Medication Use in Pregnancy
The following medications may be taken safely during pregnancy. If a prescription is necessary, an Rx will appear next to the medication.
Cold/Sinuses – Tylenol Cold, Sudafed/Actifed, Airborne/Theraflu, Nasalcrom Rx, Dristan, Breathe Right Strips, Entex Rx, Flonase/Nasonex Rx
Allergies – Claritin Zyrtec, Tylenol, Allergy/Sinus, Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, Dimetapp, Tavist, Allegra
Antibiotics rx – Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Cipro, Macrobid, Zithromax, Keflex, Clindamycin
Depression – Prozac rx, Zoloft rx, Wellbutrin rx
Itching – Benedryl, Atarax rx, Aveno
Cough – Robitussin Plain, Robitussin DM, Dextromethorphan, Vicks Vapo Rub, Cepacol, Codeine rx
Heartburn – Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, Tums/Rolaids, Prilosec, Pepto-Bismol
Antivirals rx – Zovirax, Acyclovir, Valtrex
Constipation/Stool softeners – Fibercon, Metamucil, Fiberall, Benefiber, Citracil, Dulcolax (laxative)
Indigestion – Tums/Rolaids, Mylanta, Maalox
Diarrhea – Imodium, Kaopectate
Headache – Tylenol, Fioricet rx, Ibuprofen
Nausea/Morning Sickness – Scopolamine patch rx, Unisom 1/2 tablet with Vitamin B6, Phenergan rx, Zofran rx
Sore Throat – Halls drops, Chloraseptic Spray, Cepacol, Sucrets
Yeast Infection – Mycelex, Gyne-Lotrimin, Monistat, Femstat, Terazol rx, Diflucan rx
Aches/Pain/Fever – Tylenol #3, Vicodin rx, Tylenol
Hemorrhoids – Preparation H, Anusol HC, Tucks, Hydrocortisone cream, Analpram rx
Insomnia – Ambien rx, Tylenol PM, Benadryl
Medication Use in Pregnancy
The following medications have been taken during pregnancy and have not been shown to cause birth defects. Even so, we recommend not using any medication unless necessary. If you take a medication routinely for a medical problem and are unsure about the medication, please contact our office prior to discontinuing that medication. Take all medications according to the manufacturer’s directions listed on the bottle unless otherwise directed by your physician.
Acne medications (topical are allowed)
Antacids (Mylanta, Maalox, Pepcid AC, TUMS, Zantac, Prevacid, Prilosec)
Antibiotics (Keflex, Macrodantin, Macrobid, Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Zithromax, Clindamycin) Antihistamines (Allegra, Benedryl, Claritin, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetapp, Tavist, Zyrtec)
Antinausea medications (Phenergan, Zofran, Scopolamine patch, Ginger) Antiviral medications (Acyclovir, Valtrex)
Blood pressure medications (Nifedipine, Aldomet, Propanolol, Labetolol, Procardia)
Cold medications (Airborne, Theraflu)
Cough drops/lozenges/syrups (Cepacol, Herbal cough drops, Robitussin, Vicks, Halls)
Decongestants (Actifed, Sudafed, Entex)
Diarrhea (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, Immodium-AD)
Hemorrhoids (Anusol HC, Preparation H, Tucks, Analpram)
Laxatives (Dulcolax, Milk of Magnesia)
Pain medications (Codeine, Vicodin, Percocet, Motrin, Tylenol, Darvocet)
Nasal sprays (Afrin, Beclovent, Flonase, Nasonex, Neosynephrine, Saline, Ventolin)
Sleeping medications (Tylenol PM, Benadryl, Ambien)
Stool softeners (Colace, Citrucel, Fibercon, Metamucil)
Thyroid medicine (Synthroid, Thyroxine)
Tocolytics to stop labor (Terbutaline, Procardia)
Vitamins (Vitamin C, Airborne)
Yeast medications (Monistat, Gyne-Lotrimin, Femstat, Terazol, Diflucan)
Medication you should NEVER take during pregnancy includes: Acutane, Lithium, Tetracycline, Vibramycin, Valproic Acid, Minocycline. Though ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory drugs) are Category B, safe in pregnancy, they should not be used regularly in the third trimester.
Though a small amount of alcohol may not cause harm, there is no known safe quantity. Therefore, we advise against any alcohol ingestion during pregnancy.
Smoking and using recreational drugs are dangerous to the pregnancy. They can cause growth retardation of the fetus, premature maturation of the placenta, which can cause fetal distress during labor, and abnormal separation of the placenta, which can cause fetal death or maternal hemorrhaging during labor.
Other medications may be safe or have a minimal risk but should be discussed with your physician prior to taking the medication.