Antacid tablets in pregnancy .... safe? Worried.

[chocciechip]

I nearly 9 weeks, and suffering from constipation and heartburn - two things I've never had problems with before. I've been sucking 2 bisodol tablets at night before bed to try help me sleep, and only just saw last night that they should not be taken in pregnancy without medical advice. Up until then I'd have thought these were very harmless.

DH has looked online today, and found one site saying antacid tablets 'may cause harm to the developing fetus'.

I am extremely worried now. Can you advise if this is potentially very harmful, or the usual hyper-caution about anything in pg. And does anyone know what I can take that is safe, because the heartburn is pretty bad.

I think it's possibly the hyper-caution they exercise in pregnancy. My GP told me that without extensive testing it's very difficult for drug companies to get licenses for products that they can class as safe for newborns and pregnant women, they don't want to spend any more than they have to on development so they don't pursue that part of the license (which is why most children's medicines are from 3 months and most over the counter medicines say not suitable for pregnancy).

See your GP to make sure but a small amount isn't likely to have done harm. While you're there ask him for a prescription for Gaviscon. They do a super-strength formula only available from pharmacies and it's safe to take it in pregnancy. Gaviscon was my best friend when I was pregnant with my son, I had loads of heartburn and would drink it straight from the bottle (and coincidentally the old wives tale was true - he had a full head of hair)

Thanks cbear. I've had no 'mood swings' through these early stages but this threw me this morning, and I felt so fed up and miserable about the dos and don'ts regarding basic medication in pg. Last week I badly strained my back and nurofen would have sorted me out fairly quickly ... but of course can't take it, so still have aches and pains now. Now this. I feel like I need a good cry.

The advice to see my GP is sound, but I'm afraid it takes 3 weeks to get an appointment and there's no way they'd consider heartburn as an emergency. I'll go to boots today and see if a pharmacist can help me. Thanks for the response.

Hi Chocciechip. Sorry to say this, but the heartburn will only get worse as things progress. Gaviscon is absolutely fine. Gaviscon advanced is even better.

Even if you get some from Boots today, it would still be worth seeing your GP anyway. Its pretty expensive and you might find you use a lot. I only found out this week you could get on prescription if required. I've been getting through a bottle a week, at about 8 quid a time, so its a shame I didn't know earlier - I'm no 40+4 and still necking it!!

Milk is good for an immediate soother. I've also stopped eating late at night as I found that made it worse in bed.

Hope it settles down for you. Its really not nice.

Thank you for asking this question! I've woken up every night for the last four days feeling dreadful with heartburn (I've never had it before, isn't it horrible?!) Now I know to get myself off to the GP to request Gaviscon.

Oh, and I'm not convinced it works, but DP found an online link suggesting that eating apples after meals reduces indigestion and heartburn. Worth a try...

Great stuff for this information about the prescription I know what I will be doing! But I think milk can actually cause acid backlash with it being an alkali it can promote the body to make more acid or so I heard. My midwife suggested rennies? But I guess gaviscon advanced is the holy grail!! 😂

I'm crunching rennies like sweets, GP has no issues and gave me omeprazole as well.