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Most pregnant women are afraid to use pharmacological preparations that relieve pain. This decision is justified in part because many common pain relievers are dangerous and can even result in miscarriage. Is apap safe during pregnancy? How to dose it and can it be used with other medications? Is there a risk of side effects when using apap during pregnancy?
What is apap?
Apap is a preparation whose active substance is paracetamol, which has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. The action of apap is associated with the inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) activity in the brain and spinal cord, which is activated by inflammatory factors. This enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins – hormones acting locally, which are regulators of physiological processes.
Apap – how does it work?
Apap administered orally is very quickly absorbed by the digestive system, without damaging the gastric mucosa and without affecting the blood coagulation processes. The effect of apap becomes apparent about 30 minutes after taking it. The analgesic effect is about 4-6 hours after taking it, while the antipyretic effect is about 6-8 hours.
This drug should be used in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age in the event of:
- nervousness,
- headache (including migraine),
- pain in joints, bones and muscles,
- sore throat
- toothache,
- menstrual pain
- and as an antipyretic for colds or flu.
Apap – dosage
Apap should be used according to the recommendations in the leaflet or after consulting a doctor. An adult person can take from 500 to 1000 mg (i.e. 1-2 tablets) 3-4 times a day, while adolescents after the age of 12: 500 mg (1 tablet) 3-4 times a day. It should be remembered that the recommended doses should not be exceeded, as this will not affect the effectiveness of the drug and can seriously harm our health and even life.
Apap in pregnancy – is it safe?
The use of drugs, painkillers and antipyretics without consulting a doctor during pregnancy may have negative effects. A pregnant woman who has a headache, toothache, etc. does not have to tire because one of the few painkillers that can be used by women in this condition is apap. There are no indications that the use of apap in the recommended doses by pregnant women has any adverse effects on the fetus. Apap contains paracetamol, which, although it penetrates into the baby’s bloodstream, is completely safe for the fetus when taken in the lowest effective doses for the shortest possible time. Apap can be used by a woman in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy in the event of a cold or fever. The effect of the drug has little effect on the baby and on the occurrence of any complications during pregnancy.
Apap in pregnancy – dosage
Remember not to use apap too often and for a long time (i.e. longer than 5 days in a row) and not to exceed the dose indicated on the leaflet or recommended by your doctor (you should not exceed the dose of 4 g, i.e. 4 tablets per day). day). An overdose of apap during pregnancy manifests itself up to half an hour after taking too much of the drug. The most common symptoms are weakness, sweating, nausea, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Apap in pregnancy – when can it harm?
Non-reflective use of apap during pregnancy may affect the development of malformations in the child. It is suspected that taking apap in large amounts and over a long period of time may be one of the causes of ADHD in a child. Although apap is one of the safer painkillers during pregnancy, some women have to stop using it. This drug must not be used by women who are allergic to paracetamol or have severe liver and / or kidney failure and certain congenital diseases. Apap can be used with vitamin C, antihistamines, and apap can not be used with other painkillers, drugs for liver disease and some anti-epileptic drugs.
Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.