Medicines and vaccinations must be handled very carefully during pregnancy. Which medicines should you not take at all, and which ones can you? Are any vaccinations allowed during pregnancy? 

Pregnancy and medication do not go well together, as they can cause serious problems, both for the expectant mother and for the unborn baby. But sometimes you need to bring down a fever. How do you deal with a cold, cough, or heartburn? If you’re pregnant, it won’t be easy. There are not too many medicines that can be taken during pregnancy. Here is a selection of them:

Medicines for pain and  fever

The commonly available drug Paralen is safe in usual doses throughout pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Acylpyrine, ibuprofen, and other medicines belonging to the group of so-called nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs should not be used in the third trimester of pregnancy. Ibuprofen and diclofenac can be safely used during breastfeeding.

Anti-emetic drugs

Especially in the first trimester, a woman can suffer from nausea and vomiting. The drug of first choice should be a drug called Degan, Cerucal, or Torecan.

Heartburn medicine

Heartburn is another common pregnancy problem. A safe drug for these problems is Maalox, which can also be used during breastfeeding.

Medicines against diarrhea and constipation

Laxatives such as Lactulose or Regulax can be used throughout pregnancy. The over-the-counter diarrhea medication Imodium is also safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cough medicine

Cough suppressants or antitussives include Codeine, Guajacuran, Stoptussin, and Sinecod. Codeine should not be administered throughout pregnancy. During breastfeeding, it can be used in normal doses. Stoptussin and Sinecod must not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy. In the case of a significant dry cough, it can be given in the second and third trimester. The manufacturer does not recommend the drugs Bromhexine and Mucosolvan throughout pregnancy.

Cold medicine

Medicines that relax nasal passage can be used during pregnancy. The dosage must always be followed according to the instructions.

Vaccination during pregnancy

Pregnant women are vaccinated only in necessary situations, such as tetanus and rabies. In other cases, the doctor must consider all the risks for both the woman and the fetus. Live vaccines are very dangerous during this period and are usually contraindicated.

• Measles – vaccination is only necessary in exceptional cases of an epidemic.
• Jaundice – vaccination is prohibited during pregnancy.
• Mumps – vaccination is not permitted during pregnancy; childhood vaccination is usually sufficient.
• Rubella – all girls should be vaccinated. Since the vaccination is carried out with a live vaccine, it is prohibited during pregnancy.
• Influenza – vaccination is not recommended for pregnant women.

There are a large number of medicines and herbal preparations, and their exact effects are reported only for a very small part. That is why we avoid medicines and some herbal preparations as much as possible during pregnancy.