Can I take antibiotics while pregnant?
Has that thing-that-you-always-get-with-the-problem-that-goes-with-it come back? Can you take antibiotics for it?
Maybe.
Common antibiotics that are considered safe are penicillins (such as amoxicillin and ampicillin), cephalosporins (such as cephalexin), and erythromycin.
Ones you shouldn't take during pregnancy are streptomycin and tetracycline.
There are a billion ones in between that are iffy because they haven't had sufficient studies done on them.
That said, you *should* be getting antibiotics through your doctor anyway so don't be dusting off the shit that sitting in your medicine cabinet that you were supposed to finish the last time. Of course, I would know nothing of this tactic *cough*.
Seriously though, this probably isn't the best time to get all creative with the self-medicating so you really should see someone who knows what they are talking about. If you have something that requires antibiotics, it has to be treated, so throw a tarp over thing-that-you-always-get-with-the-problem-that-goes-with-it and get it taken care of.
search: antibiotics during pregnancy, safe antibiotics during pregnancy
11 Comments
Reader Comments (11)
There are plenty of options available to preggos. I had an abscessed tooth while pregnant and had to take them. The jerkwad of a dentist wouldn't give me pain meds and I had to call the on-call OB for some. (She called him something worse and said at that point they were perfectly safe, but I digress.)
I cringed hard when a friend from high school said she had to stop nursing because the doctor told her antibiotics aren't compatible with nursing. Make sure you educate yourself, and see a different doctor if they aren't supportive of your pregnancy or nursing.
See, that to me IS ridiculous that a dentist would prescribe you antibiotics for an abscessed tooth. What the hell did he think would happen – it would just clear itself up? Wouldn't the repercussions of that be more serious than the antibiotics?!
I'm absolutely floored by that.
I went to a medical centre on the weekend because my GP's surgery was closed. The doctor there prescribed me Amoxycillin, telling me that I should get the prescription filled if my pharyngitis wasn't getting better by itself, and that I should see my doctor if I wasn't feeling better in the next few days.
A few days later, I saw my own doctor as I was still unwell. His view? There's no point prescribing antibiotics for something that appeared to be viral, I just have to rest (ha!) and see it through, but most tellingly, that the risks of taking the antibiotics far outweighed the benefits. If doctors can't agree about medication, what hope do WE have?
I broke a toe when newly preggers with my 4th. The doctor at the after-hours clinic refused to xray my toe for fear of my pregnancy. Not true. My OB thought that was ridiculous. My toe was not lodged in my uterus. And you can take certain prescription pain meds while preggers, just get them from your OB and not your college sitter...
Also, you are more susceptible to bladder infections when preggers. Why? I guess women are always going to get punished for Eve's mishap with the apple...
Oh lord...just spent almost the entire day in the ER of my local hospital, being treated for bacterial parotitis (essentially the mumps, only to be considered mumps, it would have to be a Viral Thing). Apparently, I have drawn the weird sickness short straw, because this is the second time in a year that I have gotten this. The fun part is...back in May, I wasn't pregnant yet, so treatment (once they figured their shizz out) was a breeze. This time, I got to sit around waiting for them to research the antibiotic they gave me last time to see if it was safe for the bebee...
For anyone who is wondering...Clindamycin is considered a Category B antibiotic, which REALLY means that there haven't been enough conclusive studies in humans, but scientists haven't come across any strange side effects in animal fetuses (feti?).
So yeah...if it's going to get rid of my Elephant Man face...ready, GO!
Hello.. I am using the antibiotics but htey are not effecting my mc to stop and I am very much worried about it after the pregnancy and feeling down every time it happens!!
"Clindamycin is considered a Category B antibiotic," TO MvR I am allergic to this and penicillin and I was told these two were the only safe antibiotics during pregnancy. Both of my children were both preemies and I wasn't tested for Group B so with my daughter they were freaking out because I was allergic to both of those meds. They were weighing whether or not to give me the meds anyways.
If you absolutely, positively, *have* to take antibiotics (like if you're dying), then I think it's okay. As long as you take it in conjunction with Probiotics. If you actually research and educate yourself on antibiotics, you will find, they are really not good for you. Just like antibacterial soap. You are getting rid of the good bacteria, while getting rid of the bad, yet not replenishing the good. Hence the word(s) 'Anti' and 'Pro'.
I was diagnosed with HPV 2 years ago. If you are familiar with the virus, you will know that it is not curable. So, I educated myself and found that the way to rid/cure/help/treat ailments is to go the homeopathic route. (Sidenote: I educated myself AFTER I thoroughly abused my vagina. I'm talkin' internally and externally using creams/compounds/douches/pills/the kitchen sink; inside/on/around the HooHa.) After letting my poor girl rest, I attacked it a different way. This is where I discoved Probiotics; mainly, Acidophilus. I took it in the powder and caplet forms. I also used a strong mg of folic acid. I just had my latest Pap and it came back normal (for once) and the HPV came back negative. My GYN was really amazed. I explained what I did and he assures me, he will now use homeopathic routes along side traditional meds (if necessary). YAY ME!
... as a microbiology major.. i have to say .... please do not stop taking your antibiotics before you complete your dosage.. there is a specific time frame for each antibiotic depending on infection for a reason all of the bad bacteria needs to be wiped out or else it has the chance to learn how the antibiotic functions and the next time you're prescribed it won't work as well if at all.. this is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge probelm. if people continue to do this we are no longer going to have antibiotics.. mrsa, vrsa, vre, many forms of gonnoreah... all have show incredible resistance to antibiotics.. mrsa especially.. if you acquire an infection from the hospital mrsa strain.. you can plan on staying a nice long time in the hospital on iv antibiotics.. if its resistant to vancomycin.. you're s.o.l.... antibiotics have only been around since the 50's and already a lot of strains of staph are resistant to the entire penicillian family and various other antibiotics.. it's not something to mess around with...
Oh boy, I agree with Mara. Always finish your antibiotics - there's currently an antibiotic resistant gonorrhea in Japan because, unless you finish the prescription, you haven't fully killed the bacteria. Just like our immune systems learn when exposed to a disease (this is how vaccines work), bacteria learn how to resist antibiotics.
I found this great resource for expecting mothers.... They will answer any questions you have for free!
http://www.ttis.unt.edu/