Tzeadim › Pregnancy · First trimester

Exposures, travel & driving · Safety

Medicines: what's fine, what to avoid, whom to ask

What it is

Keep prescribed chronic meds unless the prescriber changes them. Pain/fever: acetaminophen (Acamol). Avoid ibuprofen (Nurofen/Advil) and Optalgin. Ask the pharmacist for the rest.

Always on

1. Levothyroxine, asthma inhalers, insulin/metformin, SSRIs, antiepileptics: continue and ask about dose changes.
2. Allergy: loratadine/cetirizine and nasal sprays are fine; skip oral decongestants in the first trimester.
3. Antibiotics: penicillins, cephalosporins, azithromycin are fine; not doxycycline or ciprofloxacin.
4. Skin: no retinoids (isotretinoin, tretinoin) or high-dose salicylic acid.

Sources

• Guidelines for Perinatal Care, 8th edition — ACOG / AAP · checked 02-09-2026

Last reviewed 01-09-2026 · Confidence: high

Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed above. Not yet reviewed by a clinician — check anything important against the source, with Tipat Halav or with your doctor.