Pregnancy: what to know about medicines and safety

Being pregnant changes how drugs affect your body and your baby. Some meds are fine, some raise real risks, and a few are downright dangerous. This page gives clear, practical rules you can use today: how to check a medicine, when to call your provider, and how to buy prescriptions safely if you need them.

Quick rules for medicine use in pregnancy

Keep a short list of every medicine you take — prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and herbs. Bring that list to every appointment. Before starting or stopping any drug, call your OB‑GYN or midwife. Don’t guess.

Here are simple checks you can run fast: ask whether the medicine is essential, whether there’s a safer alternative, and whether timing matters (first trimester vs later). For example, many antibiotics that treat common infections are safe when needed, but drugs like isotretinoin (Accutane) are absolutely contraindicated because they can cause severe birth defects. If a medicine requires special pregnancy monitoring or a registry, make sure your doctor enrolls you.

Some common points people ask about:

• Asthma inhalers: Short‑acting beta agonists like albuterol (Ventolin) are generally considered safe and better than leaving asthma uncontrolled. Always use the lowest effective dose and keep your rescue inhaler handy.
• Antibiotics: Many are safe (penicillins, cephalosporins). Others need careful review. Never take antibiotics without confirming with your prescriber.
• Hormone drugs and HRT: Most are stopped before trying to conceive and during pregnancy unless specifically recommended by your doctor.
• Topical products: Some topical acne treatments are safer than oral drugs; oral isotretinoin must be avoided entirely and is tied to strict programs like iPLEDGE.

How to buy medications safely while pregnant

If you need to order meds online, use only pharmacies that require a prescription and show clear contact info and licensure. Don’t buy controlled or high‑risk drugs from sites that sell without a prescription. Red flags include no phone number, no pharmacist available, or prices that look too good to be true for prescription-only medicines.

When you get a new medicine: check the label, confirm the dosage with your provider, and ask your pharmacist about side effects that affect pregnancy. If anything feels off — pills that look different, odd packaging, or missing patient info — stop and contact your prescriber before taking them.

Finally, trust your instincts. If a drug was prescribed that sounds risky for pregnancy, ask the prescriber to explain why it’s necessary and whether there’s a safer option. Your care team should be willing to walk you through the risks and benefits in plain language.

If you want, we can point to specific articles here on safe antibiotics, asthma meds, or the risks of isotretinoin so you can read more. Tell us which topic you need and we’ll bring up the most relevant posts and tips.