Self-medication in pregnancy is one of the riskiest behaviors we can adopt. Taking medicines that have not been prescribed by a medical professional is a dangerous and increasingly widespread practice. This risk is even higher for pregnant women, since they not only endanger their health, but can also cause malformations in their babies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) campaign “Antibiotics: Handle With Care” , launched in 2015, notes that the excessive and improper use of antibiotics increases the development of resistant bacteria. In a survey carried out by this organization to 10 thousand people, from 12 countries, it was shown that some practices of the users, as well as the wrong ideas about the effect of these drugs contribute to this phenomenon. For example, 64% of those interviewed think that antibiotics can be used to treat colds and flu, even though this type of medicine has no effect on influenza viruses. Also, 32% of the people interviewed believe that they should stop taking antibiotics when they feel better, instead of finishing the prescribed treatment.

In general, self-use of medications without a prescription and professional supervision can cause adverse effects, which can lead to serious health complications. Next, we detail a series of alterations that could appear in these cases:

• Undesirable toxic effects due to ignorance of the prescription and vigilance regarding dose, schedule, duration and drug restrictions. Nausea, vomiting, gastritis, blurred vision, insomnia, and liver damage are some of the reactions that can occur.
• If two or more medicines are taken without a prescription and at the same time, interactions between the substances of the medicines can occur, which could decrease their potency. Or also, increase it and generate side effects such as bleeding, drowsiness, headache.
• By taking medications without having gone to a professional who prescribes them, the symptoms of a disease can be modified and the diagnosis delayed. This can cause the patient to become aggravated.
• Allergic reactions are other complications that can appear. These conditions start moderately, but serious and even fatal cases can be registered, such as reactions to penicillins, or cause a “rebound” effect, especially in the use of corticosteroids.

The risks of self-medicating during pregnancy

As we have just discussed, self-medication is a risky compartment. However, there are stages in which it is especially dangerous. Pregnancy is one of them, because it can produce chromosomal alterations, microscopic abnormalities of much greater frequency and death of the embryo. It can also produce various congenital malformations visible at birth or appear later in apparently healthy newborns. From the Waal Foundation, in accordance with our mission to Build a Culture of Prevention, we have insisted on the relationship between self-medication during pregnancy and intrauterine malformations.

Self-medication is especially dangerous during pregnancy, since it is one of the causes of congenital malformations that could be prevented . It is estimated that 2-3% of newborns present congenital anomalies and between 2 and 5% of these are attributed to the consumption of non-prescribed drugs and that by crossing the mother’s placenta, they are capable of causing these damages to the babies.

According to the report “Use of drugs in pregnancy and lactation” , by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the danger of malformations related to taking drugs remains throughout the entire pregnancy. “The stages of greatest risk are those that coincide with the implantation period (initial week of gestation) and with the organogenesis period (approximately the first eight weeks). After the first trimester of gestation, the chances of malformation decrease significantly, but this does not make it a safe period, since in these stages of gestation, fetal growth and functional development of its organs occurs, and the interaction of a drug can cause the appearance of alterations in both fetal growth and functional development ”.

The global health emergency caused by COVID-19 has revealed a series of collateral situations, such as the saturation of medical services, the lack of a specific treatment protocol, in addition to the generalized fear and the ineffectiveness of some measures to stop infections . This has meant that a significant part of the population does not have clear elements on how to face the pandemic. Some people turn to a variety of non-prescribed medications, treatments, or remedies, which could lead to further health complications, masking of symptoms, and delay in diagnosis.

If we extend this situation to pregnant women, we can see that the risk of self-medication, in this context of a pandemic, is high. The WHO has explained on several occasions that to date there is no medicine authorized to cure COVID-19 . Therefore, the recommendation of the body is to call the health care lines, authorized to provide care or communicate with the gynecologist or obstetrician who is accompanying the pregnant woman in her pregnancy controls, in the presence of symptoms or suspicion of contagion.

The WHO has frequently published a series of Advice to the public about rumors about the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) . These recommendations specify that substances such as hydroxychloroquine, methanol, ethanol and bleach should NOT be ingested under any circumstances, as they do not prevent or cure COVID-19. In addition, they are highly toxic for all people and even more so for pregnant women. We emphasize in advising against them during pregnancy, due to the irreversible damages that they could cause to the mother and the baby.

In the same way, it is remembered that antibiotics are effective against bacteria, but not against viruses. Since the new coronavirus is a virus, antibiotics should not be used to prevent or treat the infection.