Medicines that pregnant women should not take (risk classification)

Medications prohibited during pregnancy can cause fetal malformation or miscarriage and, therefore, it is important that if treatment is necessary during pregnancy, the obstetrician is consulted.

According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), medications can be classified according to their risk to pregnancy, with those classified as risk X being those medications that should not be used under any circumstances, as the risks outweigh the benefits. therapeutics.

To find out the type of risk of each medication, you can consult the medication leaflet, which may contain information about whether or not it is prohibited during pregnancy. It is essential that before taking any medication, the obstetrician is consulted, as this will prevent unwanted side effects and changes in the baby’s development.

Medicines only with a doctor’s prescription

Classification of medications according to their risk

The following table indicates the classification of medications according to the risk of their use during pregnancy:

Therefore, it is important that women do not self-medicate, as depending on the medication used, it can interfere with the baby’s development, in addition to causing complications in the pregnancy. Therefore, it is important that women go to prenatal consultations and inform the doctor of any symptoms not related to pregnancy so that an evaluation can be carried out and, if necessary, treatment with medication can be recommended.

Care when taking medications during pregnancy

The precautions that pregnant women should take before taking any medication include:

1. Only take medication under medical advice

To avoid complications, every pregnant woman should only take medications under medical supervision, including commonly used medications, such as Paracetamol.

2. Always read the leaflet

Even if the medication has been prescribed by your doctor, you should read the leaflet to check the risk of using it during pregnancy and what side effects may occur. If in doubt, see your doctor.

3. Take the medicine for the indicated time

Any medication prescribed by a doctor must be taken for the time and dose indicated by the doctor, as otherwise the drug may not have the desired effect or have adverse effects if used for longer or in doses higher than that indicated. .

4. Report any symptoms to your doctor

It is important that the woman informs the doctor about any symptoms that may have appeared after starting to use the medication, such as spots on the skin, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain or fever, for example, as these may be indicative of side effects. , and the doctor must suspend, change or adjust the dose of the medication to avoid complications.

Natural remedies contraindicated in pregnancy

Some examples of natural remedies contraindicated during pregnancy are those composed of the following medicinal plants:

How to cure illnesses without medicine

What is recommended to do to recover faster during pregnancy is:

• Rest as much as possible so that the body invests energy in curing the disease;
• Invest in a light diet and
• Drink plenty of water so that the body is properly hydrated.

In case of fever, what you can do is take a bath with a warm temperature, neither warm nor too cold, and wear light clothing. Dipyrone and paracetamol can be used during pregnancy, but only under medical supervision, and it is important to keep your doctor informed about any changes.