Is It Ok To Take Tylenol While Pregnant? Read To Know!

Pregnancy is indeed a blissful journey with various ups and downs. A roller-coaster of emotions, mood swings, and, of course, changes in health are all part of it. 

As such, the expecting mother might take a few medicines to make herself feel better. 

One such pain relieving therapeutic drug is Tylenol. Also widely regarded as Acetaminophen, this fever reducing medicine also helps to curb fever symptoms and treat pain. 

But is it ok to take Tylenol while pregnant? This is a common question for most expecting mothers. So, fasten your seat belts because here comes the most informative guide. 

What Does Acetaminophen or Tylenol Help With?

• A patient with high blood pressure may be prescribed Tylenol. Even if someone has experienced bleeding or stomach ulcers, they might have a history of Tylenol ingestion. 
• It is important to remember that Acetaminophen might result in liver or kidney damage if taken in high doses. So, be sure to check the dosage before consumption. 
• Thirdly, Tylenol boosts the effect of anti-blood clotting due to warfarin, which eventually makes the blood thinner. 
• In comparison to the side effects of ibuprofen or aspirin and other NSAIDs, Tylenol has shown no signs of intestinal or stomach ulcers. 
• In case someone misses a regular dose of Acetaminophen, it might cause disruption in your usual medication process. 

Precautions To Take Tylenol

1. Right before you take Tylenol, let your pharmacist or doctor know about it because some people have allergies to its constituents. Also, the product consists of inactive ingredients, which leads to allergies. To be on the safer side, make sure you talk to your doctor.
2. Do not forget to check the medicine labels properly. It is advised not to consume more than 4 grams of Tylenol in 24 hours because it can boost the risk of liver issues. 
3. Those ingesting Tylenol Extra Strength do not consume more than 3000 mg in one day. Anything more than that can put the patient at a health risk. 

Precautions for ingesting Tylenol in liquid form-

First things first, make sure you shake the bottle properly. Then, measure the quantity using the same dose of syringe your doctor has provided you. Using other syringes, spoons, or droppers can disrupt the measurement. 

Attach the flow restrictor to the syringe and insert it into the bottle. After pulling it back, insert the syringe into a child’s or an adult’s mouth (keep in mind the recommended dosage).

Precautions for using oral granules of Acetaminophen-

Right before ingesting the medicine, only open the number of required packets. Then, combine the granules present inside the packet with soft foods like jam or ice cream. 

It is easy for kids to give oral granules in this form because they are reluctant to take medicines directly. For those asking is it ok to take Tylenol while pregnant or not, yes; pregnant ladies can consume Tylenol in oral granules form. 

Those taking Tylenol suppositories-

Tylenol suppositories are too delicate to insert. Make sure to freeze it in the refrigerator for an hour or so before you actually remove the wrapper. 

To insert the suppository, remove the wrapper and wet it using cold water. Next, lie down and push the drug into the rectum using your finger. 

Side Effects Of Taking Tylenol In Pregnancy

Although small dosages of Tylenol have no effect on pregnant ladies, disruption in the dosage amount might cause issues for the baby. Some healthcare providers and scientists discussed their concerns over Acetaminophen use in 2021. Here are some associated risks with it:

Developmental Challenges

A few studies have proved that Tylenol consumption during pregnancy has caused developmental challenges in the baby. There have been signs of ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Apart from this, other developmental complexities like delayed talking, cerebral palsy, and autism are also seen among kids. If the dosage continues while you are pregnant, the risk might keep increasing. 

Since Tylenol is a painkiller, consuming it on a regular basis can create issues. A few studies have also suggested that more than 50,000 expecting mothers consumed Tylenol for not more than 28 days. 

Altered reproductive tracts of male babies

There is proof of how excessive Tylenol consumption changes and alters the development of reproductive tracts in male babies. If not taken properly, Acetaminophen can cause undescended testicles in unborn boys. 

It is important to expect women to fully comprehend the risks and precautions while consuming Tylenol. Using it excessively late in your first trimester induces the risk factor. 

The risk of testicle development in unborn males is highest when the drug is used for 2 weeks continuously. Although there are rare cases of it, pregnant women can be extra careful about the ingestion. 

Comparing IbuProfen and Acetaminophen: How Are They Different?

Pain and fever are very common in our day-to-day lives. Fever reducers and painkillers are something every medicine box will have, especially when you have kids at home. However, both of the above drugs are also used by expecting mothers very commonly. Let’s compare the both of them considering different aspects:

Functionalities

It is difficult to mention the exact mechanism of how ibuprofen and Acetaminophen relieve pain or reduce fever. Prostaglandins, a chemical present inside the body, play a critical role in transferring pain or generating fever. 

Both therapeutic drugs block enzymes needed by the body to generate prostaglandins. Also known as COX enzymes, this is taken care of in the brain by Tylenol or Acetaminophen. 

On the other hand, ibuprofen is perfect when it comes to working on the brain or other body parts. This indicates Acetaminophen is helpful for reducing pain, whereas ibuprofen also reduces swelling and inflammation due to injuries. 

Advantages and Risks

To some extent, we know the perks of both these medicines. They reduce fever, inflammation and eventually, pain. But we need to consider a few risks. 

Prolonged consumption of ibuprofen might lead to less protection of our stomach from stomach acids. This is the first reason why one experiences bleeding and ulcers. 

On the other hand, ibuprofen damages the kidneys and increases blood pressure. If you keep taking it for a prolonged period, the child in your womb will eventually suffer. 

When an expecting mother consumes ibuprofen or Acetaminophen to cure headaches, there can be rebound headaches as a repercussion. This kind of headache is caused when there are low levels of ibuprofen or Acetaminophen in the blood. 

Blending The Two…

Alternative use of Acetaminophen and ibuprofen might help to keep fever symptoms at bay. While Tylenol should be dosed between 4-6 hours, ibuprofen’s recommended dosage is every 6 hours. 

When you alternative both of them equally, make sure to take each after 3 hours. It is possible for a normal patient to consume the two medicines at the same time. However, we do not suggest the same for expecting mothers. 

Consuming them in a balanced fashion will take down the need to consume opioid painkillers. If pain continues even after ingesting the drugs, it is better to consult a doctor. 

Other Alternatives For Tylenol

A lot of people might be allergic to Acetaminophen, which is Tyleenol’s active ingredient. However, the good news is that it is not the only painkiller; there are many. Get ready to see some effective alternatives for Tylenol if you are pregnant:

Aspirin

Aspirin is a prescribed drug for pregnant ladies dealing with preeclampsia. Research has found that consuming a low Aspirin dose after your pregnancy’s 12th week is possible. 

Aspirin has acetylsalicylic acid as its active ingredient, which blocks inflammation and pain. Consuming it has more benefits than risks, provided you know the dosage correctly. 

Naproxen and Ibuprofen

Both naproxen and Ibuprofen are safe NSAID options because these medicines have zero risks of gastrointestinal issues. It is important to take them with caution when expecting mothers. 

Consuming Ibuprofen and Naproxen in the initial 20 weeks of being pregnant is totally safe. However, doctors do not recommend consuming them in the final half as there is a possibility of bleeding or fetal kidney complexities. 

Topical Drugs

The complexity of consuming topical drugs is that some of them are safe during pregnancy while others aren’t. Therefore, it is best to have a doctor’s recommendation. 

Topical drugs that come with lidocaine or menthol as active ingredients are safe. On the other hand, if they consist of NSAIDs, avoid them. The latter has proven to increase birth defect possibilities in expecting mothers. 

The Final Word

As I already mentioned, the journey of a pregnant mother is amazing. But in order to make it seamless, we have to take care of everything we consume. 

The fetus’ health is directly linked with that of the mother. Hence, a wrong step can lead to a disastrous outcome. 

It is absolutely recommended to discuss things with your doctor, even for trivial things. After all, compromising on the baby’s health is not an ideal alternative. 

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