If you’re pregnant and can’t remember if it’s Tylenol or ibuprofen you’re allowed to take for your headache, you’re not alone.
“Ibuprofen is the one a lot of people think is OK to take,” said Dr. Amanda Von Hoene, an OB-GYN with St. Elizabeth’s Cold Spring office. But ibuprofen ““ sold under the common brand names of Motrin and Advil ““ could cause problems for your baby. (So, stick with the Tylenol.)
Another risky behavior pregnant women commonly adopt is to stop taking their medications altogether once they find out they’re pregnant, Von Hoene said, but that could cause problems for you and your baby, as well.
Most doctors will give their patients a list of safe medications to take during pregnancy, Von Hoene said, but when in doubt, ask, and always consult with your doctor before starting or stopping any medications.
“A lot of things will be OK, like Tylenol and certain antibiotics,” she said, “but always check with your doctor to be sure.”
The allergy medication Claritin is another approved medication to take during pregnancy, but Claritin-D is not. “Anything with a ‘D’ for decongestant is not going to be OK,” Von Hoene said.
Also, some antidepressants are safe during pregnancy, but others aren’t, such as Paxil, she said: “We try to get people off of Paxil before they become pregnant.”
Anticonvulsant medications used for epilepsy also can cause problems during pregnancy.
In addition, Von Hoene said, always avoid alcohol, drugs and tobacco during pregnancy because those can cause severe risks to your baby.
For a list of safe medications to take during pregnancy, click here.
