 | Glen Mathis has been the co-owner of Mathis Drug Store in Girard since 1983. For more information or to reach Glen, please call 620-724-4313. |
Health & Medicine
1969-12-31 18:00:00
Pregnancy & medication - the good, the bad, and the ugly
Question: I am 8 weeks along in my first pregnancy. What do I need to be aware of with medications and is there anything that helps with nausea?
Answer: When you are pregnant, it is important to understand that everything you take into your body passes from your blood to the baby’s blood; therefore, it is best to avoid all over-the-counter medicines especially in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. This period is particularly important because it is during the first eight weeks when your baby’s heart, lung and brain systems are being formed. Remember that no medication is safe for 100 percent of the people, however there are times when the benefits of a medication far outweigh any risks.
Nausea, most known as morning sickness, is a very common symptom of pregnancy affecting the majority of pregnant women, although not every woman will experience it in the same way and to the same degree.
For women who are eager to alleviate their symptoms, it’s important to note that there is no way to totally eradicate the symptoms of morning sickness, but there are ways to minimize their effects.
•Eat and drink frequently, but in small amounts as soon as you are hungry or thirsty. An empty stomach is more likely to get “upset” than one that is full.
•Avoid foods that are spicy.
•Drink clear cold liquids (such as
lemonade, ginger ale).
•Take vitamins that trigger nausea
at bedtime rather than at the start
of the day.
•Cook with ginger (which has
been found to alleviate nausea and
vomiting).
If you are really struggling through your pregnancy because of your bouts with nausea and vomiting, medications are indeed an alternative. There are certain medications that may alleviate all or some of these symptoms, and they are considered relatively safe to both you and your baby during your pregnancy. Speak to your physician about the various alternatives and their potential side effects and risks. Some of these medications include: Doxylamine, Promethazine, Metoclopramide and Ondansetron. For those women who develop heartburn during pregnancy, there are also antacids to help curb reflux symptoms, which may trigger morning sickness symptoms.
Remember to follow any directions given to you by your physician or pharmacist carefully. Also, it is very important that you try very hard to get all you prescriptions at the same pharmacy. This way, your pharmacist will be able to warn you of potential drug interactions.
