Table of contents:
- Overcoming fever during pregnancy
- Safe fever medicine for pregnant women
- Cold medicine to avoid during pregnancy
- Overcoming headaches and back pain during pregnancy
- Headache medicine that is safe for pregnant women
- Headache medications that should be avoided during pregnancy
- Overcoming cold coughs during pregnancy
- Medicines for nasal congestion that can be used during pregnancy
- Cough medicine that can be used during pregnancy
All pregnant women expect their pregnancy to go smoothly without any problems. But sometimes it is inevitable for pregnant women to fall ill.
In conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, or other chronic diseases, pregnant women usually have medications that need to be taken regularly. These health conditions and medications need to be discussed with your doctor from the time you plan your pregnancy. The doctor will arrange for the administration of these drugs to be safe for your pregnancy, either by rearranging the dosage or by replacing certain drugs with other drugs.
For health problems such as fever, headache, runny nose, or cough, sometimes pregnant women experience confusion. Is it safe to consume over-the-counter drugs that are sold in pharmacies? Here are some common health problems and the rules for their treatment.
Overcoming fever during pregnancy
Unresolved high fever for more than 24 hours can harm the fetus, especially in the early stages of organ formation (the first 12 weeks of pregnancy). Over-the-counter anti-fever drugs include paracetamol and aspirin.
Safe fever medicine for pregnant women
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is generally safe to use during pregnancy, provided that the administration period is short and the dosage of the drug is correct; the total daily dose should not exceed the maximum dose limit. Paracetamol overdose can poison the kidneys and liver of both parties (both mother and fetus), can cause miscarriage and can cause fetal death.
Cold medicine to avoid during pregnancy
Aspirin should not be used by pregnant women, especially in the first and last trimesters. Aspirin can cross the placenta, meaning that taking aspirin works not only on the mother but also on the fetus. In addition to its function of reducing fever, another function of aspirin that endangers pregnancy is to increase the risk of bleeding during childbirth. In addition, aspirin taken in the third trimester can cause arterious duct (one of the blood vessels of the fetal heart) does not close completely.
Overcoming headaches and back pain during pregnancy
Pregnant women sometimes also experience back pain and headaches. Over-the-counter pain medications include paracetamol and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs).
Headache medicine that is safe for pregnant women
Paracetamol, apart from being an anti-fever drug, can also function as a pain reliever drug. Paracetamol is the first choice drug to treat complaints of pain and fever in pregnant women.
Headache medications that should be avoided during pregnancy
Ibuprofen is one of the most common NSAIDs. The use of NSAIDs in pregnancy should be avoided as much as possible because they can increase the risk of miscarriage, interfere with the closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus, poison the fetal kidneys, and inhibit labor. In some cases, there has also been a link between the use of NSAIDs during pregnancy and birth defects in infants.
Overcoming cold coughs during pregnancy
Pregnant women are more prone to coughs and colds because the immune system during pregnancy is usually slightly decreased. The main cause of a cold cough is a virus, which generally goes away on its own without treatment.
Cold cough medicines that are sold over the counter are usually in the form of a combination drug. When pregnant, it is better to choose drugs that are specific to certain complaints.
Medicines for nasal congestion that can be used during pregnancy
Decongestants are drugs that work to treat nasal congestion. Examples of common decongestants include phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. However, keep in mind, the use of decongestants in the first trimester of pregnancy should be avoided because it can result in disruption of the formation of the fetal stomach wall (gastroschisis).
There are two decongestant preparations, oral decongestants (oral drugs) and spray decongestants (spray). Pregnant women who need a decongestant are advised to use a spray decongestant. Spray decongestants are considered safer for pregnant women because the drug effect is only localized in the nasal area, the dosage is lower, and the drug exposure to the body is shorter. Some things such as using saline nose drops and using a humidifier can help relieve congestion.
Cough medicine that can be used during pregnancy
For pregnant women, the first choice drug to relieve cough is dextromethorphan. In general, dextromethorphan is safe for use by pregnant women. Choose pure dextromethorphan preparations, avoid combination cough syrup preparations that contain alcohol. In addition to medication, increasing the intake of fluids in the form of warm water, lemon water, or honey water can help relieve cough symptoms.
