What should I be aware of when taking medicines during pregnancy?

Many medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. However, a small number of medicines can:

• harm your baby
• affect your baby’s growth and development
• increase your chance of pregnancy complications

Each medicine is different. Before taking a medicine while pregnant, find out if it’s safe to use. This way, you can protect yourself and your baby.

The effect of a medicine on your baby can depend on factors such as:

• the stage of your pregnancy
• how much medicine you take
• how often you take the medicine

How do I know what medicines are safe to use during pregnancy?

To find out what medicines are safe for use during pregnancy, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Sometimes it's not clear if a medicine is safe to use when you are pregnant. You can find out by:

• checking the medicine’s packaging
• reading the medicine’s consumer medicine information leaflet (CMI)

You can search for medicines by brand name or active ingredient in healthdirect's medicine section.

LOOKING FOR A MEDICINE? — To search by brand name or active ingredient, use the Medicines information search feature.

Should I stop taking my prescription medicines if I'm pregnant?

You may have prescription medicines to help with chronic (ongoing) conditions such as:

• asthma
• depression
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• high blood pressure

Some prescription medicines must not be taken when you are pregnant. Others should be used carefully.

Stopping some treatments can also cause problems that can affect you and your baby.

If your doctor thinks a medicine will cause more harm than the condition itself, then they may:

• change your medicine
• change the dose
• stop your medicine altogether

You might find that your doctor doesn’t change your medicine. If you take regular medicines, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor when you are planning a pregnancy.

Are over-the-counter medicines safe to take when pregnant?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy in a pharmacy, supermarket, or shop without a prescription.

Before using OTC medicines during your pregnancy, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

OTC medicines are often used to treat common conditions such as allergies.

What OTC medicines can I take for common conditions while pregnant?

There are different medicines for common conditions that are safe to take during pregnancy.

Before taking a medicine during pregnancy, always check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Cold and flu

During your pregnancy, you may get a cold, which can cause symptoms like:

• sore throat
• cough
• blocked or runny nose

Medicines such as cold and flu medicines are usually used to treat colds. During pregnancy, it’s best to treat your individual cold symptoms.

If you have a cough, medicines considered safe during pregnancy include:

• pholcodine or dextromethorphan for a dry cough
• an expectorant such as guaifenesin for a chesty cough
• a mucolytic such as bromhexine for a chesty cough

If you have a blocked nose during pregnancy, you can treat it by:

• inhaling steam (taking care to avoid burns)
• using 0.9% sodium chloride nasal medicines

You should not use oral decongestants such as phenylephrine. Nasal decongestants can be used, but not for longer than 3 days.

If you have a sore throat, you can:

• gargle salt water
• drink lemon and honey products
• use throat lozenges

Using too many lozenges can cause diarrhoea.

Avoid products that contain:

• povidone-iodine
• benzydamine

Aches and pains

Some pain relievers are safe for use during pregnancy.

You can use paracetamol to help with mild to moderate pain during pregnancy, like:

• muscle pain such as back pain
• headaches
• toothache

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided during pregnancy unless advised by your doctor.

Some women may be prescribed low dose aspirin for pre-eclampsia. You should always speak to your healthcare team before taking aspirin when pregnant.

Allergies and hayfever

Allergies, hay fever and pregnancy rhinitis can cause:

• sneezing
• itchy nose and eyes
• red, watery eyes

Antihistamines are often used to treat allergies. Most sedating antihistamines are safe to use in pregnancy at the recommended dose.

Non-sedating antihistamines such as loratadine should be used for the shortest length of time possible during pregnancy.

Allergy eye drops can also be used during pregnancy, for the shortest length of time possible.

During pregnancy, you can safely use corticosteroid nasal sprays that include:

• beclomethasone
• budesonide

Constipation

During pregnancy, the best way to manage constipation is to:

• eat more foods that contain fibre, like fruit, vegetables and wholegrains
• drink plenty of water

You can also speak to your doctor or pharmacist about taking a laxative.

You should avoid long-term use of laxatives that contain:

• senna
• bisacodyl

Heartburn

Around 8 in 10 pregnant women will experience heartburn and reflux.

If you have heartburn during pregnancy, you can try:

• avoiding spicy, rich, acidic foods
• avoiding lying down after eating

You can talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using antacids while pregnant.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea usually goes away without treatment.

During pregnancy, you can drink oral rehydration solutions to replace any fluids lost.

You should avoid treatments containing loperamide in the first trimester of pregnancy. It can be used after this on the advice of your doctor.

Thrush

Thrush is a common infection during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, you can treat thrush with topical creams containing clotrimazole and nystatin.

Avoid fluconazole unless advised by your doctor.

Will complementary medicines affect my pregnancy?

Complementary medicines are also called ‘traditional’ or ‘alternative’ medicines. They include:

• vitamins
• minerals
• herbal medicines
• aromatherapy
• homeopathy products

While these medicines are often described as natural, this does not mean they are safe. This is especially true during pregnancy. We often don’t know much about their safety.

If you want to use complementary medicines during your pregnancy talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you advice about which medicines are safe to use.

All pregnant women in Australia are advised to take some supplements, including:

• folic acid
• iodine
• vitamin D

Visit the vitamins and supplements during pregnancy page to find out more about what to take and what to avoid.

Other drugs

Illicit drugs should not be used during pregnancy, as they can cause harm for you and your baby. This includes:

• cannabis
• amphetamines
• heroin
• cocaine

You can talk to your doctor for support and advice.

Resources and support

If you have questions about taking medicines while you a pregnant you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse. The line is open 24 hours, 7 days a week (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) .

You can also call the Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) for information on OTC, prescription, and complementary medicines.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

There are also pregnancy and birth services specifically available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, including:

• Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Services — New South Wales
• Koori Maternity Services — Victoria

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

You can find pregnancy information in languages other than English at:

• Healthy Horizons
• The Multilingual Library Catalogue

You can also call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424), Monday to Friday.