Can You Take Headache Medicine When You're Pregnant?

Headaches are a common side effect of pregnancy, yet taking medicine to alleviate the pain may be harmful to the baby. Taking headache medicine is not out of the question when it comes to pregnancy. Studies have shown that certain medications, if taken correctly, may have little to no effect on your baby. The three most-common types of headache medications are acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin.

Acetaminophen

• Acetaminophen is the safest medicine for pregnant women to take. Assuming that you are using the correct dosage, there are no known risks to your baby. However, overdosing on acetaminophen can be serious, so you should be careful about ingesting the right amount. Also, avoid medicines with acetaminophen as the main ingredient but which also contain aspirin and caffeine.

Ibuprofen

• Most studies show that it can be safe to take ibuprofen while you are pregnant, depending on which stage of pregnancy you're in. If you're trying to conceive, a couple of studies have revealed that ibuprofen can make it difficult for the fetus to implant itself to the uterine wall, causing early miscarriage. And if you're in the third trimester, ibuprofen may lead to the baby developing heart and lung problems. It can also reduce the level of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus and inhibit labor. It's best to avoid ibuprofen while you're pregnant, unless recommended by your doctor.

Aspirin

• Aspirin has the same risks as ibuprofen in that it can cause problems in the third trimester. However, taken in very low doses, it can actually help with other pregnancy-related problems such as pre-eclampsia. This is, of course, unrelated to your headache, and you should only consider taking aspirin if your doctor recommends it for your specific situation.

Other relief options

• If you'd rather not take any risks with pain-relieving medications, consider getting your partner to massage your head instead. Alleviating your pain without medication is the safest option for your baby. It's best not to try any home or herbal remedies, as there may be potentially harmful side effects with those treatments.

Consult Your Doctor

• Always consult your doctor before taking any medication while pregnant. Only your doctor knows your medical history and will be able to prescribe the best option for alleviating your headache.