Contents:
- Medical Video: Can You Take Pepto While Pregnant?
- Is it safe if pregnant women take pepto-bismol diarrhea medication?
- Is there a drug other than pepto-bismol that is safe for pregnant women to drink?
Medical Video: Can You Take Pepto While Pregnant?
Pregnant women often complain of having diarrhea. This condition certainly makes pregnant women tired faster because they have to go back and forth to the bathroom. When not pregnant, you can certainly take diarrhea medication such as pepto-bismol without hesitation. But can you take pepto-bismol medicine while you are pregnant?
Is it safe if pregnant women take pepto-bismol diarrhea medication?
Pepto-bismol is a drug that contains the active ingredient salicylate. This drug effectively reduces inflammation in the stomach lining, slows down bowel movements, and reduces stomach acid production. The benefits of the drug content can overcome diarrhea, heartburn and stomach cramps.
Pepto-bismol is generally safe to drink. However, when you are pregnant, you need to think twice before taking this medicine. FDA,The Food and Drug Administration in the United States emphasizes pregnant women should avoid diarrhea pepto bismol. Why?
During pregnancy, the body becomes very sensitive to all kinds of substances that enter the body. This can affect the health of the fetus and the mother. Well, pHealth experts believe that using pepto-bismol during pregnancy may have side effects that are not much different from aspirin.
Aspirin and pepto-bismol both contain salicylates which may increase bleeding and affect fetal heart health. This condition can occur if pregnant women use aspirin for a long time or excessive doses.
Besides being pregnant, using pepto-bismol should also be avoided when you are breastfeeding. The ingredients in the drug can be mixed with breast milk and enter the baby's body. Research on the side effects of using this drug during breastfeeding is also very limited, so it is feared that it will adversely affect maternal and fetal health.
Is there a drug other than pepto-bismol that is safe for pregnant women to drink?
Don't worry, in addition to pepto-bismol, there are many other drugs that can help you overcome the disruption of pregnancy while breastfeeding. Some of the drug choices include:
- Loperamide (imodium) to treat diarrhea
- Cimetidine, nizatidine, omeprazole, or ranitidine to treat stomach acid reflux or heartburn
- Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 to treat nausea
If you are still unsure about the safety of the drug, first consult a doctor before using diarrhea or other drugs. Your doctor will help you find a safe solution to relieve symptoms, not only drugs but also lifestyle changes.
