The medicines are separated into categories (A, B, C, D and X), which indicate whether or not they can be taken by pregnant women without major complications.
Pregnancy is, without a shadow of a doubt, a special process in the lives of many women. A life is emerging inside the body of another life, and because of this, health always comes first so that everything goes well. Because of this, there is great concern in the minds of pregnant women about what medications they can take during pregnancy and what the risks are. Well, that's what we're going to talk about here to satisfy all your doubts.
In theory, no medication should be taken by a pregnant woman without a doctor's advice. Even medicines that have been tested and declared safe must be prescribed by a professional, as only they have the power to recommend the best medicine and the best dosage for a pregnant woman.
To facilitate this process, there is a categorization of medications, where they are classified into levels of danger to the body. The categories are: A (the safest medicines), B and C (medicines with average safety) and D and X, prohibited or not recommended for pregnant women. Some medications can cause malformation, miscarriage and several other problems in the fetus. Furthermore, if they are ingested at the beginning of pregnancy, they can be even more harmful.
To better understand, below you will learn about the categories and learn about some of the medications that pregnant women can or cannot take.
Classification of medicines that pregnant women cannot take:
Categoria A
Medicines in this category have undergone studies and tests on humans and have not presented any problems, neither for the woman nor for the baby. Tests showed that medications in this category did not influence the first trimester of pregnancy, and there was no evidence of underlying problems. In other words, pregnant women can probably take category A medications, but the ideal is to always consult an obstetrician.
Examples of category A medications are retinol A and pyridoxine.
Categoria B
Category B medicines are medicines that have not been massively tested on humans, however, tests on animals did not have side effects. So, when they were tested on humans, they did not present any problems for the fetus.
Examples of category B medications are benzatron, Gamax, Keforal, Simvastatin and Busonid.
Category C
These medications have not been comprehensively tested on humans, but animal tests have also not demonstrated any risks to the baby. However, they are only used when the benefits outweigh the harms, such as Hepatilon, Gamaline V, Pravacol, Desonide and Tolrest. Therefore, pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking the medicine, as he will indicate whether there are risks or not.
Category D
Category D medications have been tested on humans and present some type of risk to the fetus. Therefore, they should only be used in serious cases, which do not have other safer treatments, such as Aspirin; Acetylsalicylic acid; Amitriptyline; Azathioprine and Streptomycin.
Categoria X
These medications presented problems in the development of the fetus and cannot be used in any way during pregnancy. Among the medications are Methotrexate and Penicillamine.
Medicines that pregnant women can or cannot take: Antibiotics
Tetracycline
Classified in category X, tetracycline is capable of crossing the placenta and causing side effects in the fetus. The medicine is widely used to treat acne and urinary tract infections, but should not be taken by pregnant women. Among the side effects is the discoloration of the baby's tooth enamel and changes in the linear development of the fetal skeleton. Furthermore, it can cause mouth ulcers, photosensitive reactions and hypoplasia of the fetal tooth enamel.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic widely used by the population in general, as it treats various types of bacterial infections. As for pregnant women, you can rest assured, as this medicine is classified in category B. However, always consult your doctor, as only he can recommend the right dose.
Medicines that pregnant women can or cannot take: Antipyretics and anti-inflammatories
Antipyretics and anti-inflammatories are the two types of medicine most purchased in pharmacies by the population. In general, you do not need a prescription to buy any of these, however, if you are pregnant, it is best to be careful, as your body is not like it was before. See below when and which medications pregnant women can take.
Paracetamol
Despite being a category B medicine, its use should be moderate. However, paracetamol is one of the few drugs in this class that can be used by women during pregnancy. Therefore, the dosage of the analgesic and antipyretic is a maximum of 1 gram per day. It is a very important medicine for pregnant women, as it solves problems that arise during the pregnancy process, such as headaches and fevers.
To avoid inconvenience, consult your doctor, as he will advise you on the best dosage for your specific body.
Dipyrone
The use of dipyrone by pregnant women should be avoided, as its use can cause malformations in the fetus. This happens because the substances present in the medicine can prematurely close the ductus arteriosus, which causes clotting problems in both the mother and the baby.
In the United States, the sale of dipyrone is prohibited because it can cause spinal cord aplasia.
Medicines that pregnant women can or cannot take: Antihypertensive
Spironolactone
Classified in category D of the table, spironolactone is a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure, but its use during pregnancy should only be done under medical supervision. Among its risks, it can cause fetal malformations and harm the baby's health.
Vitamin:
Folic acid
The medicine folic acid should be used by all pregnant women, as it helps prevent problems with the baby's fetal nervous system. As a result, it reduces the risk of diseases such as anencephaly. Therefore, this medicine is classified in category A of the table.
Natural remedies that pregnant women cannot take
Brazilians tend to consume many natural remedies and during pregnancy this is no different. That said, you need to be aware of medicinal plants that are not recommended for pregnant women. Below are some that need to be avoided:
Aloe vera, jaborandi, catuaba, santa maria herb, purslane ivy, Our Lady's tear jar, mata pasto, swallow herb, thick herb, macaé herb, rhubarb, artemisia, copaíba, guaco, jurubeba, cascara sacred, arnica, myrrh , sorrel, senna, garden clove, stone break, yerba de bicho, angelica cinnamon and ipê.
What medicines can a pregnant woman take?
To find out whether a pregnant woman can take any medication or not, simply check the medication's risk classification on the leaflet. It must indicate risk category A, however, any medicine must be used under medical supervision.
I took medicine, but I didn't know I was pregnant. What to do?
If you took any medication while you were pregnant, but were unaware of the pregnancy, the ideal is to write them all down and notify your obstetrician as soon as possible. Making this communication is important because it may be necessary to carry out tests to assess the baby's health, especially if the medication was used in the first three months of pregnancy, as at this stage complications are more likely to arise.
Anyway, read more about motherhood in What not to eat during pregnancy? 13 foods that need to be avoided.
Sources: Tua Saúde, Tua Saúde, Meu Diaperario.
Images: Bebê Abril, Vix, Pixabay, Semper Materna, Pixabay, Pixabay, Balança Certa, Balança Certa.
