Chris Taylor, MD Harrison Arkansas

USING MEDICATIONS DURING PREGNANCY

It is sometimes necessary to take medication when you are pregnant.

The following medications are safe to take at any time during pregnancy:

  • Prenatal vitamins
  • Pain medication or fever reducers
    • Tylenol (regular strength): 1 or 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours
    • If no relief: Extra-strength Tylenol: 1 or 2 tablets as directed on bottle
  • Antibiotics
    • Penicillin
    • Cephalosporins (Keflex)
    • Zithromax
    • Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
    • Erythromycin

For relief of cold symptoms:

Colds are caused by viruses. They do not harm the baby. Antibiotics are not prescribed because they cannot help with a cold. The cure for a cold is plenty of rest, eating and drinking well, and time. Colds tend to last longer when you are pregnant, sometimes up to 2 weeks.

You do not need to take medication for a cold if you don’t want to do so. However, if you have a fever above 100.3 degrees, you should take Tylenol to bring down your body temperature.

If you have a cold and need to take medication, you may use the following medications to relieve symptoms without calling our office first (generic substitutes are acceptable):

For runny nose

  • Sudafed
    • Follow package directions
    • You may take the 12-hour formula of Sudafed
    • Sudafed can cause insomnia in some people*
  • Benadryl
    • 25 mg. every 4 to 6 hours
    • Benadryl often causes drowsiness*
  • Afrin nasal spray
    • 2 to 3 times daily
    • Do not use for more than 3 days
    • * Try taking Sudafed during the day and Benadryl at night to avoid sleep problem

For sore throat

  • Cepacol lozenges
  • Chloraseptic spray
  • Gargle with warm diluted salt water

For cough

  • Robitussin DM. Follow directions on bottle.

For headache

Tylenol. See doses above.