Safe Medicines During Pregnancy

Always check with your Women’s Care physician if you have questions about taking medications during pregnancy. Listed below are a few recommendations for over-the-counter options that you may take while pregnant.

Avoid medications and products that have phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine in them.

Find a Provider

Allergy Medications

First choice:
Claritin; Allegra; loratadine; Zyrtec
Second choice: 
Benadryl (diphenhydramine); chlor-trimeton (chlorpheniramine)
Third choice: 
Sudafed (after 1st trimester. Limit daily use) In general, avoid any medication that contains phenylephrine.
 

Allergy Eye Drops

  • Alaway (Ketotifen)
  • Claritin Eye Drops (Ketotifen)
  • CVS Eye Itch Relief (Ketotifen)
  • Systane Zaditor (Ketotifen)
  • Saline

Decongestant Nasal Spray

  • Decongestant nose sprays are not recommended during pregnancy.

Cough & Cold

  • Robitussin DM
  • All Tylenol Cold & Flu products (generic equivalents)
  • Honey

Cough & Cold: Cold Rubs 

  • Halls Menthol Cough Suppressant/Oral Anesthetic
  • Vicks VapoRub Cough Suppressant/Topical Analgesic

Cough & Cold: Cough Drops 

  • Halls Menthol Cough Suppressant/Oral Anesthetic Plus Medicine Center
  • Ricola Cough Suppressant Throat Drops
  • Vicks Menthol Cough Suppressant/Oral Anesthetic Drops  

Cough & Cold: Sore Throat Relief 

  • Cepacol Dual Relief Sore Throat Spray
  • Cepacol Sugar Free Extra Strength
  • Sore Throat Lozenges with Pain Numbing Relief
  • Cepacol Maximum Strength Sore Throat Lozenges

First Aid: Anti-itch Creams 

  • Aveeno Active Naturals Anti-Itch Concentrated Lotion
  • Aveeno Calamine & Pramoxine HCl Anti-Itch Cream with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal- Steroid Free
  • Benadryl Original or Extra Strength Itch- Stopping Cream or Gel
  • Calamine Lotion
  • Cortaid Anti-Itch Cream, Maximum Strength1% Hydrocortisone Cortizone-10 Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Cream
  • Eucerin Calming Itch Relief Treatment
  • Gold Bond Medicated Body Lotion Extra-Strength or Anti-Itch Cream
  • Lanacane Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Cream Sarna Anti-Itch Lotion

Hemorrhoid Care

  • Anusol
  • Preparation H
    • Medicated Wipes with Aloe
    • Hemorrhoidal Cream with Maximum Strength Pain Relief
    • Hemorrhoidal Ointment
    • Hemorrhoidal Suppositories 
  • Tucks Witch Hazel Hemorrhoidal Medicated Pads

Lice Treatment

  • NIX

Nasal Spray

  • Saline nasal spray Ipratropium 0.06% nasal spray 
  • Cromolyn sodium (5.2mg/spray)
  • Flonase (Fluticasone)

Pain Relief 

  • Tylenol Regular or Extra Strength
  • Tylenol Extra Strength PM Pain Reliever/Sleep Aid
  • Tylenol PM Extra Strength Pain Reliever/Nighttime Sleep Aid

(Long-term chronic use is not advised.)

Stomach Remedies: Antacids

  • Gaviscon
    • Antacid with Calcium, Chewable Tablets
    • Extra Strength Antacid, Chewable Tablets
    • Extra Strength Liquid Antacid
  • Maalox Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Antacid/Antigas, Chewable Tablets, or liquid
  • Mylanta Antacid/Anti-gas
    • Regular Strength
    • Maximum Strength
    • Ultimate Strength
  • Pepcid AC Original Strength Acid Reducer 10 mg, Tablets
  • Rolaids
    • Extra Strength
    • Plus Extra Strength Antacid & Antigas
  • Tums
    • Regular Strength
    • E-X 750 Extra Strength
    • E-X 750 Extra Strength
    • Ultra 1000 Maximum Strength

Stomach Remedies: Anti-Diarrheal

  • Imodium A-D Anti-Diarrheal
  • Imodium A-D Advanced Anti-Diarrheal/ Anti- Gas, Caplets
  • Maalox Anti-Diarrheal Caplets

Stomach Remedies: Fiber Supplements

  • Citrucel Methylcellulose Fiber Therapy for Regularity
  • Fiber Choice Fiber Supplement
  • Metamucil Fiber Laxative
  • Miralax – 1-2 capfuls in your juice or water

Stomach Remedies: Gas Relief

  • Gas-X Extra Strength Anti-Gas
  • Gas-X Extra Strength Anti-Gas Plus Antacid with Maalox
  • Mylanta Regular or Maximum Strength Gas
  • Phazyme Ultra- Strength Gas Relief
  • Rolaids Multi-Symptom Antacid & Anti-gas
  • Simethicone /Anti-Gas

Stomach Remedies: Nausea/Vomiting

  • Preggie Pops 
  • Benadryl 25-50mg with vitamin B6 25-50mg q 6 hours
  • 12.5mg Doxylamine (Unisom) at night. These work synergistically to help nausea the next day.
  • Sea-bands

(Contact us if you are unable to keep any food or liquids down for 24 hours.)

Vaginal Yeast Infection

  • Generic Clotrimazole 7 Vaginal Cream
  • Monistat 7 Vaginal Cream (Miconazole)
  • Monistat 7 Suppositories

Stomach Remedies: Stool Softeners

  • Colace Stool Softener 50 mg 
  • Colace Stool Softener 100 mg
  • Miralax