MEDICINES DURING PREGNANCY

Mandeep Kaur*, R.K. Patil and H.C. Patil

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is a very enthusiastic and eager feel but it is also having a great responsibility to the baby because most of the medicines are harmful for the infant. There are some teratogens like radiations which cause birth defects like abnormal growth as well as these effects child’s heart, kidney and brain also. Thalidomide tragedy is a most common example for teratogens. Cocaine, opioids, cannabis are the common drugs which can harm the fetus. On the other side, there are drugs that are having adverse effects as well as beneficial effects also and that are also used in pregnancy for their quality of being good. Cocaine, opioids, cannabis are the common drugs which can harm the fetus. But there are some drugs that helpful to treat some common symptoms like rantac improves heartburn, acetaminophen treats headache and fever, some laxatives and stool softeners like duphalac treats constipation and diarrhea. In first trimester drugs like vitamin B6 are very helpful and in second trimester some alcohol free lozenges are helpful to treat sore throat while in third trimester avoid NSAIDs as well as at breastfeeding morphine containing drugs should avoid. FDA makes some categories having pregnancy categories that controls the side effects and harmful effects and provide a better improvement to the mother and new born baby, that welcomes very happily to a new coming generation and provide them a secured life.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Thalidomide Tragedy, Teratogens.