Over the Counter Medications in Pregnancy

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Over the Counter Medications in Pregnancy

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Condition	Medication	Reference(s)
Antihistamine	Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton®)	1,3
Antiflatulent (anti gas)	Simethicone (Mylanta®)	1
Antidiarrheals	Kaolin and pectin (Kaopectate) (DOC)	1
Cough	Cough drops	1
Constipation	Metamucil® Docusate (Colace®, Ducolax®) Polyethylene glycol (Miralax®) Milk of magnesia	4
Decongestants	Pseudophedrine . Avoid in first trimester	1,3,5
Gastroesophageal reflux /Heartburn	Calcium carbonate (Tums®) Famotidine (Pepcid®) Esomeprazole	1,6,7
Headache or fever	Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)	1,3
Hemorrhoids	Increase fiber content in the diet. Soak in warm water in a sitz bath • Tucks® pads with witch hazel • Hydrocortisone 1% cream	6,10,11
Insomnia	Doxylamine	6
Motion sickness	Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®)	9
Nasal decongestant	Oxymetazoline nasal Avoid use for > 3 days Saline nasal spray (Ocean Mist®)	1
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy	Pyridoxine Ginger Doxylamine	6
Rash	• Hydrocortisone 1% cream	10
Vaginal yeast infection	Clotrimazole (Lotrimin®) Miconazole (Monistat®) Only topical azole therapies recommended by the CDC	1

Changes may occur, since the last update, which affect the accuracy and availability of the information presented. Visitors are advised to verify the information independently.

Reviewed by Mark Curran, M.D.

References

1. Black RA, Hill DA. Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Jun 15;67(12):2517-24. PMID: 12825840.
2. Briggs GG,Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ, Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk 9th edition, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins,2011 p 97,
3. Seema H. Ledan, PharmD OTC Medication Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding US Pharm. 2019;44:9):16-19 Available at : https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/otc-medication-use-in-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding
4. Laxatives Mother to Baby November 1, 2022 Avialabe at: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/laxatives/
Retrieved 2/1/2025 Accessed
5. Wigle PR,Pregnancy and OTC Cough, Cold, and Analgesic Preparations March 15, 2006 Available at:https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pregnancy-and-otc-cough-cold-and-analgesic-preparations Retrieved 2/2/2025
6. Gerson LB. Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2012 Nov;8(11):763-4. PMID: 24672414; PMCID: PMC3966174.
7. Altuwaijri M. Evidence-based treatment recommendations for gastroesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy: A review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Sep 2;101(35):e30487. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030487. PMID: 36107559; PMCID: PMC9439837.
8. Wigle, et. al., OTC Medications for GI Disorders in Pregnancy. u.s.pharmacist Avaialble at: https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/otc-medications-for-gi-disorders-in-pregnancy Retrieved 2/2/2025
9.Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea And Vomiting Of Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jan;131(1):e15-e30. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002456. PMID: 29266076.
10.Chi CC, et al. Safety of topical corticosteroids in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Oct 26;2015(10):CD007346. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007346.pub3. PMID: 26497573; PMCID: PMC8558096.
11. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. What can I do for hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
Availabe at: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/what-can-i-do-for-hemorrhoids-during-pregnancy
Retrieved 2/3/2025