Instructions on Your Discharge Medications

Transcription

1 Instructions on Your Discharge Medications What do I need to know about discharge medications after having my baby? The following list of medications may be prescribed when you are discharged home. While considered safe, please take these medications with caution while breastfeeding. When taking any additional medications for any medical condition, please check with your health care provider for any potential drug interactions. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to any medication, go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Keep all medications out of reach of all children. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions after being discharged home. Acetaminophen (Tylenol ) 325 milligrams Relieves mild to moderate pain. Useful in relieving pain from your perineum (stiches or episiotomy). Relieves discomfort which may accompany first few days of breastfeeding (engorgement or sore nipples). Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed with 8 ounces of fluid. Tylenol appears to work best if taken with Motrin every 4-6 hours the first few days

2 When taking this medication as directed, most people have few l or no side effects. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to this medication. Tell your nurse or doctor if you develop any of the following: a rash fever sore throat difficulty breathing yellowing of the eyes or skin What is the maximum daily amount I can take? Overdose of acetaminophen can cause severe, even fatal, liver damage. If you are taking Percocet or Vicodin, do not take acetaminophen tablets since Percocet and Vicodin already contain acetaminophen. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for a 24-hour period is 12 tablets or 4,000 milligrams. Docusate Sodium (Colace ) 100 milligrams Softens stool to make it more comfortable to have a bowel movement while your perineum (stiches/episiotomy) is healing. Take one tablet or capsule 2 times per day (morning and night) with 8 ounces of fluid. It can be purchased in any pharmacy without a prescription. This medication may cause stomach aches or cramping. If these effects continue or become bothersome, tell your nurse or health care provider. Stop using if bowel movements are too loose

3 Notify your nurse or health care provider if you experience skin rash, rectal bleeding, or no bowel movements while taking this medication. Ibuprofen (Motrin ) 600 milligrams Prescription strength pain reliever; relieves mild to moderate pain. Effective for the cramping pain caused by the uterus as it decreases in size. If you are allergic to aspirin, do not take this medication without first talking to your nurse or health care provider. Take 1 tablet every 4-6 hours as needed. Maximum dose is 3,200 mg per day or 5 tablets in 24 hours. Take with 8 ounces of water or milk to aid in swallowing this pill. Should be taken with food to decrease stomach upset. Motrin appears to work best when taken with acetaminophen (Tylenol ) every 4-6 hours. Stomach upset is the most common side effect. If this persists or becomes severe, notify your nurse or health care provider. This drug may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Oxycodone Hydrochloride-Acetaminophen (Percocet ) 5mg/325mg or 5mg/500mg Relieves moderate to severe pain, for example, incisional pain from a Cesarean Section. If you are allergic to acetaminophen or oxycodone, do not take this medication

4 Take 1-2 tablets every 6 hours as needed. If your prescription is 5mg/325mg, do not exceed 12 tablets per day. If your prescription is 5mg/500mg, do not exceed 8 tablets per day. This medication impairs mental and physical abilities. Do not drive a car, sign legal papers or operate machinery while you are taking this medication. Do not drink alcoholic beverages with this medication. If this medication does not decrease your pain level, call your health care provider as soon as possible. Do not take any additional tablets. Lightheadedness, itching, rash, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, dizziness, and sleepiness. Notify your health care provider if you have problems with breathing. If breastfeeding, observe your baby for excessive sleepiness, difficulty breathing and constipation. Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen (Vicodin ) 5mg/500mg Relieves moderate to severe pain, for example, incisional pain from a Cesarean Section. If you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or hydrocodone, do not take this medication. Take 1-2 tablets every 6 hours as needed. Do not take more than 8 tablets per day. This medication impairs mental and physical abilities. Do not drive a car, sign legal papers or operate machinery while you are taking this medication. Do not drink alcoholic beverages with this medication

5 If this medication does not decrease your pain level, call your health care provider as soon as possible. Do not take any additional tablets. Lightheadedness, itching, rash, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, dizziness, anxiety and sleepiness. Notify your health care provider if you have problems with breathing. If you are breastfeeding, observe your baby for excessive sleepiness, difficulty breathing and constipation. Disclaimer: This document contains information and/or instructional materials developed by the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) for the typical patient with your condition. It may include links to online content that was not created by UMHS and for which UMHS does not assume responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan. Patient Education by University of Michigan Health System is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Last Revised 07/