This post was written by Shelly Boone, CNM, Parkview Certified Nurse Midwife Program.
Pregnancy is such a special time, often filled with excitement, expectation and a little trepidation about what’s to come for both mama and her future family. Most women want to do everything they can to support their baby's healthy development from the moment they learn they’re expecting, which means reading, researching and asking their providers questions. One of the most common we hear is, what medications are safe to take while I’m pregnant?
Prescription medications
There is a widely accepted misconception that no prescription medications should be taken during pregnancy. However, that simply isn't true. Before a woman stops any prescription medications, she should call her OB/GYN or midwife to see if that’s necessary (and safe). Continuing a medication is often best for mom’s health and will cause no harm to their growing baby. Additionally, some prescriptions require a tapering approach when the patient is going to discontinue use. It’s always best to get guidance from a medical professional.
Over-the-counter medications
Regarding over-the-counter (OTC) medications, Parkview has compiled a comprehensive list of safe medications that can help with common discomforts during pregnancy.
Approved over-the-counter medications for pregnancy
Acne
- Topical benzoyl peroxide cream
Allergies
- Actifed
- Alavert®
- Allegra®
- Benadryl®
- Chlor-trimeton
- Claritin®
- Claritin-D®
- Dimetapp®
- Tylenol® allergy
- Zyrtec®
Calcium supplements
- Tums®
- Viactiv
Colds
- Afrin® nasal spray (3 days maximum)
- Chloraseptic throat spray
- Flonase
- Nasonex®
- Ocean and nasal mist
- Pseudoephedrine
- Saline nasal sprays
- Sucrets or other throat lozenges
- Sudafed®
- Tavist D
- Tylenol® Cold & Sinus
- Tylenol® PM
- Tylenol® Sinus
- Vicks VapoRub®
Constipation
- Benefiber
- Citrucel®
- Colace® (docusates sodium)
- FiberCon®
- Metamucil
- Milk of Magnesia
- MiraLAX®
- Senakot®
- Unifiber
Hemorrhoids
- Anusol
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Preparation H®
- Sitz baths
- Tucks pads
Iron supplements
- Ferro Sequels
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Floradix®
- Slow-Fe
- Slow-Fe with folic acid
Lice
- Nix (permethrin)
Nausea
- Dramamine®
- Emetrol
- Ginger root 250 mg up to four (4) times daily
- Sea Bands (acupressure)
- Unisom® (doxylamine) 1/2 a tablet up to three(3) times daily
- Vitamin B6 26 mg up to three (3) times daily
Pain
- Tylenol® (regular or extra strentght) - do not exceed 3000 mg per day
Skin rash/itch
- 1% Hydrocortisone cream
- Aloe
- Anit-itch cream
- Benadryl®
- Caladryl lotion
- Calamine lotion
- Cocoa butter
- Cortaid
- Eucerin lotion
- Sunscreen (best if SPF 30 or more)
- Vitamin E lotion
Sleep aids
- Benadryl®
- Chamomile tea
- Restricting caffeine after noon
- Tylenol® PM
- Unisom®
Cough
- Cough drops
- Robitussin®
- Robitussin® DM
Diarrhea
- Imodium® AD
- Kaopectate
Fever
- Tylenol® (regular or extra strength) - do not exceed 3,000 mg per day
Gas
- Antacid/Anit-Gas
- Gas-X®
- Mylanta®
- Mylanta® Gas
- Mylicon
- Phazyme
Headaches
- Heat or ice to back of neck
- Resting in dark quite room
- Tylenol® (regular or extra strength) - do not exceed 3,000 mg per day
Heartburn
- Gas-X®
- Gaviscon
- Maalox®
- Milk of Magnesia
- Mylanta®
- Pepcid®
- Pepcid Complete
- Prevacid®
- Rolaids®
- Tagamet
- Tums®
- Zantac®
Throat
- Cepacol®
- Cepastat®
- Salt water gargle with warm water
Tooth pain
- Orajel®
- See a dentist; delay X-Rays if able
- Tylenol® (regular or extra strength) - do not exceed 3,000 mg per day
Yeast
- Femstat 3
- Gyne-lotrimin cream
- Monistat® 3 or 7
Do not use
- Aspirin (salicylic acid), Alka Seltzer®, Pepto Bismal®
- Ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, Naproxen, Aleve®, Anaprox
- Castor oil
- Retin-A
It’s best to avoid medications for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, if possible, as this is the period when the baby’s major organs are developing.
If you have questions about safe medications, ask your healthcare provider.
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