For many years, there has been much confusion over the safety of antibiotics during pregnancy. Some doctors said they were safe, some doctors said they were dangerous, and women were caught in the middle and unsure about what they should do. However, now, it seems as though doctors are in agreement that most antibiotics are safe to use during pregnancy after all. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
While doctors do think that most antibiotics are safe during pregnancy, they also agree that there are a few guidelines that should be followed when pregnant women and antibiotics come into play. Doctors agree that antibiotics should only be used when they are the only treatment option available, and no other option will work. If possible, antibiotics should be avoided during the first trimester, since that is when they are the most dangerous to an unborn baby.
Women should be advised that they are not to use any over the counter medications in conjunction with their antibiotics, and they should always be given the lowest possible dose. Doctors are also urged to choose an older medication that is thought to be safer than a newer medication, and to only prescribe single antibiotics rather than “combos” of more than one drug.
Doctors are urged to make sure that a woman really needs antibiotic treatment before prescribing them. Some of the most common reasons that women might need to be prescribed antibiotics in pregnancy include things like appendicitis, bladder infection, urinary tract infections and things of that nature.
The antibiotics that are prescribed to pregnant women usually fall under Category A or Category B of the FDA drug guidelines. Some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for pregnant women include Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Penicillin, Gentamicin, Ampicillin-Sulbactam, Cefoxitin, Cefotetan and Cefazolin.
There is a fine line that has to be covered when it comes to pregnancy and antibiotics. Women should not be denied treatment for medical conditions just because doctors are afraid to give them antibiotics. Many times, the consequences of leaving an infection or illness untreated can wreak havoc on a woman and her unborn baby.
On the other side of the spectrum, some antibiotics can be more harmful to a woman than the illness that is bothering her in the first place. This whole conundrum can be very hard to make sense of, and a woman should always talk at length with her doctor before getting any treatment with antibiotics during pregnancy.
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