Heartburn medications are not safe

The reason it's important to use natural remedies for preventing heartburn as often as possible that not all common heartburn medications are safe for use in pregnancy. A class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors has not been studied for safety for pregnant mothers and their babies, especially as a treatment for early pregnancy heartburn. These drugs include:

• Dexlansoprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Kapidex)
• Esomeprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Nexium and Esotrex)
• Lansoprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Prevacid, Inhibitol, Levant, Lupizole, and Zoton)
• Omeprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Prilosec, Zegerid, Locid, Lomac, Omepral, and Omez)
• Pantoprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Pan, Pantoloc, Pantozol, Protonix, Somac, and Zurcal)
• Rabeprazole (marketed in North America and the EU as Aciphex, Pariet, and Rabeloc)

A group of drugs known as histamine 2 (H2) inhibitors is generally considered safe, but even these drugs can pass through the placenta to the baby. These drugs include the generic drugs cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, and nizatidine, all approved for over-the-counter sale in the United States.

Occasionally heartburn is a sign of gestational diabetes, and sometimes heartburn is a symptom of a medical emergency. If you notice you are losing weight, you should make an appointment with your physician right away. If you experience severe pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. A trip to the emergency room is warranted if you are throwing up blood or passing blood in your bowel movements, if you have difficulty swallowing, or if you show signs of dehydration: dark urine, skin that seems to droop away from your body, sunken eyes, or thirst that you cannot relieve by drinking water.