Can i take imodium if im pregnant

UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy. Loperamide may also be prescribed to treat long-term diarrhoea due, for example, to irritable bowel syndrome, or to help digestion in people who have had part of their intestine removed.

At present, there is information on only around babies of women who were treated with loperamide during pregnancy see below. More pregnancies need to be studied to be able to say whether or not use of loperamide in pregnancy is safe. When deciding whether treatment with lopermaide in pregnancy is appropriate, it is therefore necessary for women and their doctors to weigh up the risks and benefits to both mother and baby of not taking a specific treatment against those of continuing the treatment.

If you have taken any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need the medicines that you are on and to make sure that you are taking the lowest dose that works. It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects. There is mixed scientific evidence about whether taking loperamide during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the chance of having a baby with a birth defect.

The chance of birth defects has been studies in only around babies born to women taking loperamide in early pregnancy. This study also found a possible link between loperamide use in early pregnancy and hypospadias where the urethral opening is somewhere on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. Two studies that investigated the chance of heart defects produced mixed findings, with one finding that babies exposed in the womb to loperamide had an increased chance of heart defects compared to babies unexposed to loperamide, and the second finding that they did not.

It is currently unclear whether any increased chance of birth defects observed in some studies may be due to a direct action of loperamide itself or might be caused by nutrient imbalances or other features of the underlying conditions that loperamide is used to treat when used long-term.

Well-designed studies of much larger numbers of pregnant women need to be carried out before we can say whether use of loperamide in early pregnancy increases the chance of birth defects in the baby. A very small study of pregnant women taking loperamide showed no link with miscarriage. This result requires confirmation in much larger studies. Again, discuss any medications you take with your doctor.

Cough drops and Vicks VapoRub are also safe when used as recommended. Medications you should avoid include anything with alcohol, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine. Hemorrhoid creams Tucks, Preparation H. Antacids Tums, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Maalox. Check with your doctor and carefully check labels. Pregnant women should avoid the following medications: ibuprofen Motrin, Advil , Bactrim an antibiotic , aspirin, naproxen Aleve , and codeine.

When choosing medications, avoid all-in-one medications such as cold medicine that treats nasal congestion, fever, and aches and pains with one dose. Instead, treat specific symptoms i. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking an over-the-counter medication, contact your doctor immediately.

You should also contact your doctor if you think you have the flu or experience dizziness, vaginal bleeding, severe vomiting, high fever, reduced fetal movement, difficulty breathing, or chest pain.

A simple diet of carbohydrates toast, rice, and crackers, for example , bananas and soup can be helpful. Avoid greasy and fiber-rich foods while you are suffering from diarrhea. It's important to address your diarrhea because with the increased fluid loss, you could become seriously dehydrated.

Dehydration in pregnant women can lead to headaches, fatigue, and even contractions. If you get really dehydrated, you may need intravenous fluids and other medical attention.

An underlying bacterial cause, such as food poisoning , could pose a threat to both you and your baby, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor if you suspect food poisoning as a source of your diarrhea. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Briggs GG. Cruz, L. OTC medicines that are okay during pregnancy. Intermountain Healthcare. Einarson, A. Prospective, controlled, multicentre study of loperamide in pregnancy. American College of Nurse-Midwives. Taking medicine during pregnancy.