Medicines to Avoid During Pregnancy
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 268, Word Count: 549,
When you’re pregnant, you need to be aware of everything you eat or drink, including medications and herbal supplements both prescribed and over the counter. There are little things that won’t cross across the placenta and affect your baby, so it’s imperative to know what you’re taking, i.e. there are certain medicines to avoid during pregnancy of which you should be aware of.
It’s particularly significant that you avoid any medications that aren’t completely necessary during the first eight to ten weeks of your pregnancy. This is the time when your baby’s brain, heart and lungs are developing and medication interactions might lead to defects in these areas.
While there are no medicines which are 100% safe for every individual, there are certain people for whom the benefits of a particular medicine prevail over any possible side effects. For e.g. a diabetic person needs to take synthetic insulin during pregnancy despite of what interactions might occur.
Further, if you’re on medication for an underactive thyroid, depression or asthma, your doctor would usually have you to continue those medicines right through your pregnancy, though you might be switched to a medicine that’s considered to be safe. In case of these diseases, the possible risk to the mother and child of discontinuing the medicine is far greater than the possible risk of continuing it.
However, there are several conditions for which you might have normally used over the counter medication that you could manage in more natural ways. For e.g, few women get through their complete pregnancy without suffering from cold. The best treatment would be taking rest and drinking some fluids, while a cool haze vaporizer could help loosen mucus and ease congestion.
If you need medication during pregnancy, you should take the smallest dose for the least possible time to be effectual. Follow all dosing directions given by your doctor, for e.g. some medications must be taken with food and others on an empty stomach. Take each medicine with a full glass of water and if you take a sip of water before taking your medicine, it could be easier to swallow. Be sure that your doctor knows that you’re pregnant, so that he/she could also advise you on medicines to avoid during pregnancy.
Constipation is another common complaint during pregnancy. Usually, the stool softener Colace (Docusate) is safe during pregnancy as is Metamucil. Don’t use mineral oil for constipation and be sure you’re eating enough fiber and drinking enough liquids to help resolve the problem naturally.
If you have headache, it’s generally considered safe to take acetaminophen, (Tylenol) but avoid taking aspirin unless your doctor exclusively tells you to do so. Avoid products containing ibuprofen including Motrin, Advil, and Aleve. Any headache that’s stern or lasts more than 24 hours must be reported to your doctor immediately. Further, you must be particularly careful to avoid any products containing aspirin during the last 3 months of your pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Heartburn is another frequent complaint during pregnancy which could be lessened by eating smaller meals, remaining upright after eating and avoiding foods which seem to cause heart burn. These are some of the medicines to avoid during pregnancy and taking precautions is the best way to avoid any complications.
About the Author
John Sterling is a professional Weight Management specialist. He is based in Sydney and provides private consultation to pregnant women, obese men, women, children, and also those who want to stay fit with regular exercising.
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