11 DRUGS YOU SHOULD AVOID IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR PLAN ON BECOMING ~ INN Nigeria

Only use any of this drug when your healthcare provider has examined you and says the benefit outweighs the risk. Don’t self medicate. Remember that it’s not just you, your baby might pay dearly for your decisions.

1. Tetracycline: Tetracycline can harm the fetus. It affects the bone and teeth development of the baby. It can also cause the teeth of your child to be permanently stained.

If you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant while taking this drug, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

2. Thalidomide: Thalidomide is teratogenic, meaning, it can affect embryonic development. This particular drug was initially made to be a sedative, it was later used to treat “morning sickness” in pregnant women amongst other things, but it resulted in children born to the mothers who took the said drug to be born with defective limb- some were born without limbs, loss thumb and the likes.

3. Chloramphenicol: This can cause gray baby syndrome and serious blood disorder.

4. Ciprofloxacin(cipro) and Levofloxacin Cipro and levofloxacin are both fluoroquinolone antibiotics. According to a study conducted in 2017, fluoroquinolone may also increase the chances of having a miscarriage. It can also cause problem to the baby’s muscle, skeletal growth as well as joint pains for the mother.

5. Primaquine Is an anti malaria. Animal studies have shown that it can damage blood cells in a fetus.

6. Trimethoprim and Erythromycin: They are antibiotics know as sulfa drugs. They can cause jaundice (yellowing of the eyes) in the baby. And also Trimethoprim can cause neural tube defects which can affect brain development in the developing baby.

7. Ibuprofen: Taking high doses of this drug can have dangerous consequences on pregnant mothers like; miscarriage, delayed onset of labour,jaundice,bleeding for both mother and baby.

8. Warfarin: This particular drug can cause birth defects and should only be used when benefits outweighs risks.

9. Lorazepam: This particular drug is used for treating anxiety or other mental disorder. It can lead to withdrawal symptoms and birth defects on the baby.

10. Bismuth subsalicylate: This particular drug can lead to birth defects.

11. Phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine: During your first trimester, avoid medicines which contain this ingredients.

Always go for check up and medical advice. Always go through the leaflets in the drugs you are about to take to see how it affects you. Don’t just take anything.