MEDICINES USE DURING PREGNANACY
Most medicines used during pregnancy will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Some may be harmful to you or your baby, so it is important to seek the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider before you start, change or stop taking medicines.
.jpg "MEDICINES USE DURING PREGNANACY")
Although some medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, the effects of other medicines on your unborn baby are unknown. Illegal drugs are never okay, and you should check with your healthcare provider regarding your current prescriptions.
WHICH MEDICINES ARE BEST DURING PREGNANACY?
Folic acid-
Taking it before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk that your baby will have a neural tube defect or other birth defects. Experts recommend that everyone who is pregnant take a daily multivitamin with folic acid. During pregnancy, you should get at least 400 mcg DFE (0.4 mg) of folic acid.
Iron-
An appropriate time to begin iron supplementation at a dose of 30 mg/day is after about week 12 of gestation (the beginning of the second trimester), when the iron requirements for pregnancy begin to increase.
Calcium-
Calcium absorption increases during pregnancy and no additional intake is needed (9). A dietary intake of 1200 mg/day of calcium for pregnant women is recommended by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (7).
If you are going to try calcium supplements, it's best to start taking these around the third trimester of pregnancy.
There are some other medicines which can be given to pregnant women according to her health condition
Antiemetic drugs-
- metoclopramide
- prochlorperazine cyclizine
- promethazine and
- ondansetron.
Antacid-
- calcium carbonate antacids,
- Omeprazole.
Antacids containing calcium and aluminium, but avoid aluminium-containing antacids during the third trimester as they may cause constipation.
Antihistamines-
- cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- fexofenadine (Allegra)
- and loratadine (Claritin) seem to be safe.
Analgesic-
Acetaminophen is available OTC and generally safe to use during pregnancy.
Antimicrobial-
- Penicillins, including amoxicillin (Amoxil, Larotid) and ampicillin.
- Cephalosporins, including cefaclor and cephalexin.
- Clindamycin (Cleocin, Clinda-Derm, others).
Diuretics-
Loop diuretics, especially furosemide.
Antidipressant-
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Desipramine (Norpramin)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
- Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Tranquilizers-
Sertraline and escitalopram are considered safe to use while nursing after pregnancy.
TERATOGENIC DRUGS AND MEDICINES-
Numerous drugs or drug groups may cause birth abnormalities in a developing fetus.
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
- Angiotensin II antagonists, also used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
- Isotretinoin (an acne drug)
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- high doses of vitamin A
- Lithium
- Male hormones
- some antibiotics
- some anticonvulsant medications
- some cancer-fighting medications
- some drugs that treat certain rheumatic conditions
- some thyroid medications
- Thalidomide
- the blood-thinning drug warfarin
- the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES).
READ MORE: NEWBORN BABY COLD AND MEDICATIONS
WHICH MEDICINES ARE BEST DURING PREGNANACY?
Folic acid-
Taking it before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk that your baby will have a neural tube defect or other birth defects. Experts recommend that everyone who is pregnant take a daily multivitamin with folic acid. During pregnancy, you should get at least 400 mcg DFE (0.4 mg) of folic acid.
Iron-
An appropriate time to begin iron supplementation at a dose of 30 mg/day is after about week 12 of gestation (the beginning of the second trimester), when the iron requirements for pregnancy begin to increase.
Calcium-
Calcium absorption increases during pregnancy and no additional intake is needed (9). A dietary intake of 1200 mg/day of calcium for pregnant women is recommended by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (7).
If you are going to try calcium supplements, it's best to start taking these around the third trimester of pregnancy.
There are some other medicines which can be given to pregnant women according to her health condition
Antiemetic drugs-
- metoclopramide
- prochlorperazine cyclizine
- promethazine and
- ondansetron.
Antacid-
- calcium carbonate antacids,
- Omeprazole.
Antacids containing calcium and aluminium, but avoid aluminium-containing antacids during the third trimester as they may cause constipation.
Antihistamines-
- cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- fexofenadine (Allegra)
- and loratadine (Claritin) seem to be safe.
Analgesic-
Acetaminophen is available OTC and generally safe to use during pregnancy.
Antimicrobial-
- Penicillins, including amoxicillin (Amoxil, Larotid) and ampicillin.
- Cephalosporins, including cefaclor and cephalexin.
- Clindamycin (Cleocin, Clinda-Derm, others).
Diuretics-
Loop diuretics, especially furosemide.
Antidipressant-
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Desipramine (Norpramin)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
- Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Tranquilizers-
Sertraline and escitalopram are considered safe to use while nursing after pregnancy.
TERATOGENIC DRUGS AND MEDICINES-
Numerous drugs or drug groups may cause birth abnormalities in a developing fetus.
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
- Angiotensin II antagonists, also used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
- Isotretinoin (an acne drug)
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- high doses of vitamin A
- Lithium
- Male hormones
- some antibiotics
- some anticonvulsant medications
- some cancer-fighting medications
- some drugs that treat certain rheumatic conditions
- some thyroid medications
- Thalidomide
- the blood-thinning drug warfarin
- the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES).
READ MORE: NEWBORN BABY COLD AND MEDICATIONS
Good health in the mother is vital to ensure healthy development and growth of her unborn baby. Women with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, diabetes or mental health conditions) Must continue treatment with appropriate medications during pregnancy.
Sometimes, a prescription medication has the potential to cause harm to the baby. However, stopping the prescribed medication could also pose a threat to both the mother and her baby. For example:
If a pregnant woman who has asthma stops taking her medication, there is a risk of slowing the growth of her unborn baby.
If a pregnant woman who has epilepsy stops her anti-epileptic medications, she may have an increased risk of having seizures, and complications to her pregnancy and unborn baby.
Poorly managed maternal diabetes increases the health risk for the unborn baby.
Good health in the mother is vital to ensure healthy development and growth of her unborn baby. Women with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, diabetes or mental health conditions) Must continue treatment with appropriate medications during pregnancy.
Sometimes, a prescription medication has the potential to cause harm to the baby. However, stopping the prescribed medication could also pose a threat to both the mother and her baby. For example:
If a pregnant woman who has asthma stops taking her medication, there is a risk of slowing the growth of her unborn baby.
If a pregnant woman who has epilepsy stops her anti-epileptic medications, she may have an increased risk of having seizures, and complications to her pregnancy and unborn baby.
Poorly managed maternal diabetes increases the health risk for the unborn baby.
