©Pregnancy bliss 2008

Taking Medicines during pregnancy

 

In the united States, nine out of every ten pregnant women (90%) take some kind of medicine at least once during their pregnancies. This does not include iron or folic acid. In Britain, the figure is believed to approach 75%.

 

The use of medication during pregnancy is one of those perennial questions that obstetricians and prospective parents have to deal with. It is a very valid issue with potentially far-reaching consequences especially for the one individual who does not yet have a voice: the unborn baby.

 

It is a fact of life that many - probably most - pregnant women are prescribed medicine for brief or even prolonged periods during their pregnancy. It is also true that since the 1960s, medication use during pregnancy has significantly declined.

 

Prescription drugs used mostly include the common supplements, such as iron and folic acid. Also used commonly are drugs to combat "morning sickness" (anti-emetics), painkillers and laxatives to combat the common complaint of constipation.

 

Antibiotics are also frequently prescribed, especially for urinary tract infections, a relatively common problem in pregnancy. There are several other groups of drugs used during pregnancy.

 

Common to all these is the question: Are they safe? After the tragedy of thalidomide, this is no longer an idle muse.

 

As a general, rather sweeping, statement: The majority of drugs prescribed during pregnancy are perfectly safe for the majority of women. A significant proportion of pregnant women throughout the world use iron. It is safe. However, it may not be safe for women with conditions such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, common among people of African and Mediterranean descent respectively. These facts need to -be established. Penicillin is a widely used antibiotic that is quite safe at any stage of the pregnancy, but some people are allergic to them - so such facts need to be established as well.

 

Some antibiotics are unsafe only at a certain stage of pregnancy, so the doctor needs to be sure of the gestation when prescribing them.

 

All these and many other issues pertaining to the subject of medication during pregnancy are discussed in this section.

Common medicines taken during pregnancy

Mostly are the simple painkillers, Acetaminophen (paracetamol, Panadol®, Tylenol) being the leader.  This is taken for common complaints such as headaches, backache, colds etc. In the United States, a survey a few years ago showed 61% of pregnant women used Acetaminophen, Surprisingly, 10% also reported using Ibuprofen (Advil™, Brufen™)

 

Also commonly taken are antibiotics and antacids taken to relieve heartburn. Common brands of antacids used in UK include Maalox®, Rennie®, Peptac® and Gaviscon®

 

Non-prescription medicines are taken far less nowadays, compared to twenty or thirty years ago.

 

Acetaminophen or Paracetamol is the most commonly used pain-killer in pregnancy. It is safe