According to a new study, the use of nasal decongestant sprays during pregnancy is dangerous and could cause malformations. Here’s what you need to know.
Taking medications is very limited during pregnancy. Certain treatments can in fact have harmful effects on the development of the fetus, which requires doctors and pharmacists to be very rigorous with regard to the delivery of drugs to pregnant women. We also remind you that even acne medications, anticoagulants and certain antibiotics can be dangerous. In many cases, there are natural alternatives or non-drug treatments to relieve common symptoms such as nausea or headaches. So, when you consult a doctor for any health problems during pregnancy, make sure to tell them that you are pregnant. This will allow him to prescribe medications tailored to your condition.
Pregnancy: this new study which worries
Today, light is also being shed on a form of medication, which at first glance seems harmless but in reality has very harmful effects and even risks malformation of the fetuses. These are nasal decongestant sprays. According to an international study carried out on more than 20,000 children, these famous sprays which provide instant relief could be linked to the development of congenital malformations because of their phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine content.
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This research carried out on 12,734 children with malformations and 7,606 healthy control babies demonstrates the risk of a birth defect of the heart chambers 8 times higher (i.e. + 0.27% in absolute value) in mothers who took phenylephrine during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It also demonstrates a risk of newborn ear malformations 7.8 times higher and malformation of the stomach muscle (pylorus) 3.2 times higher in those who took phenylpropanolamine in the first trimester of pregnancy.
If for the moment, researchers assure that these risks remain very low in absolute value and that the association with taking nasal decongestants is limited to a small number of congenital malformations, it is preferable to avoid the use of these sprays. during pregnancy.