Any kind of decongestant, Sudafed or not, can be potentially dangerous during the early period of pregnancy. Still, research shows that Sudafed taken throughout pregnancy did not show a significant increase in babies with birth defects. That's why it is considered generally ok during pregnancy.
Is Sudafed safe during pregnancy?
Gastroschisis risk. Sudafed and its ingredients could potentially put babies at risk for Gastroschisis, a condition where the wall of the stomach doesn’t develop and the intestines grow outside of the body. When the intestines are not contained within the abdomen, they can become damaged when floating freely in amniotic fluid.
Is it safe to take pseudoephedrine during pregnancy?
Recently, pseudoephedrine has been examined more closely and should only be offered to pregnant women after having a "risk/benefit" discussion with their doctor. Some drugs affect developing blood vessels and may cause vessel constriction.
Is it safe to take NSAIDs during pregnancy?
Pregnant patients should not take NSAIDs for longer than 48 hours without contacting their physician.
Is it safe to take fcough during pregnancy?
eReference category for each variable is “none during pregnancy,” except for diabetes and hypertension, where reference is “never”. fCough medications included antitussives (dextromethorphan, benzonatate), expectorants (guaifenesin, guaiacolsulfonate potassium, ammonium carbonate, iodinated glycerol), and mucolytics (acetylcysteine, carbocysteine).
Is Sudafed safe during pregnancy?
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 take pseudoephedrine without first talking to a doctor. The drug can raise blood pressure and can cause jitters and racing heartbeats.09-Jan-2018
Is Sudafed 12 Hour safe during pregnancy?
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) 30-60 mg every 4-6 hours can be used in the second and third trimesters in women without gestational hypertension. Avoid use in the first trimester and with breastfeeding.23-Dec-2019
Is Sudafed PE safe during pregnancy?
Benadryl, Claritin, Sudafed PE, Tylenol and Zyrtec are all safe, over-the-counter medications to relieve allergies while you're pregnant. Eye drops and nasal sprays are not recommended, but you can use saline to help clean pollen out of your eyes and nose.31-Jul-2018
What pregnancy category is Sudafed?
Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are pregnancy category C in all three trimesters of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recommend using pseudoephedrine during pregnancy.15-Mar-2006
What nasal spray is safe during pregnancy?
Budesonide nasal spray is available with a prescription as generic budesonide or brand-names Rhinocort Aqua, Entocort, and Pulmicort. It's also available over-the-counter as Rhinocort Allergy. Other options that are safe to use during pregnancy include mometasone (Nasonex) and fluticasone propionate (Flonase).28-Jan-2020
Does Sudafed cause birth defects?
Most studies have not found an increased chance for birth defects when pseudoephedrine is used during the first trimester. However, some studies have found a small increased chance for specific birth defects.02-Jul-2020
What Are Risks of Using Sudafed During Pregnancy?
Because Sudafed constricts blood vessels, it could potentially cause blood flow to the uterus and fetus to be restricted. Research has been done on this and while development problems have been rare, they are still possible.
Why is a syringe used for pregnant women?
One of the main reasons it is one of the most popular cold and flu medications is because it’s safe for pregnant women to take when most other over-the-counter cold and flu drugs are not safe.
Can Sudafed cause Gastroschisis?
Gastroschisis risk. Sudafed and its ingredients could potentially put babies at risk for Gastroschisis, a condition where the wall of the stomach doesn’t develop and the intestines grow outside of the body. When the intestines are not contained within the abdomen, they can become damaged when floating freely in amniotic fluid.
Can you take pseudoephedrine while pregnant?
Use a spoon or cup meant for measuring medications, not a kitchen spoon. There are also some medications that have a smaller amount of pseudoephedrine that may be safe for pregnant women to take. No matter what cold or flu medication you’re taking, do not take pseudoephedrine for more than a week.
Can you take Sudafed if you have high blood pressure?
Women with high blood pressure should not take Sudafed under any circumstance as it can further increase blood pressure. Before taking Sudafed, be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure they believe it is safe for you to take.
Does a cold hurt a fetus?
Having a cold or allergies alone will not hurt the fetus at all. But flu symptoms could potentially increase the risk of early birth and some birth defects. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor and get their treatment recommendations.
Is nasal spray safe for pregnant women?
Nasal sprays are generally safer for pregnant women, because the amount of drug entering the system is smaller but still effective. But if a doctor recommends taking the tablet form, do not chew or crush the tablet as it may cause too much of the drug to be released into your bloodstream all at once. Just swallow whole with a sip of water.
What drugs can cause blood vessels to be constricted?
In two recent studies, drugs that were considered "vasoconstrictive" included pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy"), amphetamines, cocaine and crack.
Is sudafed safe for pregnancy?
A: For a long time pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) for congestion, guaifenesin (Robitussin) for cough and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain were considered "safe" in pregnancy.
Does sudafed cause gastroschisis?
One study (Am J Epidemiol, 2002;155:26-31) found that among mothers of 206 infants with gastroschisis and 126 mothers of infants with small intestinal atresia, infants with gastroschisis had an increased risk of having been exposed to pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) during gestation. The risk for gastroschisis was increased further among infants who had been exposed to pseudoephedrine combined with acetaminophen. The risk of small intestinal atresia was also increased for any use of pseudoephedrine alone or in combination with acetaminophen. (The authors of the study cautioned that underlying maternal illness may have affected the results of this study).
When to use sudafed PE?
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) 30-60 mg every 4-6 hours can be used in the second and third trimesters in women without HTN. Avoid use in the first trimester and with breastfeeding. Sudafed PE (Phenylephidrine) should be avoided because its uncertain efficacy and safety in pregnancy.
Can pseudoephedrine make it harder to get pregnant?
There are no studies looking at whether pseudoephedrine could make it harder to get pregnant. Can using pseudoephedrine increase the chance of miscarriage? There are no studies looking at whether pseudoephedrine would increase the risk of miscarriage.
Is pseudoephedrine a pregnancy category?
Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are pregnancy category C in all three trimesters of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recommend using pseudoephedrine during pregnancy.
Why is aspirin used during pregnancy?
Low-dose aspirin has been used during pregnancy most commonly to prevent or delay the onset of preeclampsia. Other suggested indications for low-dose aspirin have included prevention of stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and early pregnancy loss. Recent systematic reviews of low-dose aspirin use during pregnancy have improved our ...
Can you stop aspirin before delivery?
There is no apparent benefit to stopping low-dose aspirin before delivery. Study protocols specific to pregnancy have varied, with some discontinuing low-dose aspirin at 36 weeks of gestation and others continuing low-dose aspirin until delivery 14 33 34 35. Discontinuation timing has not been related to excessive maternal or fetal bleeding. Likewise, low-dose aspirin use in the absence of other anticoagulants is not a contraindication to neuraxial blockade 36. Some patients present to care in the first trimester on low-dose aspirin. Whether first-trimester exposure is associated with adverse fetal effects or maternal benefit is not known.
Does aspirin cause early pregnancy loss?
The combination of low-dose aspirin and unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin has been shown to reduce the risk of early pregnancy loss in women with antiphospholipid syndrome 50. However, low-dose aspirin has not been shown to prevent unexplained early pregnancy loss in women who do not have antiphospholipid syndrome. Pooling data from two trials (256 participants), one study reported no increase in live births among women treated with low-dose aspirin compared with placebo (RR: 0.94, CI, 0.80–1.11) 51. A 2014 study also reported no difference in live births when 1,078 women with one or two prior pregnancy losses were given low-dose aspirin or placebo before pregnancy (58% versus 53%, P =.0984). Pregnancy loss occurred in 13% of 535 women given low-dose aspirin compared with 12% of 543 women in the placebo group ( P =.7812) 35. Based on the available evidence, the use of low-dose aspirin prophylaxis is not recommended for the prevention of early pregnancy loss.
Is aspirin safe for preterm birth?
Low-dose aspirin prophylaxis is not recommended for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth, in the absence of risk factors for preeclampsia. Low-dose aspirin prophylaxis is not recommended for the prevention of early pregnancy loss.
Is aspirin safe for a patient with a history of urticaria?
There are few absolute contraindications to aspirin therapy 27. Patients with a history of aspirin allergy (eg, urticaria) or hypersensitivity to other salicylates are at risk of anaphylaxis and should not receive low-dose aspirin. Because of significant cross-sensitivity between aspirin and other nonsteroidal drugs, low-dose aspirin is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. Exposure to low-dose aspirin in patients with nasal polyps may result in life-threatening bronchoconstriction and should be avoided. The same is true in patients with asthma who have a history of aspirin-induced acute bronchospasm 27. Relative contraindications to low-dose aspirin include a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, active peptic ulcer disease, other sources of gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding, and severe hepatic dysfunction. Reye syndrome has been reported rarely (less than 1%) in children younger than 18 years who are given aspirin while recovering from viral illnesses, particularly influenza and chickenpox. The decision to continue low-dose aspirin in the presence of obstetric bleeding or risk factors for obstetric bleeding should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Is aspirin safe for pregnancy?
Daily low-dose aspirin use in pregnancy is considered safe and is associated with a low likelihood of serious maternal, or fetal complications, or both, related to use. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine support the USPSTF guideline criteria for prevention of preeclampsia. Low-dose aspirin (81 mg/d) prophylaxis is recommended in women at high risk of preeclampsia and should be initiated between 12 weeks and 28 weeks of gestation (optimally before 16 weeks) and continued daily until delivery. Low-dose aspirin prophylaxis should be considered for women with more than one of several moderate risk factors for preeclampsia. Women at risk of preeclampsia are defined based on the presence of one or more high-risk factors (history of preeclampsia, multifetal gestation, renal disease, autoimmune disease, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and chronic hypertension) or more than one moderate-risk factor (first pregnancy, maternal age of 35 years or older, a body mass index greater than 30, family history of preeclampsia, sociodemographic characteristics, and personal history factors) Table 1. In the absence of high-risk factors for preeclampsia, current evidence does not support the use of prophylactic low-dose aspirin for the prevention of early pregnancy loss, fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, or preterm birth.
What is the most common decongestant in OTC?
Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are the most common oral decongestants in OTC cold medications. In some studies, decongestant use in the first trimester has been associated with a small increase of defects thought to arise, in some instances, from vascular disruption, such as gastroschisis, small intestinal atresia, and hemifacial microsomia.14However, there are several cohort and case-control studies that failed to show any increased risk of malformations when oral decongestants were used during pregnancy.15,16In addition, there was no increased risk for malformations in a recent Swedish population-based case-control study involving 2474 women exposed to oral decongestants during the first trimester and 1771 women exposed at the end of pregnancy.17
Can pregnant women take cold medicine?
ANSWERAlthough there are many over-the-counter brands of cold medications, most products are quite similar, with some containing up to 5 medicinal ingredients. The evidence-based information for all these ingredients suggests no increased risk with short-term use. However, pregnant women should read labels carefully and, when necessary, consult with pharmacists to ensure they are not taking medicine they do not require.
Can NSAIDs cause birth defects?
In 2001, a study of 1462 women who had received prescriptions for NSAIDs 30 days before conception or during pregnancy did not find associations between NSAIDs and congenital birth defects, preterm delivery, or intrauterine growth retardation. However, they did find a statistically increased risk of spontaneous abortion (SAB) when compared with a nonexposed group. It is important to note that although an association with SABs was found, both the NSAID group and the comparison group in this study had substantially lower rates of SABs than is expected in the general population.7
Is acetylsalicylic acid safe for pregnancy?
Acetylsalicylic acid use has been associated with delivery complications and adverse effects in newborns; therefore, use in analgesic doses is not recommended in late pregnancy.8,9Low doses of ASA (40 to 150 mg) have not been associated with concerns at any stage of pregnancy.10,11However, the use of NSAIDs, other than low-dose ASA, in the third trimester is associated with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and should be avoided if possible.12
What is the most widely recommended analgesic medication for pregnant women?
Information relating to when patients should refer to a physician (Tables 2 and 3) is included to assist with the decision-making process. Analgesics. Acetaminophen: During pregnancy, acetaminophen is the most widely recommended analgesic medication.
What NSAIDs are available without a prescription?
NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are available without a prescription include ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. All three are pregnancy category B in the first and second trimester, and category D in the third trimester.
What is the only OTC decongestant?
Decongestants. Oral: Pseudoephedrine and phenyl ephrine are the only oral OTC decongestants available in the U.S. These oral decongestants are available as monotherapy and in combination products. Cough and cold combination products frequently contain an analgesic, antihistamine, cough modulator, and/or decongestant.
Can you take pseudoephedrine while pregnant?
In the second and third trimesters, pseudoephedrine can be recommended to pregnant patients in appropriate doses. To minimize exposure to the fetus, pregnant patients should take the immediate-release dosage form (instead of the extended-release) and take the minimum effective dose for the shortest duration possible.
Is aspirin a pregnancy drug?
Aspirin is a pregnancy category C in doses less than 150 mg daily and a category D in standard doses in all three trimesters.9 Salicylates have been associated with increased mortality, neonatal hemorrhage, decreased birth weight, prolonged gestation and labor, and possible birth defects.
Is there any safety data on OTC medications?
Safety Data and Pregnancy. At this time, there are limited safety data on the use of OTC medications during pregnancy. Due to ethical concerns, most safety data available have been provided by postmarketing surveillance reports and retrospective studies. The FDA has developed pregnancy categories for both OTC and prescription medications.
Can pregnant women take OTC?
Of particular concern is the safe use of nonprescription medications in pregnant women. A recent study showed that during pregnancy, 92.6% and 45.2% of women utilize OTC and herbal medications, respectively. Analgesics and cough and cold preparations are two of the most common categories of OTC products purchased during pregnancy.4.