Medication in Pregnancy — Safe or Avoid?
Find out which medications are safe during pregnancy, which require caution, and which to avoid. Guidance for all three trimesters, based on FDA data and NHS guidelines.
Last reviewed:
⭐ Recommended: Managing medication safely through pregnancy — these essentials are trusted by mums-to-be.
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Ibuprofen in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid ibuprofen in pregnancy — particularly in the third trimester, where it can cause serious compl…
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Paracetamol in Pregnancy
Generally safe
Paracetamol is the recommended painkiller throughout pregnancy — use the lowest effective dose for t…
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Aspirin in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Low-dose aspirin (75mg) is sometimes prescribed in pregnancy for specific conditions — but standard …
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Metformin in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Metformin is sometimes continued or started in pregnancy for gestational diabetes — but requires clo…
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Sertraline in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Sertraline in pregnancy requires careful assessment of risks vs benefits — stopping antidepressants …
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Fluoxetine in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Fluoxetine in pregnancy should only be continued or started under medical supervision — untreated de…
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Warfarin in Pregnancy
Avoid
Warfarin is contraindicated in pregnancy — it causes fetal warfarin syndrome and bleeding. Heparin i…
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Omeprazole in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Omeprazole is sometimes used in pregnancy for severe heartburn but requires medical advice — particu…
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Codeine in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid codeine in pregnancy — it can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and respiratory depres…
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Diazepam in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid diazepam in pregnancy — it is associated with neonatal withdrawal syndrome and respiratory dep…
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Amoxicillin in Pregnancy
Generally safe
Amoxicillin is considered safe throughout pregnancy and is one of the most commonly prescribed antib…
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Levothyroxine in Pregnancy
Generally safe
Levothyroxine is safe and essential to continue in pregnancy — hypothyroidism must be well-controlle…
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Naproxen in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid naproxen in pregnancy — like all NSAIDs it risks fetal kidney and heart complications, especia…
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Tramadol in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid tramadol in pregnancy — prolonged use causes neonatal withdrawal, and use near delivery risks …
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Citalopram in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Citalopram can be continued in pregnancy when needed — the risks of stopping antidepressants suddenl…
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Escitalopram in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Escitalopram may be continued in pregnancy when needed — data are broadly reassuring and stopping su…
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Cetirizine in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Cetirizine is one of the preferred antihistamines in pregnancy — evidence is reassuring, though lora…
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Loratadine in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Loratadine is the first-choice antihistamine in pregnancy in UK guidance — large studies show no pat…
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Salbutamol in Pregnancy
Generally safe
Keep using your salbutamol inhaler in pregnancy — uncontrolled asthma is far more dangerous to your …
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Doxycycline in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid doxycycline in pregnancy — tetracyclines deposit in developing teeth and bones; safer antibiot…
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Trimethoprim in Pregnancy
Avoid
Avoid trimethoprim in the first trimester — it blocks folic acid, which the baby's neural tube needs…
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Nitrofurantoin in Pregnancy
Use with caution
Nitrofurantoin is the usual UTI antibiotic through most of pregnancy — but it's avoided from around …
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Atorvastatin in Pregnancy
Avoid
Stop statins when pregnant or trying to conceive — cholesterol is essential for fetal development, a…
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Ramipril in Pregnancy
Avoid
ACE inhibitors like ramipril must be stopped in pregnancy — second and third trimester exposure dama…