Any medications taken during pregnancy could have an effect on the developing baby; therefore, the best rule to remember during pregnancy is that no drug may be assumed to be harmless. Unless prescribed by our physicians, it is wise to avoid taking any medication during your pregnancy—even laxatives, eye drops, nasal sprays, nasal drops, mild pain relievers, and external ointments. If you have a condition that requires you to take medication regularly, please discuss this with your physician. Should a special need for medication arise, your physician will choose the safest drug available for you and your baby. For more common conditions, the drugs listed below are the only types of medication that our physicians have approved for you to use. Please remember that these should only be used in moderation if you feel you must take something.
Recommended Medications:
Cold, Cough or Sore Throat
- Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol: Take one or two every four hours
- Tylenol Cold Formula, Actifed, Sudafed, Claritin, Claritin-D, Chlortrimeton
- Chloraseptic throat spray, Cepacol lozenges or gargle every two hours with one cup of warm water containing teaspoon of salt
- Robitussin DM, Delsym, or Hall’s cough drops: use as directed
- Mucinex
- Zyrtec
Headache or Fever
- Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Regular or Extra-Strength: take one or two every four hours
Indigestion/Reflux Symptoms
- Elevate the head of your bed on a brick or thick board
- Use Maalox, Mylanta, Gaviscon, Riopan Plus, or Tums
- Use Pepcid AC, Zantac, or Prilosec OTC (these can be taken daily if needed)
Nausea and/or Vomiting
- Use Emetrol or Emecheck as directed on the label
- Vitamin B-6 may also be taken
- Non-drowsy Dramamine as directed on the label
- If nausea or vomiting affects your fluid or food intake for more than 1 day, contact our office
Constipation
- Use Metamucil, Citracel or Fibercon as a fiber bulking agent
- Use Colace (stool softeners) 100mg at bedtime or twice daily
- Fruits, prunes, and all types of whole bran cereal are also helpful in the prevention of constipation
- For acute constipation try Milk of Magnesia, Senokot, Ducolax tablets or suppositories, or glycerin rectal suppositories
- If the above recommendations are unsuccessful, a Fleet enema may be used as needed
Diarrhea
- Kaopectate (use only for 1 day, as directed)
- Imodium AD: use as directed
Hemorrhoids
- Preparation H Cream or suppositories, Anusol cream or suppositories or Tuck pads
- Warm sitz baths with Epsom Salts
Yeast Infections
- Monistat 3 (or generic brand) or GyneLotrimin (after the first trimester, be careful inserting the applicator)
For any questions regarding medication use during pregnancy, please call the office during regular business hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and 8:00 am to noon on Saturday.
Calls made to the answering service after hours should be limited to emergency situations only.
