Medicines to take or avoid during pregnancy
Most medicines are not safe to use during pregnancy especially during the first three months. Certain medications, however, may be required to address minor ailments like cough and cold, fever, aches and pains, cold sores etc.
Check out the six medicines that are safe and un safe during pregnancy. As a general caveat, we suggest that you always check with a general practitioner before popping those pills during pregnancy.
1) Paracetamol: Doctors believe that paracetamol can be freely taken to relieve fever and pain symptoms during pregnancy.
2) Cough medicines: Some cough medicines available in the market like bromhexine is safe. But most of these formulations contain more than one ingredient and should not be taken without medical supervision.
3) Codeine: Up to 240 mg of codeine daily is considered safe even in pregnancy for short term use. But long-term use of high doses of codeine is not recommended as it could create withdrawal symptoms in baby.
4) Aspirin: Never use aspirin during pregnancy. Aspirin is known to increase the risk of miscarriage, generate growth defects in baby and enhance the risk of placental abruption.
5) Ibuprofen: Doctors say that this pain reliever is not always safe during pregnancy. In the past research has led the medical community to believe that this pain reliever could cause miscarriages and birth defects in babies.
6) Allergy medication: Allergy drugs containing fexofenadine and cetirizine are not safe for use in pregnancy. However, some anti-histamine like dimenhydrinate and dexchlorpheniramine maleate (Polaramine) is considered safe during pregnancy.