Normally, a pregnancy lasts 9 months, and during this time it is possible that certain situations occur in which the use of drugs is necessary. For this reason, we tell you what medications pregnant women can take .
Although at present there are not many congenital anomalies associated with the consumption of drugs during the gestation period, it is important to pay all the necessary attention to prevent possible alterations in the development of the fetus, or problems in the health of the newborn baby.
For this, it is also important to know what medications pregnant women should not take , and request a medical consultation to resolve any questions that may arise.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MEDICATIONS PREGNANT WOMEN CAN TAKE?
Before letting you know what medications pregnant women can take, you should know that in order to decide whether or not to take a medication, it is important to know the benefits provided by the drug in question and the risks it may pose to the future baby. In this sense, medicines can be divided into 3 groups:
- Those that are completely harmless for pregnancy and for the baby, so they can be taken without taking precautions.
- Those that have a benefit that outweighs the possible risk for pregnancy, and that if necessary, should be taken.
- Those that are strictly prohibited during the gestation period. This is because there is a high risk of fetal malformations or termination of pregnancy, problems that outweigh the benefits.
It is clear that the most appropriate thing will be for you to take those that do not imply any risk, but it will always be the doctor who is managing your pregnancy who will advise you on what medications pregnant women can take and which ones not when trying to reduce the symptoms of the problem that is arising for you
However, we give you some names of those that, normally, you can easily turn to.
nasal decongestants
You can use these medicines during colds, since their action is directed at a local level, which means that it only affects the vessels in the area where it is applied. It is important that they are not used for more than 3 or 4 days since, as a rebound effect, they can cause rhinitis. This means that the mucus in the nose adapts to the medicine and the cold or cold returns with greater intensity.
Analgesics
For pain and inflammation, the use of paracetamol is recommended. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, it will always be better to opt for paracetamol, since it works by treating symptoms locally.
antacids
To avoid heartburn , you can use some antacids derived from magnesium and aluminum that are ingested in the form of pills that are sucked.
Cough drops
If you have a cough due to throat irritation, these lozenges can come in handy. Because they stimulate the flow of saliva and soothe the throat, they often have a soothing effect.
If you have doubts with multivitamin complexes, these can be beneficial in pregnancy. Folic acid can be used as primary prevention, just as iron supplements are used to prevent anemia .
On the other hand, remember that it is important to take exactly the dose that your doctor recommends. Taking these complexes in excess can lead to problems, an example is vitamin A. Abusing it is associated with the appearance of serious birth defects in babies.
Ideally, you should take medications about which there is more information and studies on their effects, in addition to always consulting your doctor first.