Patient education: Taking over-the-counter medicines during pregnancy (The Basics)

What are over-the-counter medicines? — Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines that you can buy in a pharmacy or store without a doctor's prescription. They come in different forms, including pills, creams, and eye drops.

People commonly use OTC medicines to treat:

●Fever

●Cough and cold

●Allergies

●Skin rashes or hives

●Diarrhea or constipation

●Heartburn

Some OTC medicines can cure the condition that is causing the symptoms. But many OTC medicines do not cure the condition that is causing the symptoms. Instead, they only improve symptoms for a short time.

Are OTC medicines safe to take during pregnancy? — Some are probably safe, but others aren't. It depends on:

●The medicine – Experts know that some medicines are probably safe to take during pregnancy. Experts also know that other medicines are not safe and could harm a baby or cause problems during pregnancy. But for many OTC medicines, experts don't know the answer. That's because studies have not been done to check the safety of most OTC medicines during pregnancy.

●How far along the pregnancy is – Most birth defects happen in the first few months of pregnancy. If you take an OTC medicine during that time, you can increase the chance that the medicine will harm your baby.

The best way to know if an OTC medicine is safe to take during pregnancy is to ask your doctor or nurse. Call your doctor or nurse before you take any medicine during pregnancy.

You can also get information about the safety of taking certain medicines during pregnancy by calling the MotherToBaby hotline, which is free (in the US): 1-866-626-6847.

Which pain-relieving medicine is best to take during pregnancy? — Doctors usually recommend using acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) to treat pain during pregnancy. Check with your doctor before taking any other pain medicines.

If your pain or headache doesn't get better after you take 1 dose of acetaminophen, tell your doctor or nurse. It's especially important to let your doctor or nurse know about these symptoms in the last half of pregnancy. These could be symptoms of a serious problem.

Doctors usually tell pregnant people to avoid taking medicines called "NSAIDs," especially after 20 weeks of pregnancy. NSAIDs are a group of medicines that includes aspirin, ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand names: Aleve). Taking NSAIDs for more than a day or two after 20 weeks of pregnancy could harm your baby. If your doctor has suggested taking daily low-dose aspirin during your pregnancy, it is OK to continue to do this.

What can I take to treat constipation? — To treat constipation, you can add more fiber to your diet (table 1). You can also use a fiber supplement.

If your constipation doesn't get better, ask your doctor or nurse about taking a medicine called a "laxative." These medicines can help you have bowel movements.

Can I take herbal products? — Ask your doctor or nurse before you take any herbal product or supplement. Some herbal products can harm an unborn baby.

What else should I do? — You should:

●Talk to your doctor or nurse at your routine pregnancy check-ups. Ask them which OTC medicines are safe to take for common problems like headache and cough. That way, if you have these symptoms, you will know which medicines to use.

●Ask questions if you're not sure how to use a medicine. You can ask the pharmacy worker or your doctor or nurse.

●Choose a medicine that treats only the symptoms or condition you have.

●Throw out medicine that has expired.

More on this topic

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