A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

Postpartum Medication Information
Below is a list of medications that may have been prescribed for you while you are in the hospital or may be prescribed for you to take at home.
The information provided in the chart below will help you know more about the medications you will be taking. If you have any questions,
ask your nurse, call your provider’s office or your pharmacist after you go home.
Medication Dose Per Tablet How Many How Often Potential Side Effects What Does It Do
To Take To Take
*Ibuprofen (200mg) 200 mg 1-2 tablets Every 4 hours Stomach discomfort. Helps relieve mild-moderate
(Motrin, Advil) Max 16 tablets/day as needed for pain Take with food or milk pain, especially uterine cramps
*Acetaminophen (325mg) 325 mg 2 tablets Every 4 hours Side Effects are uncommon Helps relieve mild-moderate
(Tylenol) Max 12 tablets/day as needed for pain pain and reduces fever
*Acetaminophen with 325 mg 1-2 tablets Every 4 hours Hydrocodone can cause drowsiness, Helps relieve
Hydrocodone acetaminophen Max 12 tablets/day as needed for pain nausea or constipation moderate/severe pain
(Lortab, Vicodin) + 5 mg hydrocodone
Oxycodone 5 mg 1-2 tablets Every 4 hours Oxycodone can cause drowsiness, Helps relieve
Max 12 tablets/day as needed for pain nausea, vomiting or constipation moderate/severe pain
*Acetaminophen with 325 mg acetaminophen 1-2 tablets Every 4 hours Oxycodone can cause drowsiness, Helps relieve moderate
Oxycodone (Percocet) + 5 mg oxycodone Max 12 tablets/day as needed for pain nausea, vomiting or constipation to severe pain
Docusate 100 mg 1 capsule Every 12 hours at Cramping A stool softener,
(Colace) bedtime as needed not a laxative
for constipation
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 17 grams Dissolve dose in Daily Nausea, bloating, Helps relieve constipation
(Miralax) 8 ounces of water cramping and flatulence
Benzocaine Ointment 20% 2 inch strip Apply to perineum Rash, burning, swelling in Helps relieve discomfort
(Americaine ointment) (External use only!) as needed for pain. affected area. If these symptoms from episiotomy
Keep in bathroom are present, discontinue use
and apply to clean and notify your nurse
vaginal pad. or physician.
Hydrocortisone 2.5% Thin layer gently Apply to hemorrhoids Skin irritation Helps relieve
topical rubbed into skin every 6 hours hemorrhoidal pain
as needed
*Acetaminophen. Do not take more than 4000 mg/day (from all sources combined)
**Ibuprofen. Do not take more than 3200 mg/day
PAIN SCALE
No pain 0…1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10 Worst pain
Moderate pain
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