Source: www.DoctorsHub.com.ng


SIMPLE RULE OF THUMB: when you are pregnant, always ask your doctor before taking ANY drug! And by "ANY drug", I mean any drug, regardless of whether it be suppliments, over-the-counter medications or prescriotion drugs.


Of course, doctors understand that pregnancies are usually a very difficult experience for most women. Mothers-to-be often complain of a plethora of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, stomach pain, fatigue, swollen legs, etc, . And because of this, they practise self-medication: taking countless number of drugs at the same time without prescription! Tragically, this seemlessly ordinary act of self-medication often carries very damning consequences for both the mother and baby.


The process of pregnancy is a very delicate one. During pregnancy, the growing fetus is highly susceptible and vulnerable to the harmful effects of a lot of drugs, substances and food products. A lot of these drugs often cause severe complications: birth defects, stillbirths, miscarriages and other terrible effects to the mother, baby or both.


Regardless of whether these drugs are prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or food supplemets, it is extremely important that pregnant women pay very close attention to the medications they take.

Below are some 10 common drugs, some of them over-the counter drugs, that must be avoided during pregnancy;

#1. High dose Aspirin: high dose aspirin is aspirin in excess of 100mg. Aspirin is an NSAID and can be, occasionally, used to treat or prevent some peculiar conditions when given in low doses. Not withstanding, it can also prove a very dangerous drug when taken at a high dose. Never take aspirin on your own without first asking your doctor.

#2. Halofantrine: is an antimalarial drug. Also known as Halfan, this drugs is contraindicated in the first trimester (first three months of pregnancy) because it can damage the heart of the developing fetus. The drug of choice for malaria prevention during pregnancy is sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

#3. Ibuprofen: this drug belongs to a class of drugs known as NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug), and is often used for treating mild to moderate pain (e.g period pain, toothache, etc). However, when used in pregnancy, ibuprofen has been shown to cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus, oligohydramnios, fetal renal impairment, pulmonary hypertension, and prolongation of bleeding time.

#4. Flagyl (metronidazole): is an antibiotic used for treating vaginal discharge caused by bacteria and for treating diarrhoea. The first 3 months of pregnancy are the most delicate and flagyl must be avoided during this time. It has been associated with the development of cleft palate.

#5. Tetracycline: is commonly used for treating bacterial infections like urinary tract infections, gonorrhoea, etc. It is NEVER to be used during pregnancy and even after pregnancy when the mother is breastfeeding.

#6. Aminoglycosides: are a class of antibiotics and are known to cause permanent deafness in the developing fetus. They also cause severe kidney injury to the mother and her unborn baby. Examples include gentamicin, streptomycin, etc.

#7. Mercury-containing bleaching creams: mercury is a very toxic metal and the mere act of using it as a skin bleaching agent is enough to seriously harm both the mother and her unborn baby.

#8. Nicotine: is often found in cigarettes. Although, there are now specially made nicotine drugs, known as nicotine replacement therapy, for tobacco addicts. In any form it comes, nicotine is, just like alcohol, very harmful to the developing fetus. Avoid it as much as you can during pregnancy.

#9. Thalidomide: this drug used to be the number one cause of birth defects in newborns. However, its circulation has been largely restricted and banned in most countries. Even so, it is still available. This is one drug you want to always say a big NO to at anytime during pregnancy.

#10. Cocaine: lasts long in the body and can cause serious harm to your baby even if you don't take it during pregnancy, but were in the habit of taking it regularly before pregnancy.


Although the above list is not completely exhaustive, it captures some of the very common drugs out there, that are unsafe for the pregnant woman and her baby. Again, some drugs not listed here can equally cause serious problems when abused or taken during a particular trimester. The best and safest thing to do is to ALWAYS consult your doctor before you take anything, no matter how small or inconsequential it is.

For questions, clarifications, and comments, please visit www.DoctorsHub.com.ng


http://doctorshub.com.ng/2017/01/13/10-common-drugs-to-avoid-during-pregnancy/

This is more important

Im saving this for future use. Informative and better than Tonto Dike news

Oh! I never knew, flagyl, tetracycline and gentamicin.