Safe Medications to use during Pregnancy

Although you should try to minimize medication during your pregnancy, sometimes it is necessary for your health and comfort to take some type of medication. This list includes medicines that are safe for consumption during pregnancy.

The following medications can be taken for pain relief:

Aches/ Pains

• Acetaminophen
• Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol, or generic acetaminophen

Allergy Symptoms, Itchy/ Watery nose

• Chlorpheniramine
• Tripelennamine
• Benadryl/diphenhydramine
• Claritin
• Zyrtec

Cold/Flu

Avoid over the counter medications with alcohol or aspirin. Always check the ingredients. Medications should be taken as directed and for no longer than seven days. If symptoms persist, call our office.

• Actifed
• Allerest
• Allergy relief medicine (ARM)
• Benadryl (tablet, capsule, and liquid form), Benadryl Plus
• Chlor-Trimeton, Chlor-Trimeton LA
• Claritin
• Comtrex
• Robitussin DM
• Sine-Off (WITHOUT aspirin)
• Sinutab Extra Strength, Sinutab Maximum Strength (NOT Sinutab Allergy)
• Sudafed (tablet and liquid form), Sudafed Plus, Sudafed 12 Hour
• Throat lozenges
• Triaminic, Triaminic Cold, Triaminic Nite Lite, Triaminic PM, Triaminic 12 Hour
• Tylenol Sinus

Constipation

The following medications can be taken for constipation relief:

• Colace 50mg (one or two, twice daily)
• Fibercon
• Metamucil
• Milk of Magnesia (M.O. M)

Other Helpful Suggestions:

• Increase Water Intake To 8-10 Eight-Ounce Glasses Daily
• Eat Plenty Of Fresh Fruits, Green Leafy Vegetables, And Fiber
• Get Adequate Exercise; Walking Is A Good Exercise During Pregnancy

If Constipation Persists, Call Our Office For Further Instructions.

Cough

• Guaifenesin (Plain Robitussin)
• Guaifenesin With Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM)

Diarrhea

The following medications can be taken for relief of diarrhea:

• Immodium AD (use no longer than 48 hours and no more than four caplets or 8 teaspoons in a 24-hour period)
• Kaopectate

You might also try the B.R.A.T. diet (banana, rice, applesauce, tea/toast).

If diarrhea persists, call our office for further instructions.

Heartburn/ Indigestion/Upset Stomach

• Gaviscon
• Maalox
• Milk of Magnesia
• Mylanta, Mylanta II
• Pepcid
• Riopan
• Rolaids
• Tums
• Zantac

The following prescription medications may be used only on the advice of your physician:

• Pepcid
• Tagamet
• Zantac

Hemorrhoids

The following medications can be taken for relief of hemorrhoids:

• Annusol
• Preparation H
• Tucks

Other helpful suggestions:

• Soak in a warm bath
• Take a sitz bath

Insomnia (Sleeplessness)

• Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
• Tylenol PM
• Unisom

Nasal & Sinus Congestion

• Saline nasal spray
• Afrin (oxymetazoline) nasal spray (limit use to 3 days)
• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), use only if the above is not effective

Nausea/ Morning Sickness

The following medications can be taken for relief of nausea:

• Benadryl
• Doxylamine (Unisom) 12.5 mg every 6-8 hours
• Emetrol (don’t use if diabetic
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)- 10 mg every 8 hours, may increase to a total of 150 mg per day (50 mg every 8 hours)

Other helpful suggestions:

• Ginger Root (2 tablets, 2-4 times a day)
• Small frequent meals
• 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day