Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the preferred over-the-counter pain reliever for use during pregnancy. It is considered safe and effective in relieving pain in all trimesters. This common OTC medication may be your pain reliever of choice if you have a fever, headache, or joint or muscle pain. You can buy acetaminophen without a prescription on its own or in combination with other medications.
Your doctor may also prescribe it in higher doses, alone or in combination with other medications. Paracetamol is considered the medication of choice for mild to moderate pain during pregnancy. It has a good safety profile based on a large number of pregnant women studied, and although possible links to autism and ADHD have been suggested in children who were exposed in utero, some experts consider these findings to be unconvincing and unproven. For more information, see the package leaflet on the use of paracetamol during pregnancy.
In addition to rest, a cold pack helps relieve headaches during pregnancy, while heat can relieve muscle pain. However, if you need additional relief, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). Remember to talk to your doctor before taking any pain reliever. NSAID class medications, such as Motrin and Advil, are often avoided during pregnancy because of the risks of lower amniotic fluid levels in the third trimester (which means less cushioning for the baby and more pressure on his lifeline, the umbilical cord), says Dr.
Advil can also producing a certain vessel in the baby's heart closes prematurely and causes developmental problems later in pregnancy. QUESTION My pregnant patients frequently ask me about taking pain relievers, sometimes for chronic diseases. As a result, these women may be at risk of receiving insufficient treatment, or not receiving treatment, for painful conditions. Several forms of fentanyl, including the patch, have been on the market for many years with no reports of serious adverse effects, and it is considered effective for all types of chronic pain, including cancer and non-cancerous pain.
Neuropathic pain (nerve pain) is usually severe and is usually not relieved by standard pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Call your doctor if you have additional questions or concerns, if you experience any new pain, or if you have symptoms of a cold or flu. It's not uncommon for women to have used other types of pain relievers early in pregnancy before realizing they are pregnant. The CDC warns women who are pregnant or trying to conceive not to use specific pain relievers and recommends that patients consult with their healthcare provider before taking any medications or supplements during pregnancy.
Because of fear of drug use during pregnancy, some pregnant women prefer to suffer rather than treat their pain. Treatment should generally be supervised by an obstetrician and pain specialist, and medication options may include amitriptyline (usually offered first) and then possibly duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin. Plummer and Mandal warn that ibuprofen may be the most popular NSAID, but there are many other pain relievers that should be avoided during pregnancy. Opioids (codeine, morphine, oxycodone) are a class of potent medications that doctors can prescribe to treat pain.
Pregnant women with long-term conditions associated with pain may be seen by a specialist. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that women who took NSAIDs and opioid pain relievers during early pregnancy were more likely to have babies affected by certain birth defects compared to women who took acetaminophen. .
