Papaverine suppositories in pregnancy

All expectant mothers are convinced that it is better to refrain from taking medications during pregnancy. Many of them are afraid of negative consequences for both themselves and the baby.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid drug treatment for nine long months. However, there are many drugs that will only benefit the pregnant woman and will not harm the future baby. The list of such drugs will definitely include suppositories with papaverine. They are often used during pregnancy and give excellent results.

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Indications for use of suppositories with papaverine

First of all, suppositories with papaverine during pregnancy are intended to reduce the tone of the uterus. This complaint is the most common among pregnant women. In addition, the tone is a serious threat to the health and life of the baby.

The antispasmodic properties of the drug also affect blood vessels: papaverine gently reduces high blood pressure.

Suppositories perfectly eliminate pain caused by spasms of internal organs. Papaverine can help out in many situations when antispasmodics or vasodilators are needed.

"How does papaverine affect the development of the baby? Are papaverine suppositories harmful during pregnancy?" - doctors monitoring pregnancies often hear such questions in their offices. Future mothers can rest easy. There is no need to worry about the effect of papaverine on the health of the future child. More than one generation of pregnant women took the drug, and more than one million babies have been born since then. Side effects affecting the child have not been identified during this time. It is safe to say that the safety of papaverine has been tested not only by the necessary clinical trials, but also over the years.

The names of suppositories from different manufacturers differ slightly:

• Papaverine;
• Papaverine hydrochloride;
• Suppositories with papaverine hydrochloride.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

The drug is absorbed in the stomach and small intestine. After entering the blood, it binds to plasma proteins. Papaverine accumulates in the body, mainly in fatty tissues and the liver. The kidneys and liver break down papaverine almost completely, and the remaining insignificant amount is excreted naturally unchanged. Papaverine is not addictive.

Papaverine interferes with the action of the enzyme phosphodiesterase. As a result, cyclic adenosine monophosphate loses its ability to disintegrate, lingering in smooth muscle tissue, as well as in striated muscles, preventing them from contracting. Large doses of papaverine can reduce the heart rate.

How to use papaverine suppositories during pregnancy

The manufacturer's instructions indicate that the daily dosage of papaverine is 2-3 suppositories. They are administered rectally at equal intervals.

First trimester

In the first weeks of pregnancy, when the placental barrier has not yet formed, the list of safe medications is very small. Therefore, as antispasmodics, suppositories with papaverine are in great demand in the early stages of pregnancy.

At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman may suffer from toxicosis, so it is better to refuse pills to relieve spasms. In addition, the effect of suppositories is much longer: the active substance is absorbed more slowly and the effect of papaverine in suppositories can be felt throughout the day.

Up to the 16th week, excessive tension of the uterus is most often caused by a low concentration of the hormone progesterone in the pregnant woman's body. For this reason, papaverine suppositories are combined with hormone therapy.

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Second trimester

At this stage, the list of permitted medications is much wider, therefore, to preserve the health of the woman and her baby, drugs with a more radical effect can be used, for example, ginipral or magnesia.

Suppositories with papaverine are already used as a remedy for pain or to lower blood pressure to maintain the condition of a pregnant woman until she can see her doctor.

Third trimester

Suppositories with papaverine are prescribed in late pregnancy if the due date has not yet arrived and the uterine tension is too strong. In the last days before labor, suppositories will perfectly serve as a kind of indicator of "training" contractions. If papaverine was able to remove them, this means that labor has not yet begun. After the 38th week of pregnancy, suppositories are prescribed to prepare the cervix for labor. In addition, they can reduce pain during the first contractions.

Overdosing on papaverine can cause impaired vision, lethargy, and extreme drowsiness. It can also lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure.

Side effects of papaverine suppositories occur in isolated cases and depend entirely on the individual characteristics of the body. This may include nausea, drowsiness, excessive sweating, allergic reactions, problems with natural bowel movements.

Contraindications to the use of suppositories exist only if the pregnant woman has impaired liver function, problems with the thyroid gland, tachycardia, and increased intraocular pressure.

Papaverine interacts with other drugs, such as barbiturates, some antidepressants. In these cases, the effect of suppositories is enhanced. But expectant mothers have nothing to do with these subtleties, because drugs with such an effect are not prescribed during pregnancy due to their negative impact on the unborn child.

The shelf life of suppositories with papaverine is 2 years, subject to storage conditions at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees in a dark place.

Popular ideas today are that pregnancy and childbirth are natural for a woman, and any interference in their course can harm. However, modern expectant mothers for many reasons cannot always ensure that they follow a sleep and rest regimen and avoid daily stress. All this is fraught with certain problems. Suppositories with papaverine during pregnancy are an easy way to solve a significant part of them. Before using suppositories, be sure to consult with your doctor.