DRUGS AND PREGNANCY

The following information is provided to help clarify a great deal of confusion regarding the effects of drugs during pregnancy. As a general rule, no drug should be taken during pregnancy unless the benefit of that medication is significant. The first 12 weeks of a pregnancy are the most crucial time of growth for the baby; therefore, no medication (other than prenatal vitamins) should be taken unless the benefit outweighs the risks.

MEDICATIONS THOUGHT TO BE SAFE

Two principles apply in determining if a medication should be taken. First, if the medication is for relief of symptoms and these symptoms are minimal, you should probably take nothing. Second, medications which have been used and studied over a long period of time and have been found to be safe are probably better to take than newer medications.

For headache, fever	Tylenol
For cold or stuffy nose	Sudafed, Drixoral, Saline Nose Spray
For allergies	Robitussin DM
For sore throat	Any lozenges, Cepacol, Chloraseptic
For heartburn	Tums, Riopan, Mylanta, Maalox, Pepcid, Zantac, Tagamet
For gas	Phazyme, Beano
For constipation	Metamucil, Colace, Surfak, Milk of Magnesia, Doxidan, Dulcolax suppository
For diarrhea	Immodium, Kaopectate
For hemorrhoids	Tucks, Anusol HC
For rash, poison ivy	Cortaid, Benadryl

Avoid:

· Fumes from oil-based paints

· Insecticides

· Artificial sweeteners

· Exhaust fumes

· Large doses of vitamins

· Unusual herbs

· Cat feces