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1. Importance of safe use of medicines during pregnancy
Improper use of medicines may also lead to premature babies, underweight babies, and stillborn births, and in less desirable cases teratogenicity and birth defects.
However, in patients with existing medical condition, premature withdrawal or negligence of due medical treatment may result in long-term complications on both the mother and the baby. Pregnant women should always seek medical advice prior to consume or discontinue any medications.
2. Medicine that can be used during pregnancy
The following list of medicine appeared to have no known harmful side effects during pregnancy when taken according to instructions. Note that no drug can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy. Always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications, especially in the first trimester.
| Common Conditions | Over-the-Counter Medicine | Pharmacy-Only Medicines (obtained through pharmacist) | Other |
| Allergy | - | Chlorpheniramine | - |
| Constipation | Fybogel | - | - |
| Cough | Diphenhydramine | - | |
| Indigestion | Antacid preparation containing Aluminum or Calcium | Famotidine | - |
| Nausea | - | Promethazine theoclate | - |
| Runny nose | Oxymetazoline nasal decongestant spray | Chlorpheniramine | - |
| Sore throat | - | - | Gargle with salt water |
3. Alternative therapies for morning sickness symptoms
| Symptoms | Alternative therapies |
| Nausea and vomiting | Pyridoxine |
| Backache | Postural adjustment (Chiropractic) |
4. Medicine that should be avoided in pregnancy
| Type of medications | Examples |
| Blood thinners | Warfarin |
| High blood pressure medications | Angiotensin Conventing Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEI) eg. Enalapril, Captopril, Lisinopril Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) eg. Losartan, Valsartan, Telmisartan |
| Acne medications | Retinoid derivatives |
5. Alternative therapies that should be avoided in pregnancy
| Types of alternative therapies | Contents |
| Oral supplements | Arbor vitae, beetroot, black cohosh, blue cohosh, cascara, chaste tree berry, Chinese angelica (dong quai), cinchona, cotton root bark, feverfew, ginseng, golden seal, juniper, kava kava, licorice, meadow saffron, pennyroyal, poke root, rue, sage, St. John's wort, senna, slippery root, tansy, white peony, wormwood, yarrow, yellow dock |
| Aromatherapy oils | Calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram, and thyme |
Pregnant women are advised to seek doctors' or pharmacists' advice before starting on any supplements or medications.
Updated July 2023
