Pregnancy & Baby 

Advertisement

What medications are safe during pregnancy?

Dr. Sarah Jarvis, a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and co-author of Pregnancy for Dummies, replies:

Since the 1960s very little research has been done on medicines during pregnancy, because of obvious ethical issues. Don't forget that even medications you can get without prescription need to be treated with caution during pregnancy. Your doctor and pharmacist can advise you. Here are some common medications women often ask about:

• Oral contraceptive pills: Women sometimes get pregnant while they're on the Pill (because they missed or were late taking a couple of pills during the month) and then worry that their babies will have birth defects. But oral contraceptives haven't been shown to have any ill effects on a baby, and babies born to women using oral contraceptives are at no higher risk of birth defects. (See )

• Ibuprofen: Occasional use of these and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents during pregnancy (for pain or inflammation) hasn't been associated with problems in infants. However, avoid chronic or persistent use of these medications during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester, because they have the potential to affect platelet function and blood vessels in the baby's circulatory system.

• Paracetamol: Up to the full recommended dose, there's no evidence that paracetamol is harmful at any stage of pregnancy.

• Vitamin A: This vitamin and some of its derivatives can cause miscarriage or serious birth defects if too much is present in your bloodstream when you get pregnant. The situation is complicated by the fact that vitamin A can remain in your body for several months after you consume it. Discontinuing any drugs that contain vitamin A derivatives - the most common is the anti-acne drug Accutane - at least one month before trying to conceive is important. Scientists don't know whether topical creams containing vitamin A derivatives - anti-ageing creams like Retin A and Renova, for example - are as problematic as drugs that you swallow, so consult your doctor about them.

• Antidepressants: Many antidepressants like Prozac have been studied extensively and are considered perfectly safe during pregnancy. If you are taking an antidepressant and planning to conceive, ask your doctor whether you'll be able to keep taking the medication while you're pregnant.

• Antibiotics: Many antibiotics, including penicillin, the cephalosporin group of antibiotics and erythromycin, are considered safe in pregnancy. Other antibiotics, such as trimethoprim, are fine in some stages but not in others. Your doctor can tell you when and what is safe.
    Related Links

  • 10 steps to a healthy pregnancy
  • Pregnancy do's and don'ts
  • Starting a family
  • Being pregnant at Christmas
  • Pregnancy & Baby Home
  iVillage TV - Pregnancy experts
  
  View video in larger player

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB