Is Midol safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about Midol during pregnancy?

1. Reading the Drug Facts label is the only reliable way to know whether an over-the-counter product contains an NSAID, since many do and the brand name rarely says so. 1
2. FDA advises avoiding NSAIDs at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later unless a health care professional specifically recommends them, because they can cause fetal kidney problems that lower amniotic fluid. 1
3. Naproxen used later in pregnancy might cause the ductus arteriosus to close early, and it stays in the body longer than several other NSAIDs. 2
4. ACOG advises against taking ibuprofen or naproxen in pregnancy unless an ob-gyn recommends it, and points to acetaminophen as the better option for pain and fever. 3
5. Caffeine in medications counts toward the same daily total as coffee and tea, and most experts suggest keeping that total under 200 mg a day in pregnancy. 4

Is Midol safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Most people who ask about Midol in early pregnancy took it before they knew, usually while waiting on a late period. That is an extremely common story and a short one to tell your clinician. Going forward, the panel on the box is what determines the answer.
• Second trimester. From 20 weeks, FDA advises against NSAIDs unless a clinician specifically recommends one, so an NSAID-based formula is off the routine list. ACOG describes a narrow second-trimester window for short NSAID courses when acetaminophen has not been enough, and that decision belongs to your ob-gyn.
• Third trimester. NSAID versions carry the strongest late-pregnancy caution, including early closure of the ductus arteriosus. Naproxen also lingers in the body longer than some other NSAIDs. If cramping or pelvic pain is what sent you to the medicine cabinet in the third trimester, call your provider first.