Sometimes, pregnancy can be a surprise. Many women are still taking their prescription medication when they discover they are pregnant. If that was the case for you, you might be wondering if you’ve done your baby harm.
First of all, take a deep breath. Most likely your baby will be just fine. The average pregnant woman takes three to five prescription medications. There are only a limited number of medications that have been proven to cause problems with a growing baby.
We safely recommend hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter medications in pregnancy, but it is very important for you to go over all of your medications with your doctor. This also includes herbs, supplements and nonprescription drugs. So, do not forget to mention those to your doctor as well.
List of over-the-counter medications considered safe in pregnancy:
Prenatal vitamins
The safest over-the-counter medications during pregnancy are prenatal vitamins. They contain iron and folic acid that help prevent anemia and lower the risk of birth defects. They should be taken starting at least six weeks prior to conception. Your doctor will suggest that you continue throughout the pregnancy and until three months after delivery.
Acne treatment
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Glytone (benzoyl peroxide)
Allergy medication
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Claritin or Alavert (Loratadine)
Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Cold and flu treatment
Tylenol Cold and Sinus products
Constipation treatment
Colace (docusate sodium)
Citrucel or Unifiber (methylcellulose)
Fiberall or FiberCon (calcium polycarbophil)
Metamucil (psyllium)
Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)
ClearLax, MiraLax (polyethylene Glycol)
High-fiber diet
Cough medicine
Dextromethorphan (cough suppression)
Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough
Benylin Adult
Vicks 44 Cough Relief
Cough drops
Vicks VapoRub
Mucinex (guaifenesin, removes mucus from lungs)
Diarrhea treatment
Imodium
Kaopectate
Maalox anti-diarrhea (loperamide)
First-aid treatment
Bacitracin
J&J First-Aid Cream
Neosporin
Gas pain and bloating treatment
Simethicone
Gas-X
Maalox Anti-gas
Mylanta Gas
Mylicon
Heartburn treatment
Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, Tums (calcium carbonate)
Maalox or Mylanta Liquid (aluminum hydrozide, simethicone)
Pepcid AC (famotidine)
Zantac (ranitidine)
Hemorrhoids treatment
Anusol-HC (hydrocortisone)
Preparation H (phenylephrine, pramozine, glycerin, petrolatum)
Tucks pads
Insomnia medicine
Unisom SleepTabs (doxylamine succinate)
Tylenol PM (acetaminophen, diphenhydramine)
Benadryl 25-50 mg
Itching treatment
Hydrocortisone — Cortaid, Lanacort
Nausea, vomiting, motion sickness treatment
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)
Ginger root (ginger) 250 mg 4 times a day
Vitamin B6, 50 mg twice a day
Sea-Bands
Unisom SleepTabs (doxylamine succinate)
Pain relief and fever medicine
Tylenol (acetaminophen), 650-1,000 mg every 4 hours as needed. Do not take more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours
Rash treatment
Benadryl cream
Caladryl Clear lotion (pramoxine, zinc acetate)
Calamine lotion (calamine, zinc oxide)
Cortaid 1% (hydrocortisone)
Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment (colloidal oatmeal)
Sinus congestion treatment
Tavist Allergy, 1 tab every 12 hours
Benadryl 25-50 mg every 4-6 hours
Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) 1 tab every 4-6 hours after 12 weeks gestation
Claritin 10 mg daily
Zyrtec 10 mg daily
Clor-Trimetron (chlorpheniramine)
Sore throat treatment
Cepacol Maximum Strength sore throat spray or Sucrets (dyclonine hydrochloride)
Chloraseptic lozenges (benzocaine) or spray (phenol)
Halls or Robitussin lozenges (menthol)
Vicks Lozenges with honey (dextromethorphan hydrobromide)
Vaginal yeast infection treatment
Gynazole-1 (butoconazole)
Gyne-Lotrimin (clotrimazole)
Monistat-3 or 7 vaginal cream (miconazole)
Learn more
- Folic acid may reduce the chance of birth defects
- Medications for high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Pregnancy and allergies: Avoiding medication better for baby
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Posted In Health Information, Pregnancy, Women's
