Medications that are safe during pregnancy

  • Morning sickness/Nausea:

    Eat small, frequent meals, even as often as every 2 hours. Nausea is more common on an empty stomach or overly full stomach. Eat what sounds good to you and try cold foods if smells bother you.

    • Eat a protein snack at bedtime and keep protein snacky by the bed
    • Eat dry crackers, lemon drops, ginger cookies or toast before getting up in the morning (Cheez-it and Goldfish crackers work great as they have a little protein in them)
    • Make sure each meal or snack containers a source of protein to keep blood sugar levels stable
    • Try to avoid burshing teeth immediately afer waking in the morning or at night time right after eating to avoid stimulating gag reflex
    • Drink carbonated beverages, especially ginger ale that contains real ginger (like Canada Dry)
    • Suck on lemon drops or sip lemonade throughout day or when nauseated
    • Limit fatty food in diet as they are harder to digest
    • Try accupuncture wrist bands, like Sea-Bands, at P6 accupressure point per package instructions, available at Wal-Mart and Target
    • Ginger capsules 250mg by mouth 4 times/day or 8 ounces of ginger tea 4 times/day
    • For Mild nausea without vomiting take Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 25mg by mouth 3 times a day
    • For moderate nausea and mild vomiting (less than 2 times/day) or if no relief from Vitamin B6, ADD Unison (doxylamine) 12.5mg (1/2 tab) by mouth at bedtime and continue Vitamin B6 25mg 3 times/day
    • If no relief after 4-5 days try Unisom 25mg (whole tablet) by mouth at bedtime and 12.5mg (1/2 tab) in the morning and midafternood PLUS Vitamin B6 25mg 3 times/day.  May also increase Vitamin B6 to 50mg at beditime with 25mg in morning and midafternoon if needed.
    • Unisom can cause drowsiness.  Start with bedtime dose for 4-5 days first to decrease drowsiness, then add as needed and as tolerated in morning and afternoon.  NOTE: Bedtime dose helps with morning nausea, morning dose helps with afternoon nausea, and afternoon dose helps with evening nausea so adjust times for your particular needs.
  • Mild Headaches

    Tylenol per package directions

  • Migraine Headaches

    Tylenol, caffeinated beverage at start of headache. Cold compresses on head/lie down in dark room, if not resolved, may need prescription. Magnesium 200mg every 12 hours

  • Nasal Congestion/colds
          • Ocean mist nasal spray
          • Sudafed (PE is fine if no history of hypertension)
          • Tylenol cold/sinus preparation
          • Guaifenesin, Hytuss
          • Mucinex
          • Benadryl
          • Dayquil
    • Sinus Problems
            • Alavert/Claritin
            • Benadryl
            • Sudafed (PE is fine as long as no history of hypertension)
            • Tavis D
            • Traminic Allerchews
            • Vicks VaporRub
      • Sore Throat
              • Throat lozengers (ie: chloroseptic, cepacol, sucrets)
              • Warm salt water gargles
        • Cough
              • Musinex
              • Robitussin (plain or DM)
              • Vicks 44
              • Cough drops
              • Humidifier
              • Elevate head of bed at night to help sleeping
              • Increase water intake
          • Yeast Infections
                  • Monistat 7 day
                  • Gyne-lotrimin
            • Diarrhea
                    • Kaopectate
                    • Imodium
                    • If watery stools occur more than 8-12 times a day and last for more than 2 days OR are associated with fever (Temp> or = 101) OR have blood contained in the stool OR you are unable to urinate, you need to go to the ER if under 20 weeks pregnant or labor and delivery if 20 weeks or greater.
              • Constipation
                      • Metamucil, Citrucel
                      • Miralax, Milk of Magnesia (to get things moving)
                      • Colace (must be taken daily to soften stools, results seen after one week)
                      • Dulcolax (oral or suppositories)
                      • Fleets enema (last resort if above therapies have not worked)
                • Heartburn
                        • Maalox
                        • Mylanta
                        • Tums
                        • Pepcid/Tagamet
                        • If unresolved with above, Prilosec OTC
                  • Gas
                          • Maalox
                          • Gas-X
                          • Mylicon
                    • Hemorrhoids
                            • Chilled witch hazel packs (Tucks)
                            • Sitz baths
                            • Anusol HC
                            • Preparation H
                      • Insominia (difficulty sleeping)
                              • Benadryl
                              • Tylenol PM
                              • Unisom
                              • Nytol
                        • Leg cramps
                                • Calcium supplement 1000mg/day
                                • Maginex (magnesium supplement otc)
                                • Call if one leg is hot, swollen or significant calf pain unrelated to a leg cramp
                          • Nose Bleeds
                                  • Ocean mist nasal spray
                                  • Ayr gel
                                  • Air humidifier
                            • Fever (Temp greater or at 101 degrees

                              Tylenol per package direction (If fever lasts for more than 24-48 hours, please call the office for further instructions)