Headache Remedy for Pregnant: Is Paracetamol Safe for Pregnant?

Series of headaches are usually experienced by moms-to-be during the early stage of pregnancy. This is one of the common discomforts a pregnant woman may feel. Though it does not harm the baby inside the mother’s womb, if not treated correctly, it can affect the baby’s growth and development. Taking a headache remedy for pregnant can help our soon-to-be mums. 

Sometimes, the pain coming from headache is tolerable, but if it is severe, medicine in-take might be needed. There are headache medicines for pregnant available in the market that are safe for soon-to-be moms. 

But for severe headaches, there are certain medicines that might affect fetal growth. It is best to consult a health care provider before taking medications just to ensure the safety of the mother and the baby inside her womb.

Causes of headache during pregnancy

There are lots of causes of headache experienced by expectant moms, these include:

• Lack of sleep - As the body changes, it gets hard for a pregnant woman to be comfortable while sleeping. There were times that she couldn't sleep for 8 hours straight since she had to change her sleeping positions to get a more pleasant sleep. Also, peeing becomes more frequent for mothers-to-be.
• Stress - Pregnant women cannot avoid stress. There are times that they tend to overthink about giving birth and imagine different situations that will make them stressed.
• Dehydration - Nausea and vomiting are some of the common discomforts a pregnant mom might experience. And frequent vomiting can lead to dehydration. Also, if the expectant mom does not increase her water intake, it can result in dehydration as well.
• Caffeine withdrawal - When the body suddenly stops receiving caffeine, it can also lead to severe headaches.
• Imbalanced diet - Food consumption of a mother-to-be can also change from time to time. Sometimes, she can eat a lot of food in just one sitting, but there will be times that she’ll lose her appetite.

Headache medicines for pregnant to avoid

During pregnancy, it is a must to consult your doctor before taking any kind of headache remedy for pregnant. Here are some of the medicines to avoid that might affect fetal growth and development:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, and naproxen.
• High-dose of aspirin.
• Opioid analgesic such as codeine.

Top 5 headache remedy for pregnant

Biogesic Paracetamol

Most trusted brand

First on our 'headache remedy for pregnant' list is the one of the most used and one of the most trusted brands of oral medicine for headache and fever relief in the Philippines, Biogesic. It contains 500mg of paracetamol that has an ability to lower body temperature and ease pain coming from headache. 

Biogesic can be consumed on an empty stomach. What’s more to love with this headache medicine is that it can be taken by pregnant women, breastfeeding moms and the elderly. It is also lactose-free and gluten-free. 

Tempra Forte Paracetamol

Best use for any age

Tempra is a paracetamol that is used for fever, headache, muscular aches and pain, toothache, colds, and vaccination. Each tablet contains 500mg of paracetamol.

Secondly, this headache medicine can be taken by children or adults, 13 years old and above. It can be consumed every 4 to 6 hours. It is considered safe for pregnant moms because it does not contain any other drugs that might affect fetal growth and development.

United Home Fevertab Paracetamol

Best for any body or headaches 

Fevertab is one of the cheapest headache and fever medicines in the country. It is a paracetamol that is consumed for the relief of minor aches and pains like headache, backache, menstrual cramps, muscular aches, minor arthritis pain, toothache, and pain associated with common colds and flu. It can also be taken for fever reduction.

Fevertab can be taken by children and adults, 12 years old and above, 1-2 tablets for every 4 to 6 hours, or as directed by a doctor. Also, it is safe for pregnant moms and breastfeeding mothers. Older people can take this medicine as well.

Tylenol Extended Release Paracetamol

Best for relief of pain and discomfort

For a severe headache, try Tylenol Extended Release 650 mg. Each tablet contains 650 mg of paracetamol. It is taken for the relief of pain and discomfort caused by headache, fever, cold or flu, muscle pain, menstrual cramps, toothache, and minor arthritic pain.

Additionally, it can be consumed by children and adults,12 years old and above. Since it has a higher dosage, it is recommended to take 1 to 2 tablets for every 8 hours or as prescribed by a doctor. Tylenol is a safe choice to treat headache during pregnancy. Many healthcare providers recommend it as headache medicine for expectant mothers.

Ritemed Paracetamol

Cheapest headache and fever medicine 

If you are looking for a generic brand of paracetamol, Ritemed Paracetamol might be the one you are looking for. It is cheaper compared to other brands and yet it offers the same relief to headache and fever.

Each tablet of Ritemed paracetamol contains 500 mg of paracetamol. It can also be taken as a pain reliever to some discomforts such as backache, cramps, muscular aches, toothache and pain associated with the common cold and flu. It is usually given to children and adults, 12 years old and above. And it can be taken even by pregnant mothers. 

Price Comparison: Headache Medicine for Pregnant

Here’s a quick comparison of headache medicines for pregnant moms in the Philippines:

Note: Each item and price is up to date as of publication, however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date

Tips to manage headache during pregnancy

After knowing some of the causes of headache and the headache remedy for pregnant women, here are some of valuable tips on how to manage it:

Get plenty of rest.

Allot time for rest. To have a better sleep, try to use some pregnancy pillow that can support the sleeping position you are comfortable with.

Relax and meditate.

Avoid overthinking by doing some activities that will make you relaxed. Try to learn new skills like knitting, embroidering or gardening. Also, you can take up yoga for pregnant sessions because it will help you meditate and avoid stressing out so much. It is also beneficial for your health.

Stay hydrated.

Drink plenty of water. Pregnant moms need more water than the average person since there were a lot of changes in her body. 

Exercise regularly.

Doing physical activity can make the body stronger and can help for easier adaptation to changes in the body.

Eat regularly and maintain healthy diet.

Remember that pregnant moms not just eat for herself, but also for the baby inside her womb. It is necessary to eat healthy foods and avoid skipping any meal within the day.

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it's important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn't serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines or use products based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.

Our titas also recommend putting ointments to ease your headache. Check out: Tita-Approved Ointment for Rashes That Can Be Used During Pregnancy