Page 7 - GCMC First Trimester

Medications During Pregnancy
It is important for your doctor to know what medications you are taking, prescription and over the counter. While you are pregnant, the following medications may be taken in moderation to alleviate the indicated symptoms.
NAUSEA: Eat small, frequent meals. Drink fluids 30 minutes before or after a meal (only small amounts with meals), eat soda crackers/Saltines 15 minutes before getting out of bed in the morning, and avoid pungent-smelling foods. Take vitamin B-6 (50mg, 2 times per day). Try ginger (in the form of ginger ale, ginger tea, or ginger tablets). You can also smell fresh ginger or a lemon to relieve nausea.
Note: If these do not help, notify our office and we can recommend other treatments.
HEADACHE OR PAIN: Tylenol 650mg every 6 hours as needed.
NASAL CONGESTION, COLD, OR ALLERGIES: Warm salt water gargles, ocean nasal spray, and a humidifier are a good place to start. Most over the counter cold and allergy medications are safe during pregnancy. DO NOT TAKE medications that contain ibuprofen or dextromethorphan (e.g., Claritin-D, Robitussin-DM).
Note: When a cold occurs during pregnancy, it is common for it to be more severe than at other times. Symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days and require rest and a lot of fluids.
CONSTIPATION: Increase water intake, increase fiber intake, take docusate sodium or Colace, Citrucel, Metamucil, or Senokot.
DIARRHEA: Immodium, Kaopectate.
HEMORRHOIDS: Tucks pads, Preparation H.
HEARTBURN: Tums, Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, Prilosec.
SLEEP AIDS: Unisom, Benadryl, Tylenol PM.
Do NOT take Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, or Aspirin.
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