4 Choice of ulcer medication for pregnant women that are safe to drink

Ulcer is a group of symptoms in digestion, such as heartburn, nausea and vomiting, to a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn). This condition can affect anyone, but pregnant women are among the most vulnerable to experience it. So, what ulcer drugs are safe to drink for pregnant women? See the following list of recommended drugs.

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Can pregnant women take ulcer medication?

Taking medication is indeed a quick and easy way to deal with ulcer symptoms, including ulcers in pregnant women.

This method turns out to be safe for pregnant women to do, but it is not used as the main treatment, as reported by the American Pregnancy Association.

Doctors will first advise pregnant women to take medication without drugs, such as avoiding foods that trigger acid reflux and eating small portions but often.

There are various food recommendations for pregnant women that can help meet the nutrition of pregnant women.

It is feared that the use of drugs can affect the health of the expectant mother and fetal growth during pregnancy, considering the drug has side effects.

Doctors will prescribe ulcer medication for pregnant women if previous treatments are not effective enough in relieving symptoms.

Choice of ulcer medication for pregnant women

Although it is safe, not all ulcer drugs that are sold in pharmacies and drug stores can be taken by pregnant women. Here are some drugs that are safe to drink for pregnant women:

1. Antacids

Antacids are one of the options for ulcer drugs in pharmacies for pregnant women that are tasked with neutralizing the amount of acid in the body.

In addition, antacids also work by coating the lining of the esophagus (esophagus) from acid.

This medicine is usually taken one hour after meals and at bedtime.

Before taking these types of antacid drugs, make sure you have read the information on the drug label or heed the instructions from the pharmacist.

Antacids are a category C pregnancy risk, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If the levels of magnesium and sodium in antacid drugs are not too high, it is likely safe for pregnant women to drink.

Too high levels of magnesium and sodium in ulcer drugs can potentially interfere with the contraction process during labor.

Therefore, it would be nice to read the composition of the drug and other information listed on the drug label.

Avoid taking antacid drugs while pregnant without consulting your doctor or pharmacist beforehand.

Also pay attention to the possible side effects of this ulcer reliever for pregnant women.

Antacid drugs can cause side effects in the form of constipation and increase the buildup of fluid in body tissues.

You are also not advised to take antacid drugs at the same time as iron supplements.

The reason is, antacids have the risk of stopping the flow of iron so that it cannot be absorbed by the body.

2. Sucralfate

Sucralfate is an ulcer medication that comes in liquid form with the function of restoring the injured digestive system lining.

In addition, this drug can also help protect the digestive system from exposure to acids and enzymes that risk causing irritation.

Don't worry, because sucralfate is proven safe to drink while pregnant.

This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category B, aka no risk in some studies, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

It's just that, this drug is usually obtained through a doctor's prescription. You can take this medicine 2-4 times a day.

The drinking rule is 1 hour before eating on an empty stomach or 2 hours after eating.

This ulcer drug is safe to drink within 4-8 weeks if the doctor allows it.

3. H2-receptor blockers

If taking antacids and alginates alone is not effective enough to treat symptoms, other drug options may be needed to reduce the amount of stomach acid.

Other ulcer drugs that can be given to pregnant women are cimetidine (Tagamet®), ranitidine (Zantac®), and famotidine (Pepcid®).

All of them belong to the group of H2-receptor blockers with a regular intake of usually once a day.

According to Stanford Children's Health, H2-receptor blockers work by reducing high acid levels in the stomach.

Types of H2-receptor blockers are included in the risk of pregnancy category B, aka no risk in some studies, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

That is why, this drug is believed to be safe for consumption by mothers during pregnancy, both the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester.

However, to be safer, you should further consult your doctor or pharmacist.

4.Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs

The choice of PPI drugs to treat ulcers in pregnant women can use lansoprazole (Prevacid®).

The drug lansoprazole is included in the risk of pregnancy category B, aka no risk in some studies, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While other types of PPI drugs such as omeprazole, rabeprazole (Aciphex®), pantoprazole (Protonix®), and esomeprazole (Nexium®), are different.

Some of these drugs fall into the category C pregnancy risk alias may be risky.

PPI drugs can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies or through a doctor's prescription for higher doses.

The rules for taking this medicine should be once a day or as recommended by a doctor or pharmacist.

This drug should only be given to pregnant women when normal doses of H2-receptor blockers cannot cure ulcers.

In short, there are several types of antacid drugs that are safe to take by pregnant women, but some are not.

To be safer, always consult your doctor or pharmacist about the best type of ulcer medication during pregnancy.

The use of drugs that are not recommended during pregnancy has the risk of causing pregnancy complications for the mother and the baby in the womb.

Pregnant women make sure of this before taking ulcer medication

Instead of immediately deciding to take ulcer medication during pregnancy, mothers are encouraged to first find out the truth of their complaints.

The reason is, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy do not always indicate symptoms of an ulcer.

This could have arisen because morning sickness. This condition can be relieved by resting, drinking lots of water, and ensuring that the surrounding air is free of annoying odors.

The reason is, the difference between pregnancy nausea and gastritis looks so similar that it often confuses pregnant women.

When nausea and vomiting lead to morning sickness, pregnant women do not need to take ulcer medication.

This is because the nausea and vomiting that you experience are one of the signs of pregnancy.

If you experience this condition, try checking it immediatelytest packor further consultation with a doctor.

Later, the doctor will help calculate the gestational age when it is detected.

Do a variety of ways to deal with nausea during pregnancy and eat nausea-relieving foods during pregnancy instead of taking ulcer medication right away.

You can suspect nausea and vomiting as symptoms of an ulcer if other symptoms are followed, such as heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn).

If you suspect that your symptoms are a sign of an ulcer, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.

Consultation to a doctor is necessary, especially if the symptoms are so annoying that it makes it difficult for you to do activities comfortably.