{"id":4034,"date":"2019-05-06T09:00:53","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T13:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=4034"},"modified":"2021-03-31T13:20:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T17:20:16","slug":"taking-medicine-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/taking-medicine-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"What you should know about taking medicine while pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy can feel like a big list of don\u2019ts. Don\u2019t eat soft cheese\u2014or deli meats. Don\u2019t take cold medicine. And while going drug free for nine months sounds ideal, the reality is <\/span>nine out of 10 women<\/span><\/a> in the U.S. take medication at some point during their pregnancies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding pregnancy-safe medications isn\u2019t always easy\u2014especially if you regularly take medication for your mental health or a pre-existing condition. It\u2019s an important, must-have conversation with your healthcare provider as soon as you find out you\u2019re expecting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are there pregnancy-safe medications?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cEverything in life is about the risk-benefit ratio,\u201d says Felice Gersh, MD, founder and director of the <\/span>Integrative Medical Group of Irvine<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and author of <\/span>PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist’s Lifeline to Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones, and Happiness<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/a> \u201cIf the woman has a certain infection or a life-threatening disease, there may be a pharmaceutical she absolutely needs. You have to make compromises sometimes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the ability for a certain drug (such as blood pressure medication) to keep a mom-to-be healthy throughout her pregnancy may outweigh the small risk it poses to the developing fetus. This evaluation is considered by you and your doctor on a case-by-case basis, and it\u2019s important to understand all potential risks involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to how a drug may affect a fetus, timing is a huge component. \u201cIn general, the first trimester is the highest risk because that\u2019s the time when the fetus is most vulnerable,\u201d says Ceppie Merry, Ph.D., a clinical pharmacologist and writer for <\/span>Healthy But Smart<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThe growing fetus has an immature kidney and liver system, and it can\u2019t handle drugs the same way adults can. You need to be careful throughout every trimester, though, and even in what\u2019s called the \u2018fourth trimester,\u2019 as some drugs can be passed through breast milk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: What really makes it into breast milk?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The types of drugs you take also make a huge difference in the protection of the fetus. Some prescriptions\u2014and specific brands of prescriptions\u2014pose bigger risks than others. For example, valproic acid (Depakote) has shown a <\/span>high risk of causing physical birth defects and cognitive\/behavioral health issues<\/span><\/a> in babies in the womb compared with other anti-seizure medication. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression, <\/span>may increase the baby\u2019s risk of neonatal adaptation syndrome<\/span><\/a>, the impact of stopping the medication during pregnancy on the mental health of the mother may make it difficult for her to get good prenatal care. Again, it goes back to the risk-benefit analysis between you and your doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which medications are safe to take during pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a pregnancy safe medications list, your healthcare provider is the most accurate source of information. However, there are some that most providers agree are <\/span>safe to take<\/span><\/a> in moderation:<\/span><\/p>\n