What medicines should women not take during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a pregnant woman's body is very sensitive to drugs, and many drugs may affect fetal development through the placenta, or even cause malformations or miscarriage. Therefore, it is important to know which drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. This article combines the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to compile a list of drugs that are prohibited during pregnancy, with detailed instructions to help expectant mothers get through their pregnancy safely.
1. Classification of prohibited drugs during pregnancy

According to the degree of harm of drugs to the fetus, drugs prohibited during pregnancy can be divided into the following categories:
| drug class | Representative medicine | Hazard statement |
|---|---|---|
| antibiotics | Tetracycline, streptomycin, chloramphenicol | May cause abnormal fetal bone development, hearing loss, or gray baby syndrome |
| Antiviral | Ribavirin | It has a clear teratogenic effect and is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy. |
| Antipyretic and analgesic | aspirin, ibuprofen | Use late in pregnancy may cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus |
| anti-epileptic | Phenytoin, valproic acid | May cause fetal neural tube defects or facial deformities |
| Hormones | Diethylstilbestrol | May cause reproductive tract abnormalities in female infants during puberty |
2. Suggestions on safe medication for common symptoms during pregnancy
Pregnant women will inevitably encounter colds, fevers, constipation and other problems during pregnancy. The following are safe medication recommendations for common symptoms:
| Symptoms | safe medicine | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| cold | Isatis root, honeysuckle | Avoid combined cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine |
| fever | Acetaminophen | Use with caution in late pregnancy and avoid overdose |
| constipation | Lactulose, dietary fiber | Avoid using stimulant laxatives such as senna |
| Allergy | Loratadine | Try to avoid using it in early pregnancy |
3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Contraindicated Drugs
Many people think that Chinese medicine is safer than Western medicine, but in fact many Chinese medicines are also highly toxic. Pregnant women need to pay special attention to:
| Traditional Chinese Medicine Category | specific drugs | Hazard statement |
|---|---|---|
| Activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis | Safflower, peach kernel, motherwort | May cause uterine contractions leading to miscarriage |
| More toxic type | Nux vomica, Sichuan Wu | Can directly damage fetal development |
| Diarrhea | Rhubarb, Glauber's salt | May stimulate uterine smooth muscle |
4. Medication principles and precautions
1.Consult a doctor: You should consult your obstetrician before using any medication, and never self-medicate.
2.Weigh the pros and cons: When medication must be used, choose the medication that has the least impact on the fetus and control the shortest course of treatment.
3.Read the instructions: Carefully check the "Drugs for Pregnant Women" section of the drug package insert.
4.Record medication: Establish medication records, including drug name, dosage and usage time.
5.Natural remedies preferred: If you have mild symptoms, you can first try natural therapies such as dietary conditioning and massage.
5. Pay special attention during special periods
1.Early pregnancy (1-12 weeks): It is a critical period for the formation of fetal organs, and the risk of drug teratogenesis is the highest. Drug use should be avoided as much as possible.
2.Second trimester (13-27 weeks): Relatively safe period, but still need to be used with caution.
3.Third trimester (after 28 weeks): Be aware that drugs may affect the fetus’ ability to adapt after birth.
The safety of medication during pregnancy is related to the health of mother and baby, and expectant mothers must be vigilant. If you have any questions about medication, you should consult a professional doctor in time, and do not listen to folk remedies or online rumors. I wish every expectant mother a safe pregnancy and a healthy and lovely baby!
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