Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The use of Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of bearing a child is the subject of numerous discussions of the scientific and medical community. The active ingredient of the drug is recommended in many cases, even those where simple Aspirin for headache is contraindicated. However, you should not consider it a harmless panacea.

general characteristics

Pregnancy is a time of increased risk for the body, in which the activity of the immune system is muffled so that the rejection of the fetus does not occur. Diseases that constitute increased risks for the body of the expectant mother and her baby require treatment. But for burns and injuries, joint and muscle pains, migraines and toothaches, respiratory infections, only one medicine is recommended - Paracetamol.

Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is included in the list of vital drugs and is allowed to be taken with the only proviso - to use it as directed by a doctor.

It is considered relatively safe with moderate dosage and medical advice and can be used to numb any pain. At the same time, recent clinical studies have shown an extremely low anti-inflammatory effect of paracetamol-containing dosage forms. Some of them (for example, syrups) contain flavors, colors and preservatives that can cause allergic reactions in a weakened body.

Absolute safety - only for intramuscular injection. Suspensions and syrups contain a flavoring agent or natural flavoring. Acids are present there - stearic or citric. The tablets contain milk sugar and potato starch.

All this facilitates assimilation in the body, but increases the risks for those who may have contraindications to DAV or auxiliary components of the recommended drug.

Side effects

Taking Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is considered relatively safe, apart from some reservations.

Side effects:

• hypersensitivity of the skin - from skin rash to angioedema;
• violation of hematopoiesis - from anemia to thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis;
• deterioration of the respiratory system - with sensitivity to Paracetamol and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• failures in the functionality of the liver, up to the development of acute liver failure.

The use of caffeine in any form enhances the effect of the drug.

The annotation says about the permitted use of the medication only if the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the risks of complications for the fetus.

Aceminophen (this international name is DAV Paracetamol) is present in many drugs, for example, Efferalgan and Panadole. Various trade brands produce almost the same formulations under different names.

Many drugs have antipyretic and analgesic effects, but safety during pregnancy and lactation has been confirmed only in Paracetamol. Perhaps because it is inexpensive to synthesize and does not produce effects that are found in a short period of time.

Second trimester of pregnancy

If the dosage is observed, such an amount of active substance is supplied that cannot cause negative effects in the body of a healthy person. The liver can easily cope with a single dose at a minimum dosage.

However, when taking Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester, it should be remembered that the benefits must outweigh the risks. And only a qualified doctor can make such a conclusion.

It is important to understand that normally the DAV drugs are cleaved by liver enzymes. But during the period of gestation, the largest external secretion gland in the body has an increased load, so there may not be enough enzymes for cleavage.

Interesting! Can pregnant women drink coffee

To imagine the degree of influence of aceminophen in combination with other drugs, it is enough to mention that concurrent administration with Ibuprofen can cause pathologies in the development of the external organs of the genitourinary system in the male fetus.

This indicates an insufficient degree of research on antipyretic agents in combination with other natural compounds and reduced liver functionality.

Why is it undesirable in the third trimester

In the prenatal period, it is not recommended to take the medication even in the minimum dosage. In medical sources, it is mentioned that treatment with Paracetamol during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester in an unreasonable dosage or non-compliance with medical recommendations, the child may show a tendency to develop allergic reactions, asthma or wheezing in the lungs.

Even with existing indications such as fever, infections, severe pain, Paracetamol during pregnancy in the third trimester can be used in a one-time minimum dosage. In this case, taking the drug should not be systematic. It is no coincidence that in the annotations to some dosage forms one can find a warning about the insufficient study of the effect of aceminophen on the human embryo.

Outcomes

Taking Paracetamol during gestation is not prohibited, but you need to remember:

1. Be sure to comply with the minimum permitted dosage.
2. It is possible only if the potential benefit to the mother does not outweigh the risks to the pregnant baby.
3. The effect of a compound crossing the placental barrier on the embryo is not well understood.
4. Medical advice is the only possible way to take the drug.