Generally Safe Medicines

Some over-the-counter medications have been available for many years, and thus have “stood the test of time.”
Homeopathic preparations are also safe to take.

For the following health conditions, we have listed some drug store medicines that are generally safe in pregnancy, and can be taken if there is a strong need:

Allergy Symptoms: Chlortrimeton, Allerest, Claritin or Claritin-D, Zyrtec

Backache: Tylenol, Heat or Cold applied locally (see the section on low back pain)

Constipation: Colace, DOSS, Metamucil, Citrucel, Fibercon, Miralax. If severe, Milk of Magnesia

Coughing: Robitussin or Robitussin DM, Vicks cough drops, Recola

Diarrhea: Kaopectate, Immodium AD (please note that the Immodium package says to avoid
its use during pregnancy)

Fever: Tylenol, regular or extra strength. No aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Alleve, etc.

Gas Pains: Maalox Plus, Mylicon, Gas-X, Phazyme, Tums

Head Cold: Contac, Dristan, Zinc Lozenges (Cold-EZE), Vicks, Sudafed

Headache: Tylenol, regular or extra strength, follow package directions

Hemorrhoids: Preparation H, Anusol HC, Tucks (witch hazel) pads, Preparation-H wipes

Indigestion/Heartburn: Tums, Mylanta or Maalox. If severe, Pepcid AC or Pepcid Complete, or
Prilosec OTC (good for reflux)

Insomnia: Benadryl, Unisom, Tylenol PM

Itchy skin rash: Hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment (Ringworm rash, use Tinactin or Micatin)

Lact-Aid: enzyme products, like milk or tablets (containing lactase) pose no known risk.

Leg Cramps: Calcium (Tums, CitraCal), Calcium/Magnesium combination. Take 3 Tums at once in the evening for night-time leg cramps. Also, tonic water works well (the quinine in the tonic water can help leg cramps).

*In the Pasadena Newspaper is a column written by Dr. Gott. He has MANY readers who claim that placing
a bar of soap (like Dove) under the sheet at the end of the bed near their feet helps relieve leg cramps.
Please let me know if this works.

Nausea: Unisom (Sleep Tabs, not Sleep Gels), Dramamine, Meclizine

Sinus Congestion: Sudafed 12 hour, Saline nasal mist. We prefer avoiding Afrin as it can lead to dependence.

Sore Throat: Sucrets, Chloraseptic, Recola, Listerine gargle

Vaginal Yeast Infection: Monistat 1 day, Gyne-Lotrimin