safe during certain trimesters of pregnancy, ...

Can you take OTC for a cold?

Mild upper-respiratory illnesses and the common cold are caused by viruses that are self-limiting; therefore, OTC medications are heavily relied on for symptoms and quality-of-life improvement. 30 Many of the OTC medications contain only a few ingredients; however, these products may not be the safest options in breastfeeding mothers. TABLE 2 provides a summary of the pregnancy and lactation recommendations for these products.

Is acetaminophen safe for pregnancy?

Acetaminophen ( Tylenol) has demonstrated efficacy and safety at all stages of pregnancy when used at recommended therapeutic doses and for short-term use. 15-17,21,22 Adverse pregnancy outcomes or abnormalities are not commonly seen with the use of acetaminophen. However, recent data have shown potential risks with prenatal acetaminophen use, ...

Is Tylenol safe for pregnancy?

3 However, with the wide variety of OTC options for pain, only a few are recommended. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has demonstrated efficacy and safety at all stages of pregnancy when used at recommended therapeutic ...

What is the maximum dose of dextromethorphan?

Cough suppressants can come in immediate-release and extended-release preparations. The maximum dose for pregnant women is 120 mg in 24 hours.

How much pseudoephedrine can you take in 24 hours?

You’ll have to provide identification to purchase it, and stores track how much you purchase. The maximum dose of a typical decongestant is 240 mg in 24 hours.

How long does it take for acetaminophen to go away?

It can be easy to take more acetaminophen in a day than is safe because it’s in so many medications. Finally, be patient with cold symptoms – it can take a week or more for a cold to go away. Sign up to receive Your Pregnancy Matters email alerts when we publish new stories. More Articles.

What to do if you have a cold while pregnant?

If you come down with a cold while pregnant and you want to take something for symptom relief, look for medications that are formulated for your specific symptoms. Avoid multi-symptom formulas, especially those containing acetaminophen.

How long does it take for an antibiotic to work for a cold?

If a doctor prescribes an antibiotic for cold symptoms, it’s usually a short, three-day round of drugs.

Can you take sudafed while pregnant?

Stuffy nose and sinus pressure. Decongestant medications reduce stuffiness and sinus pressure by constricting the blood vessels in your nose, which reduces swelling. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are available over the counter as Sudafed and are safe for many women to use during pregnancy. However, women who have high blood pressure should not ...

When to ask for antibiotics for a cold?

A word about antibiotics. So many patients call asking for antibiotics for a cold, usually when they’ve had symptoms for several days. There are a few times when antibiotics are appropriate, for instance, strep throat or sinus infections caused by bacteria.

What is the best medicine to take after 1st trimester?

Pseudoephedrine ( [Sudafed®] after 1st trimester) Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)*. Saline nasal drops or spray. Warm salt/water gargle. *Note: Do not take the "SA" (Sustained Action) form of these drugs or the "Multi-Symptom" form of these drugs. Do not use Nyquil ® due to its high alcohol content. Type of Remedy: Diarrhea.

What are the risks of having a baby while pregnant?

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol or uses drugs during her pregnancy, so does her baby.

Can you take prescription medications before you get pregnant?

If you were taking prescription medicines before you became pregnant, please ask your healthcare provider about the safety of continuing these medicines as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.

Can a baby drink alcohol while pregnant?

You may know some women who had very little alcohol during pregnancy and had babies with serious health conditions. Every pregnancy is different and drinking alcohol may hurt one baby more than another. Due to their small liver, babies cannot break down the alcohol as well as you can.

Can you take a medicine while pregnant?

Although some medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, the effects of other medicines on your unborn baby are unknown. Certain medicines can be most harmful to a developing baby when taken during the first three months of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

Is it safe to take illegal drugs while pregnant?

Although some medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, the effects of other medicines on your unborn baby are unknown. Illegal drugs are never okay, and you should check with your healthcare provider regarding your current prescriptions.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9