{"id":15172,"date":"2020-08-28T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-08-28T13:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=15172"},"modified":"2020-08-27T14:49:18","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T18:49:18","slug":"pain-medicine-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/pain-medicine-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"What pain medications are safe to take while pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back pain, indigestion, muscle tenderness, and leg cramps<\/span>\u2014<\/span>these are all common <\/span>pregnancy-related<\/span><\/a> aches and pains… as anyone who has been pregnant likely knows! Pregnant women may experience a variety of symptoms from breast tenderness and leg cramps in their first and second trimester to Braxton Hicks contractions in the third, and chances are at some point they\u2019ll be reaching into the medicine cabinet for some pain relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What medications are safe to take during pregnancy?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Is it safe to take pain medications while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Taking pain medicine while pregnant can be cause for uncertainty, but it\u2019s also a commonly reported medication taken during pregnancy. According to <\/span>The Centers for Disease Control<\/span><\/a> (CDC), 9 out of 10 pregnant women reported taking pain medication during pregnancy. The CDC does caution women who are pregnant, or trying to conceive, against using specific pain medications and recommends that patients consult with their medical health provider prior to taking any medications or supplements while pregnant. But that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re out of pain options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which pain medications are best to take during pregnancy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The shortest answer is: take Tylenol while pregnant, <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Is Tylenol an NSAID?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Tylenol while pregnant: Safe<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cAcetaminophen, such as Tylenol, is the safest option to take during pregnancy; however, take as little of it as possible for the shortest course,\u201d<\/span> says <\/span>Soma Mandal<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified internist at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWomen who took acetaminophen were less likely to have birth defects,\u201d Dr. Mandal says of the study.<\/span><\/p>\n

While acetaminophen may be the drug of choice when looking for pain relief while pregnant, it\u2019s still important to read the labels every time you purchase medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAvoid combination medications, so you do not end up taking an unnecessary medication or a dangerous medication,\u201d says <\/span>Danielle Plummer<\/span>,<\/span><\/a> Pharm.D., the founder of HG Pharmacist. \u201cFor example, Excedrin has not only acetaminophen but also aspirin and caffeine, so avoid it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Get acetaminophen coupon<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Ibuprofen while pregnant: Not safe<\/span><\/h3>\n

The CDC cautions against pregnant women taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)\u2014which includes ibuprofen, as well as opioids during pregnancy\u2014after a study was conducted that linked these types of pain medications with an increase in birth defects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies show that use of NSAIDs increase the chance of spontaneous miscarriage, with <\/span>one study<\/span><\/a> stating that prenatal use of NSAIDs increased the chance of miscarriage by 80%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drs. Plummer and Mandal both warn that ibuprofen may be the more popular NSAID, but there are many other pain medications that should be avoided during pregnancy. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n