Why are drugs that, it would seem, could be a salvation from the most unpleasant manifestations of pregnancy, always associated with caution in use, or even advised to abandon them completely? This is especially true for products that have antacid properties, that is, a directed effect against heartburn. And this symptom is the most painful and disgusting, judging by the reviews of most pregnant women. Constant or periodic burning under the sternum is unbearable in itself, but it is even worse if it is accompanied by uncontrollable belching or gas production.
Pregnant women seek salvation from this scourge in different ways: some drink large amounts of water, some use a baking soda solution. It helps. True, not for long. After some time, heartburn returns with renewed vigor, and then expectant mothers, in despair, go to the pharmacy and, when choosing a drug, rely on information from popular commercials.
And here the pharmacist must say “Stop,” especially if the pregnant woman intends to independently “prescribe” Maalox, or another drug from the so-called “safe category.”
Who determines the level of security?
You absolutely cannot take any independent steps when treating heartburn! It is the prerogative of the attending physician to assess the patient’s condition and prescribe medications. As for Maalox specifically, the components it contains, although they effectively cope with their task and suppress the cause of heartburn, can have an extremely negative effect on the fetus.
Reviews of Maalox from the majority of pregnant women who took it are positive, but there are a number of cautions when using it. Substances that neutralize hydrochloric acid belong to the group of metals, and the absorption of aluminum ions into the blood during pregnancy cannot be attributed to factors that positively affect the development of the fetus.
Analogues and folk remedies with similar effects
Like any medicine, Maalox has contraindications:
- allergic reaction to the components of the drug, individual intolerance;
- renal failure;
- hypophosphatemia;
- tendency to constipation.
That is why only a specialist can assess the potential harm and benefits of using the medicine. Women with kidney problems are not recommended to take Maalox, since the components of the drug are not excreted from the body properly.
Before taking medications for heartburn during pregnancy, you should try other ways to get rid of the unpleasant phenomenon. So, women are recommended:
- eat small meals several times a day;
- exclude fried, fatty, smoked, salty and sour foods;
- steam, boil or bake dishes;
- eat oatmeal;
- drink milk at the first symptoms (however, its effect is short-lived);
- give up strong tea and coffee;
- After eating, you should walk or sit a little, but don’t lie down right away.
In the second and third trimester, when the main organs of the fetus are already formed, you can try to get rid of heartburn using folk remedies:
- drink tea from chamomile, ginger (see also: ways to use ginger in early pregnancy);
- cook various jelly (oatmeal, berry);
- during an attack, drink soda solution in small portions (in the proportion of 1 tsp to half a glass of water);
- drink fresh potato juice 2 tbsp. l. half an hour before meals;
- eat walnuts in small quantities.
Any folk remedies should be used with caution. Some medicinal herbs have a pronounced effect, which is not always favorable for pregnancy. Sometimes self-medication leads to miscarriage, you need to remember this and carefully study the possible side effects of folk remedies.
If heartburn does not go away, on the recommendation of a specialist, you can take the following medications:
- Almagel;
- Gaviscon;
- Rennie.
The dosage and duration of their use should be agreed with the doctor monitoring the pregnancy. A gynecologist, when recommending a medicine to a woman, takes into account all concomitant diseases and her condition.
Active substances and therapeutic effect of Maalox
Magnesium and aluminum hydroxides are very effective in combating heartburn, and they are presented in the preparation as active ingredients.
Forms of release of the drug:
- suspension;
- gel;
- pills;
- chewable tablets.
The main emphasis in the instructions is on the non-toxicity of the drug; however, using it without medical advice is dangerous and unwise. Aluminum that enters the body of a pregnant woman is harmless in small doses and cannot harm the unborn baby after three days of use. But even with a short course of therapy, it is necessary to adhere to the prescribed dosage and follow all the doctor’s recommendations.
Aluminum and magnesium hydroxides act locally - in the upper gastrointestinal tract - significantly reducing the acidity of gastric juice and creating a protective layer on the walls of the stomach. With long-term therapy, there is a possibility of absorption of metal ions into the blood, which is undesirable and even dangerous for pregnant women.
Release forms
Maalox is available as:
- suspensions in 250 ml bottles, the volume of which is designed for a long course;
- suspensions in 30 ml sachets, intended for single use;
- suspensions in mini-sticks of 4.3 ml, saving from occasional heartburn;
- chewable tablets that do not need to be washed down with water.
The suspension in mini-sachets of 4.3 ml is indicated only for eliminating heartburn and sour belching. A small amount of the drug is enough to cope with these problems, but not enough to treat more serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
A pregnant woman can be prescribed any version of Maalox, but the most convenient is the suspension in mini-sachets, which contain 1/3 of the standard dose of the drug. By choosing them, the expectant mother can easily control the amount of medication taken orally and get by with minimal dosages.
Dosage forms of Maalox - photo gallery
Large bottles are the most popular form of Maalox. They last a long time
The sachet contains a dose of suspension designed for one-time use.
The tablets are convenient to take at work or on a trip - they do not need to be washed down with water
Mini-sticks save you from occasional heartburn and belching
Is Maalox indicated or contraindicated during pregnancy?
A search for instructions for using the drug during pregnancy showed surprising results - four completely different options.
The first option gives the green light to the independent use of Maalox, the second places a strict taboo on the drug during pregnancy, the third is a reprint of instructions from twenty years ago and does not contain any of the data that emerged during the latest research on the drug, the fourth advises using Maalox exclusively on the recommendation of a doctor. He is the most correct one.
The use of not only Maalox, but also any other medication requires an immediate trip to the clinic. Only a professional will tell you all the nuances of using a particular medicine, in accordance with the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman’s body. Your attending physician may see the picture of your pregnancy much more clearly and distinctly than you yourself and will be able to recommend the safest remedy for getting rid of heartburn in your case.
Briefly about the drug
Maalox is produced as a suspension and chewable tablets.
One sachet of liquid medicine contains Aluminii hydroxydum (525 mg) and Magnesii hydroxydum (600 mg). Additional composition:
- E 421
- Hydrogen peroxide
- E 218
- Hydrochloric acid
- E 216
- Water
- E 330
- Peppermint oil
- E 954
- E 420.
The suspension is packaged in 15 ml bags. One pack contains 30 bags.
The chewable tablet contains 400 mg of algedrate and magnesium hydroxide. Excipients - talc, E 414, liquid sorbitol, E 329, glycerol, E 330, E 572, etc.
The manufacturer of Maalox is Sanofi-Aventis, France. Price – from 130 to 700 rubles.
The drug has an antacid effect. Indications for the use of Maalox are duodenal or gastric ulcers, heartburn, pain in the epigastric zone. The medicine is also used for gastroduodenitis, reflux esophagitis, dyspepsia that occurs while taking certain medications, and hiatal hernia.
Contraindications:
- Age up to 15 years
- Kidney dysfunction
- Allergy to fructose and other components of the product
- Phosphorus metabolism disorder.
The tablets are dissolved or chewed. The recommended amount is up to 2 tablets up to 4 times a day. The tablets are taken an hour after half a meal and before bedtime. Duration of therapy is up to 3 months.
The instructions for use of Maalox state that the suspension is not recommended to be taken during pregnancy. But in exceptional cases, according to medical prescription, the use of the medicine is possible.
Drink 1-2 sachets 1 hour after meals or at the time of heartburn. The permissible dosage per day is 180 ml, that is, 12 sachets. Treatment time is up to 90 days.
Maalox has few negative reactions. So, with long-term use, the level of phosphorus in the body may decrease.
Indications
The main indication for the use of Maalox during pregnancy is heartburn, which interferes with normal life, but there are other diseases that require a course of treatment with an antacid drug:
- gastroduodenitis (chronic and acute forms);
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- post-coffee heartburn.
By the way, about coffee. This drink is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy, not only as a stimulant, but also as a cause of heartburn. Big fans of aromatic coffee during pregnancy have to make a choice between “two loves” - the love of the drink and the love of the unborn child. We hope that the second option wins. And it’s unreasonable to start drinking a medicine that isn’t the most recommended just because you don’t have the willpower to give up coffee.
Features of application
There are different opinions among doctors regarding the use of Maalox in relation to food intake. But most experts and the manufacturer recommend using an antacid during a course of treatment after meals, approximately 1–1.5 hours and immediately before bedtime. For heartburn, this time period should be reduced to 30–60 minutes. You should also space out taking Maalox with other medications by two hours. And for stomach ulcers, most doctors advise taking this antacid half an hour before meals. In general, a pregnant woman needs to follow the dosage regimen suggested by the doctor. It will take into account the individual indicators and characteristics of a woman’s health.
Maalox by trimester
1st trimester
Avoid taking Maalox if you have toxicosis and heartburn. But you don’t need to endure attacks, the best way to get rid of heartburn is to eat often, but in small portions, change your diet towards a diet (boiled or steamed poultry, mild and unsalted dishes, non-carbonated drinks).
The instructions for Maalox say that the drug does not have toxic, teratogenic (causing developmental abnormalities) and mutagenic (causing changes at the gene level) properties. But postpone taking the drug at least until the baby “acquires” placental protection.
2nd trimester
The main systems of the fetus are formed and now the main task of the mother is to keep them healthy and healthy and allow them to develop normally. And for this you should become very picky in taking medications. If heartburn is present during this period of pregnancy, but can be tolerated, do not resort to medications, use completely safe homemade drinks as a medicine. They also produce a relieving effect.
3rd trimester
Pregnancy is approaching its end, and everything would be fine if it were not for the return of toxicosis, which is very dangerous in the later stages, and the uterus did not prop up the stomach, causing unbearable heartburn.
In such cases, Maalox is prescribed by the attending physician if he believes that heartburn aggravates the condition of the pregnant woman. It's not just a matter of discomfort - late toxicosis (also known as gestosis) leads to complications during pregnancy and can take on threatening forms that are dangerous for the mother and fetus.
Causes of heartburn at different stages of pregnancy
With the onset of pregnancy, the body adjusts to bearing a fetus. Strong changes occur that affect the functioning of all systems, including the digestive system. Often, expectant mothers complain of unpleasant symptoms of heartburn - a burning sensation that starts from the epigastric region and ends in the neck, stomach pain, sour belching, nausea.
With heartburn, the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus, causing an unpleasant burning sensation.
There are several reasons for heartburn during pregnancy:
- production of the hormone progesterone, which, together with the muscles of the uterus, relaxes the sphinctral septum between the stomach and esophagus (typical for early pregnancy);
- compression of the digestive organs by the growing uterus (occurs in the later stages);
- chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- poor nutrition and non-compliance with diet.
If before pregnancy a woman suffered from chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, they often worsen during pregnancy. In such cases, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary. Indispensable recommendations are a special diet and emotional calm.
Hypermagnesemia is a consequence of an overdose of Maalox
When deciding to take Maalox, a woman needs to be aware of the existence of another danger: an overdose of the drug can lead to hypermagnesemia (excessive amount of magnesium in the body) of the newborn.
When a woman's life is at stake, what doubt can there be? Doctors use large doses of magnesium-containing drugs (Maalox is one of them) and as a result, the young mother gets a chance at life and a newborn baby with a strong concentration of magnesium in the blood.
Signs of hypermagnesemia are lethargy, lethargy of the baby, a weak, barely audible first cry, decreased reflexes, a rare pulse. The most dangerous thing is that the heart and breathing may stop.
Side effects
Side effects when taking Maalox are quite rare. Diarrhea or constipation may occur. Very rarely, allergic reactions are observed - itching or urticaria, which occurs with hypersensitivity to individual components of the drug. When taken in large doses, metabolic disorders such as hyperaluminemia, hypermagnesemia or hypophosphatemia sometimes occur.
Effect on the fetus
"Maalox" during pregnancy in the early stages and in the late period of gestation does not in any way affect the formation and development of the fetus. There is no clinically proven data about this.
The medicine is not toxic and is not absorbed into the blood, which means it cannot affect the fetus or cause any changes at the genetic level or developmental abnormalities. When chemically interacting with acid in the stomach, the drug forms carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted from the body naturally.
Important! Despite the safety of the drug, the prescription and use of Maalox should only be carried out under the supervision of a gynecologist and gastroenterologist.
Medicines to replace Maalox
All Maalox substitute drugs are divided into two groups:
- analogue drugs - medicines that have identical active ingredients;
- alternative means are medications that have a different composition, but have a single intended purpose.
Today there are many analogues of Maalox. The most popular include the following:
- Almagel;
- Gastracid;
- Alumag;
- Altacid;
- Maalukol.
If there is intolerance to individual components of Maalox, alternative medications are prescribed, which also belong to antacids.
