Safe Medications During Pregnancy

The medications below are generally safe to take during pregnancy for most women. This may not be a complete list. Always ask your healthcare provider before taking any medication, herb, or supplement. 

Fever, Headache, and Pain

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Colds and Cough

  • Cough Drops

  • Dextromethorphan (such as Robitussin DM, Robitussin PE, Vicks 44E)

  • Guaifenesin (Such as Mucinex)

  • Nasal Spray

  • Vicks VapoRub

Take only after 12 weeks of pregnancy

  • Phenylephrine

  • Pseudoephedrine (such as plain Sudafed)

  • Tylenol Cold

Sore Throat

  • Cepastat of Halls Throat Lozenges

  • Saltwater gargle

Motion Sickness

  • Dimenhydrinate (such as Dramamine)

  • Motion sickness wrist bands (such as Sea-Bands)

Allergies

  • Chlorpheniramine or Loratadine (antihistamines such as Claritin)

  • Diphenhydramine (antihistamines such as Benadryl)

  • Medicine with phenylephrine (such as Tylenol Allergy Multi-Symptom)

  • Nasal spray

  • Tavist Allergy

  • Zyrtec, plain

Nausea

  • Doxylamine (Unisom Sleep tablets)

  • Emetrol

  • Ginger

  • Peppermint oil

  • Vitamin B6

Heartburn, Gas, and Bloating

  • Antacids (such as Tums or Rolaids)

  • Gaviscon

  • Mylanta

  • Pepcid

  • Prilosec

  • Simethicone (such as Gas-X or Maalox)

  • Tagamet

Constipation

  • High fiber diet (not a medication)

  • Medications to take by mouth:

    • Calcium polycarbophil (such as Fibercon)

    • Citrucel

    • Colace

    • Dialose

    • Dulcolax

    • FiberGard

    • Miralax

    • Psyllium (such as Metamucil)

  • Treatments to rectum:

    • Anusol HS 1%

    • Cotton balls soaked in Milk of Magnesia

    • Hemorrhoid creams (such as Preparation H)

    • Tucks

    • Xylocaine 2.5% ointment

  • Hemorrhoid suppositories

Diarrhea

  • Kaopectate

  • Loperamide (Imodium)

Yeast or other fungal Infections

  • Butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra)

  • Clotrimazole (Cruex)

  • Miconazole (Monistat 3 or 7 or Desenex)

  • Mycelex

  • Other anti-fungal products (such as certain kinds of Desenex or Certain)

  • Tolnaftate (Absorbine Athlete’s Foot Cream, Absorbine Footcare, Genaspor, Tinactin)

  • Undecylenic acid used on the skin in small amounts (Cruex, Fungi Care, or Tineacide)

Insomnia (Not able to sleep)

  • Diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl, Maximum Strength Unisom Sleep Gels, or Sominex)

  • Doxylamine Succinate (such as Unisom Nighttime Sleep-Aid)

Itching

  • Hydrocortisone cream (Cortaid, Lanacort)

Cuts and Scrapes

  • Polysporin ointment (such as Bacitracin or Neosporin) 

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider.

Created: 09/2021

Reviewed: 02/2025

Revised: 02/2025