Drugs for toxicosis during pregnancy: an overview, methods of application

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The word "toxicosis" is familiar to almost every pregnant woman. For most expectant mothers, it is associated with suffering in the morning, nausea and vomiting. Usually, toxicosis begins at 5-6 weeks of gestation and continues until the end of the first trimester. Those women who experience this period of their lives especially hard are forced to consult a doctor for medical treatment and take various drugs for toxicosis. An overview of the most popular drugs prescribed by gynecologists, as well as how to use them, is presented in our article.

Toxicosis and its causes

In 70% of women, all the suffering during pregnancy is associated with nausea and vomiting: for some - only in the morning, while others - throughout the day. This painful condition is toxicosis. And although in Westerncountries, this term has long been abandoned, in the post-Soviet space it has become so deeply ingrained in the minds of people that it seems that it cannot be without nausea and pregnancy.

The name "toxicosis" comes from the Greek word "toxin", which means "poisonous". But what can be poisoning during pregnancy? The fact is that first the fetal egg, and then the embryo and fetus are foreign bodies for the female body. And in order to accept and endure the body, a number of biochemical processes occur with the production of various kinds of organic substances. And since each organism is individual, it reacts differently to changes occurring in the body. The psychological factor also plays an important role in this.

The main signs of toxicosis: nausea and vomiting, which usually occur in the morning. In 90% of women, these symptoms completely disappear by the 20th week of gestation. By this time, the body of a pregnant woman adapts to hormonal changes and actively ongoing biochemical processes, so the “new” state usually no longer causes any discomfort.

The occurrence of toxicosis can be explained by the following factors:

• hormonal adjustment;
• genetic predisposition;
• smoking;
• older childbearing age (30-35 years old);
• multiple pregnancy;
• low body weight;
• unbalanced diet with insufficient nutrients;
• chronic diseases (migraine, diabetes);
• thyroid diseasegland.

Since toxicosis is a completely normal condition for a pregnant woman, in most cases no special treatment is required. As a rule, by the end of the first trimester, all symptoms disappear without a trace on their own. If a woman does not tolerate nausea and vomiting very well, she should inform the doctor about this in order to receive an appropriate prescription for what to take from toxicosis.

Indications for drug treatment

Only in 2% of pregnant women, toxicosis is accompanied by indomitable vomiting, which is repeated 5-6 times a day. Such a painful condition in medical practice is called Hyperemesisgravidarum. In this case, attacks of vomiting can provoke any intake of food or liquid. At the same time, a woman loses weight, s alt metabolism is disturbed. A pregnant woman with such a diagnosis should be under the constant supervision of doctors. She may need intravenous nutrition (vitamins, amino acids, glucose). Severe vomiting is dangerous for both the mother and the fetus, as it can cause dehydration of the woman's body and provoke a miscarriage.

Indication for treatment is not only severe vomiting, but also the following conditions of a pregnant woman:

• complete lack of appetite;
• rapid weight loss;
• pallor of the skin, bruising under the eyes and gray coating on the tongue;
• smell of acetone breath;
• a state of apathy, drowsiness, general discomfort, in which it is impossible to perform household chores:
• increase in body temperature up to 37,4°.

But still, in most cases, morning sickness is a temporary condition that is difficult to prevent, since preventive drugs for toxicosis have not yet been invented. In early pregnancy, nausea most often occurs on an empty stomach, so a woman can be recommended to have breakfast right in bed, eat fractionally, every 2 hours. It is advisable to make sure that the diet is balanced.

Sorbents for nausea

Since doctors associate toxicosis with poisoning, the prescription of drugs that help eliminate toxins from the body is quite predictable. The most popular sorbent approved for use during pregnancy is Polysorb. Cases of doctors prescribing this remedy for toxicosis in the first trimester are not uncommon.

"Polysorb" is a powerful enterosorbent, 60 times stronger than activated carbon, and 2 times better than "Enterosgel". When using the drug, toxins are bound and removed from the body, both entering it from the outside and produced inside. The effectiveness of the "Polysorb" is as follows:

• elimination of signs of toxicosis in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy;
• allergy symptom relief;
• excretion of harmful substances from the body, without penetration into the bloodstream and disruption of the intestinal microflora;
• increasing the body's resistance to various diseases.

Preparation "Polysorb"is issued in the form of the white powder intended for preparation of suspension. With early toxicosis, women are prescribed to take 3 g (1 tablespoon) of the drug three times a day 1 hour before meals or 60 minutes after meals. The powder is preliminarily diluted in a glass of cold boiled water. The action of the drug begins within 5 minutes after ingestion.

"Cerucal" from toxicosis

The following drug belongs to the group of antiemetics. "Cerucal" is the name of the tablets for toxicosis, familiar to all women who have been treated for severe nausea and vomiting in the hospital. Gynecologists have an ambiguous opinion about the appointment of this drug. On the one hand, the medicine completely eliminates the symptoms of toxicosis, namely, it allows you to get rid of nausea and vomiting in the morning and during the day. On the other hand, "Cerukal" tones the uterus, causing spasms of smooth muscles. This is fraught with a number of side effects, such as placental abruption or spontaneous abortion. Therefore, this medicine is prescribed only if it is impossible to do without it.

The dosage of the drug is determined on an individual basis. Most often, women are prescribed to take 10 mg of the drug once a day. The duration of admission is determined by the doctor based on the state of he alth of the pregnant woman. The price of Cerucal is 110 rubles for 50 tablets.

It should be noted that in the instructions for the drug, among the contraindications for use, it is indicated, includingpregnancy. But at the same time, it is noted that in the course of the conducted studies, the negative effect of the active substance (metoclopramide) on the fetus was not established. In any case, despite the more than low price, Cerucal should not be taken without a doctor's prescription. The consequences can be very serious.

Features of the use of the drug "Navidoxin"

The following drug is widely used to eliminate the symptoms of early toxicosis in the Arab countries. The main active ingredient of the Navidoxin preparation is pyridoxine or vitamin B6, that is, its composition is quite harmless. An additional 10 mg of this vitamin for morning sickness has been clinically proven to reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting by 70%.

But the problem is that there is practically no information about this drug, so its appointment raises some concerns. In our country, the drug "Navidoxin" from toxicosis has not passed certification. Today it can only be bought abroad, in particular in the UAE. That is why a pregnant woman is most often offered its analogues to eliminate the symptoms of toxicosis:

1. "Dikletin" - a drug that is a combination of pyridoxine with doxylamine.
2. "Pyridoxine" is a domestic drug produced in tablets and ampoules for intramuscular injection. One tablet contains 10 mg of pyridoxine or vitamin B6. The medicine should be taken orally after meals, without chewing and drinking plenty of water. Dosage is determined by the doctorbased on the state of the pregnant woman. Usually prescribed to take 1-2 tablets 4 times a day.

The effectiveness of the drug "Zofran" in toxicosis

The following drug is one of the most expensive drugs prescribed during pregnancy. Its cost is about 4 thousand rubles for 10 tablets containing 8 mg of the active substance. The manufacturer of this drug for toxicosis is a British pharmaceutical company.

"Zofran" refers to antiemetics with high efficiency. The drug completely blocks the urge to vomit and alleviates the condition of the pregnant woman. Zofran is taken 1 time per day at a dosage of 4-8 mg. In the first trimester, the medicine should be taken with extreme caution and only as directed by a doctor. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

Antihistamines during pregnancy

A number of studies have shown that the drugs that belong to this group are safe for pregnant women. They can reduce the symptoms of toxicosis and get rid of motion sickness.

Usually a gynecologist prescribes the following antihistamines for toxicosis:

1. Meclozin. The drug helps to cope with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, prevents the development of allergic reactions. In early pregnancy, the drug is prescribed strictly according to the indications, when the expected benefit from the treatment outweighs the potential harm. As a side effectdrowsiness is often observed. During pregnancy, the dosage is 25-50 mg per day. The duration of action of the drug is 24 hours.
2. "Tavegil". A drug in this class is usually prescribed to pregnant older doctors who do not see any teratogenic danger in it. The drug has a strong antihistamine effect, but during childbearing it should be taken only in the dosage determined by the doctor.

"Hofitol": instructions for use in toxicosis

The following drug is one of the safest of those prescribed during pregnancy. At first glance, it may seem strange how a drug designed to facilitate the work of the digestive system and liver can help in the fight against toxicosis. In fact, "Hofitol" not only has a choleretic and diuretic effect on the body, but also improves metabolic processes in general. This allows you to get rid of indigestion and constipation, eliminate heartburn and alleviate the condition of a woman suffering from toxicosis.

Clinical study has shown that a drug based on the extract of the field artichoke improves blood circulation in the uterus and placenta, increasing the flow of oxygen to the fetus and normalizing its vital signs. This drug is indicated not only for toxicosis, but also for fetal hypoxia of any origin.

"Hofitol" is produced in the form of a solution for oral administration and in the form of tablets. For pregnant women, the second option is the most convenient and preferred. This is explained bythat the liquid solution contains alcohol, which is contraindicated for women bearing babies.

The presented drug for toxicosis during pregnancy should be taken in the following dosage: 2-3 tablets 3 times a day before meals. The duration of the course is a minimum of 3 weeks.

In addition to the drug "Hofitol", a pregnant woman can be prescribed other hepatoprotectors as an alternative - medicines designed to protect the liver during toxicosis. For example, the drug "Essentiale" is considered no less effective.

Ginger and mint tablets for nausea with toxicosis

To cope with vomiting at different gestation periods, you can use a simple and affordable herbal remedy. Mint tablets based on peppermint essential oil are one of the most effective ways to save yourself from toxicosis during pregnancy. Small lozenges with a pleasant, refreshing taste, have an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. The components that make up the essential oil of mint, reflexively weaken the attack of nausea and prevent the onset of vomiting.

To eliminate the characteristic symptoms of toxicosis, it is enough to put one or two mint tablets under the tongue and completely dissolve them. It is recommended to take no more than 8 pieces per day.

Another equally effective remedy in the fight against toxicosis is ginger. It can be consumed in its pure form or taken in capsules: 2 pieces immediately after meals. With the help of thisfunds can significantly alleviate your condition with toxicosis. Ginger extract in capsules at a dosage of 100 mg can replace 1 g of fresh root.

General recommendations of doctors

Despite the fact that most drugs for toxicosis are quite safe for pregnant women, gynecologists try to prescribe them only in extreme cases. With mild nausea, it is better to do without pills. With unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to fight with alternative means:

• lead a moderate lifestyle, limit physical activity;
• sleep at least 8 hours a night;
• eat on demand, eat small meals;
• do not forget about daily walks in the fresh air;
• try to avoid strong odors;
• eliminate fatty foods from the diet;
• eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;
• drink enough fluids throughout the day.

Expectant mother suffering from toxicosis is not recommended to get out of bed abruptly, so as not to provoke an attack of nausea. It is advisable to first arrange a light snack in the form of an apple, natural yogurt, or at least water with lemon right in bed, so that the attack of nausea recedes, and then go wash.