Over the Counter Medications during Pregnancy
Try to avoid taking medications during your pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. This list contains medications that are approved only as needed. We urge you to try other remedies first. If you do take a medication, use it only as directed.
| Problem | Medication | Precaution – Call Us |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies | Cool mist vaporizer. Actifed, Benadryl, Claritin Chlortrimetron, Sudafed, Mucinex D Afrin Nasal Spray (3 day use), saline nasal spray, Zyrtec D, Claritin. | – |
| Colds/Nasal Congestion | Rest and plenty of fluids. Use a cool mist vaporizer. Afrin Nasal Spray (3 day use), Tylenol, Saline Nasal Spray. May use decongestants with D if D is pseudoephedrine. | Fever over 101. Persistent cough. |
| Cough | Robitussin DM, Guaifenesin. | Fever over 101 or cough that won’t go away. |
| Sore Throat | Alcohol free lozenges like Chloraseptic or Chloraseptic Spray. | Severe or persistent sore throat, fever over 101. |
| Constipation | Increase fluids, increase fiber in your diet with fruit and whole grains, prune juice, fiber agents like Metamucil, Benefiber etc., Milk of Magnesia, Colace, Surfak, Konsyl, Glycerine suppository. | Severe straining, rectal bleeding. |
| Diarrhea | Brat Diet (banana, rice, applesauce, toast), Immodium, Kaopectate. | Diarrhea longer than 24 hours or fever. |
| Headache | Tylenol. | Persistent or severe headache. |
| Hemorrhoids | Chilled witch hazel packs (Tucks), sitz baths, Anusol, Preparation H. | Bleeding or severe pain. |
| Indigestion | Maalox, Mylanta, Pepcid AC, Rolaids, Tums, Zantac. | – |
| Nausea/Vomiting | Benadryl, Dramamine, Emetrol, Vitamin B6 10+25 mg. 3-4-times/day, Ginger tablets, 1 tsp. honey with ginger, Raspberry Tea, Biobands. | Continued vomiting, weight loss or inability to keep fluids down for 24 hours. |
| Insomnia | Benadryl, Catnip tea, Vitamin B6 50mg, Unisom, Benadryl Liquid | – |
| Vaginal Yeast | Monistat 7, Gyne-Lotrimin 7 | Symptoms don’t improve. |
