Table 4.
Most common specific medications used in first trimester of pregnancy.
| Substance name (examples of trade names) | Percentage of use (n = 5381) | FDA pregnancy category (from drug label) |
|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen/paracetamol (e.g. Tylenol, Apacet) | 55.8 | OTCa |
| Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Alaxan, Brofen, Motrin, Paduden, Caldolor) | 23.5 | OTC (avoid in third trimester) |
| Docusate (e.g. Colace) | 7.3 | OTC |
| Pseudoephedrine (e.g. Sudafed) | 6.4 | OTC |
| Acetyl salicylic acid (e.g. Aspirin) | 5.3 | OTC (avoid in third trimester) |
| Progestinsb (e.g. Depo-subQ provera, Med-Pro, Provera) | 4.7 | X |
| Naproxen (e.g. Aleve, Naprelan) | 4.3 | C (avoid in third trimester) |
| Diphenhydramine (e.g. Benadryl, ZzzQuil)) | 3.6 | OTC |
| Loratadine (e.g. Claritin, Alavert) | 3.4 | C |
| Progesteron (e.g. Prometrium, Endometrin) | 3.4 | X |
| Albuterol (e.g. Ventolin, Proventil, ProAir HFA) | 3.3 | C |
| Estrogenic compoundsc (e.g. Estinyl, Depo-Estradiol, Deladiol) | 2.9 | X |
| Dextromethorphan (e.g. Delsym, Bisolvon Dry) | 2.9 | OTC |
| Levothyroxin (e.g. Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) | 2.8 | A |
| Ondansetron (e.g. Zofran, Zofran ODT, Zuplenz) | 2.7 | B |
| Guaifenesin (e.g. Mucinex, Robitussin, Humibid, Tussin) | 2.3 | OTC |
| Azithromycion (e.g. Zithromax, Aruzilina, Zmax) | 1.9 | B |
| Clomiphene (e.g. Serophene, Clomid) | 1.8 | X |
| Cetirizine (e.g. Zyrtec, Alleroff) | 1.8 | OTC |
| Doxylamine (e.g. Doxytex, Unisom Sleep Tabs, Equate Sleep Aid) | 1.8 | OTC |
| Bismuth subsalicylate (e.g. Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate, Bismatrol) | 1.6 | OTC |
| Sertraline (e.g. Zoloft, Lustral) | 1.5 | C |
| Fluticasone (e.g. Flovent) | 1.5 | C |
| Follitropin (e.g. Follistim, Gonal-F, Fostimon, Puregon, Follitrin) | 1.4 | X |
| Chlorpheniramine (e.g. Chlor-Trimeton, Chlorphen, Allergy Relief) | 1.4 | OTC |
| Fexofenadine (e.g. Allegra, Mucinex Allergy) | 1.4 | OTC |
| Hydrocodone (e.g. Zohydro ER, Vicodin) | 1.3 | C |
| Nitrofurantoin (e.g. Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin, Furantoin) | 1.3 | B |
| Phenylephrine (e.g. Neo-Synephrine, Sudafe PE, Sudogest PE) | 1.3 | OTC |
| Fluoxetine (e.g. Prozac, Sarafem, Rapiflux) | 1.0 | C |
| Leuprolide (e.g. Lupron, Eligard) | 0.9 | X |
| Salmeterol (e.g. Serevent) | 0.9 | C |
| Ranitidine (e.g. Zantac, Deprizine) | 0.9 | OTC |
| Bupropion (e.g. Wellbutrin, Zyban) | 0.9 | C |
| Metformin (e.g. Fortamed, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet) | 0.8 | B |
| Oxycodone (e.g. OxiContin, Roxicodone, Oxecta, Oxyl R) | 0.8 | B |
| Insulin (e.g. Humalog, Humalog Mix, Levemir, Novolog) 0.8 | 0.8 | B |
| Codeine (in mixed medications e.g. Cotablu, Phenflu CD, Colrex) | 0.8 | C |
| Metoclopramide (e.g. Reglan, Maxolon, Metozolf ODT)) | 0.7 | B |
| Escitalopram (e.g. Lexapro) | 0.7 | C |
| Miconazole (e.g. Oravig) | 0.7 | OTC |
| Famotidine (e.g. Pepcid, Heartburn Relief) | 0.7 | OTC |
| Montelukast (e.g. Singulair) | 0.6 | B |
| Chorionic gonadotropine (e.g. Ovidrel, Novarel, Pregnyl) | 0.6 | X |
| Paroxetine (e.g. Paxil, Brisdelle, Paxeva) | 0.6 | D |
| Simethicone (e.g. Gas-X, Mylicon, Phazyme, Alka-Seltzer anti-gas) | 0.6 | OTC |
| Psyllium (e.g. Metamucil, Konsyl, Cilium) | 0.6 | OTC |
| Trimethoprim (e.g Proloprim, Trimpex, Primsol) | 0.5 | C |
| Sulfamethoxazole (e.g. Gantanol; combi w. trimethoprim > Bactrim) | 0.5 | D |
| Alprazolam (e.g. Xanax, Intensol, Niravam) | 0.5 | D |
| Omeprazole (e.g. Prilosec, Omep) | 0.5 | OTC |
| Oxymetazoline (e.g. Afrin, Afrin Sinus, Zicam Sinus Relief) | 0.5 | OTC |
Source: adapted from Thorpe et al.18
OTC: over-the-counter; FDA: food and drug administration; NOS: nitric oxide synthase.
a
All OTC product labels advised patients to consult physician prior to use.
b
Including desogestrel, etonogestrel (pill and implant), levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, noregelgestromin, norethindirone, norgestimate, not otherwise specified (NOS)-oral contraceptive (progestin only); excluding drospirenone and hydroxyprogesterone.
c
Including ethinyl estradiol, estradiol cypionate, and NOS estrogen.