Medicines safe and prohibited in pregnancy
Taking some medications during pregnancy can cause situations of danger to the baby. Consult with your doctor before taking a medication and thus make sure not to cause alterations in the correct development of the fetus. We tell you what they are safe medicines during pregnancy, what are dangerous and which ones are completely prohibited during pregnancy.
Throughout the nine months of pregnancy it is normal that situations occur in which the use of medications is required. About 80 percent of pregnant women take some type of drug during the gestation period and many of them follow a treatment that can not be interrupted when they become pregnant.
Safe medications during pregnancy
Although there is currently a low incidence of congenital anomalies due to the use of medications, it is important that you consult your doctor before taking any medication. For your peace of mind, these are the most common medications you can turn to:
- Analgesics. In case of pain or inflammation the use of Paracetamol is recommended. Now new studies have put in doubt.
- Nasal decongestants. They can be used during colds because their action exerts locally. They should not be used more than 3 or 4 days in a row because it can cause rhinitis as a rebound effect, that is, once our nose gets used to the medicine, the cold returns with greater intensity.
- Cough drops In case of irritation in the throat, its use is recommended because of its softening action against itching, because it stimulates the flow of saliva and relieves the throat.
- Antacids. To avoid heartburn you can use antacids provided they are derived from aluminum and magnesium, and that their format is in lozenges.
Medications that should not be taken during pregnancy
Within the wide range of medicines, there are some more harmful and are totally contraindicated during pregnancy:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin belong to this group. Its use is not recommended during the last trimester of pregnancy. These medications alter the blood flow of the fetus by dilating the blood vessels. In addition, aspirin is a strong inhibitor of platelet function, which increases the likelihood of bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Nicotine patches.They have a harmful effect on the baby very similar to smoking cigarettes.
Drugs prohibited during pregnancy
- Antihypertensive.Completely contraindicated during the pregnancy process to be related to birth defects in the fetus, especially at the kidney level.
- Antidiabetic secretagogues. The pregnant woman should change the treatment to insulin. Taking this kind of medication can cause hypoglycemia that would cause alterations in the nervous system of the fetus.
- Statins. They help reduce blood cholesterol levels, but during pregnancy, taking these drugs is associated with malformations of the trachea, esophagus, heart and anus in the fetus, among other.
- Cortisone. Corticoid derivatives can cause malformation of the cleft palate in the fetus.
- Oral contraceptives. They increase the risk of the baby suffering from Down syndrome and present alterations in the genitals and urinary tract. Therefore, if a woman in contraceptive treatment becomes pregnant, she should stop treatment immediately.
- Baking soda. It produces metabolic alkalosis, that is, an increase in the natural pH of the blood of the mother and the baby.
Marisol Nuevo Espín
