As a pregnant woman, you take extra precaution when it comes to anything that could potentially affect the wellbeing of your unborn child. Medications, herbs, and supplements should be discussed with your healthcare provider before you take them to ensure that the ingredients will not harm your baby. Tylenol Cold and Flu is a popular over-the-counter medication that many people take to ease their cold and flu symptoms. But if you are pregnant, you may wonder if it is safe to take Tylenol Cold and Flu. This blog post will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Tylenol Cold and Flu while pregnant, as well as provide some tips for finding safe symptom relief. With the right information, you can make an informed decision about taking Tylenol Cold and Flu during pregnancy.
A pregnancy is considered full-term at 40 weeks, but consists of three trimesters.
However, since the first trimester of pregnancy is a critical period for fetal growth and development, decongestants shouldn’t be used during this time. More research is required to fully determine the risk during pregnancy. They could be used in the second or third trimester, but they ought to be used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
Studies are small and limited, but the safety of oral phenylephrine in pregnancy has not been established. Based on old, small studies, oral phenylephrine has the potential to cause some malformations. There are also some small studies on pseudoephedrine causing some birth defects, although these studies could be biased.
In our most recent question and answer, the pharmacist addresses whether taking Tylenol Cold is safe.
Many studies of acetaminophen during pregnancy have been using combination products with other medications, so it is difficult to fully determine which medications are impacting the development of the baby. However, some suggest that acetaminophen alone does not increase fetal risk during pregnancy and it is safer to use acetaminophen over other medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. It is reported that at least two-thirds of women use acetaminophen during pregnancy.
Depending on the condition being treated, alternatives to acetaminophen that might be taken into consideration during pregnancy For instance, warm (not hot) baths or compresses can be used to treat aches and pains. As a pain management technique, some women might favor acupuncture or prenatal massage. Options such as additional vitamin C may be beneficial for a cold or the flu. Alternatives to taking acetaminophen while pregnant include practicing yoga, meditation, or getting extra sleep. Pregnant women should be aware that, in some circumstances, untreated pain, fevers, or illnesses can pose a risk to the developing fetus. Always seek medical advice from a professional when you’re feeling under the weather and before taking any medication, including those available over-the-counter.
The best way to find out whether you can take Tylenol while pregnant or whether pregnant women can take Tylenol Extra Strength is to speak with a medical professional. Despite the fact that these studies have revealed potential effects on a fetus, the risk is still very low. Additionally, these studies don’t account for variables that may have an impact on the results, such as the mother’s initial reasons for taking acetaminophen or paracetamol. According to some medical professionals, very infrequent use of acetaminophen poses very little risk to pregnant women or the fetus. They do believe that if a mother used it frequently, such as more than three times per month throughout a pregnancy, the risks could increase. The recommendations are essentially the same for all trimesters for women who are unsure whether they can take paracetamol while pregnant in the first trimester. Consult your doctor, and regardless of the trimester, try to keep the dosage low in order to err on the side of caution.
There are various formulations of Tylenol Cold and Flu, and these medications can include a combination of acetaminophen with another substance like dextromethorphan, which is a cough suppressant. A different question that is frequently asked is “can I take Tylenol Cold and Flu while pregnant?” Some Tylenol Cold and Flu formulations may also be for daytime or nighttime use, so they may contain additional ingredients. Depending on the ingredients, taking Tylenol Cold and Flu during pregnancy may not be safe. Before using it, you should talk to a doctor about it.
Undoubtedly, one of the most widely used over-the-counter medications is acetaminophen. The drug, which also goes by the name paracetamol, can be used to treat a variety of mild to moderate types of pain. For instance, acetaminophen and paracetamol are frequently used to treat headaches, osteoarthritis, tooth pain, and aches and pains associated with colds and the flu. Acetaminophen and paracetamol can also be used as a fever-reducer. The active component of Tylenol and a number of over-the-counter cold and flu combination medications is acetaminophen. In prescription medications, acetaminophen is occasionally combined with more potent, narcotic painkillers, like an opioid. Most people believe that acetaminophen is naturally safe because it is used so frequently, and for the most part, that is true. But what about during pregnancy? Is it safe to take Tylenol during pregnancy? The information varies a little bit.
The general consensus is that you can take Tylenol while pregnant, but more and more research is emerging that suggests it may not be as completely safe as once believed. Even though it’s possible, pregnant women should think about alternatives before taking Tylenol Extra Strength formulations. Another frequently asked question is “can I take Tylenol Cold and Flu while pregnant?” Doing so can be riskier due to a combination of ingredients used in these formulations.
Acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / guaifenesin / phenylephrine Pregnancy Warnings
The manufacturer makes no recommendation regarding use during pregnancy. US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned Comments: -Acetaminophen is frequently used during pregnancy and has been presumed safe; however, recent data raises concerns about its safety, particularly when used frequently or with different genetics. -Routine use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is not advised. -Available human data does not demonstrate major teratogenicity with dextromethorphan. -Pregnant women with slow dextromethorphan metabolism may expose their unborn children to higher concentrations, but the clinical significance is unknown. Dextromethorphan is compatible with pregnancy, according to some authorities; surveillance studies found low incidences of birth defects. -Available data do not indicate developmental toxicity with guaifenesin. -Phenylephrine is a sympathomimetic that is used in emergency situations to treat hypotension and relieve allergic symptoms in the eyes and ears. -Phenylephrine may constrict uterine vessels, which are typically at their most dilate during pregnancy. This could reduce uterine blood flow and result in fetal hypoxia. -Cerebral vessel rupture is possible when phenylephrine interacts with oxytocic or ergot derivatives to cause persistent maternal hypertension. -Sympathomimetic amines are known to cause teratogenicity in some animal models but not in humans.
Animal studies are not available for the combination product. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Acetaminophen is frequently taken throughout the entire pregnancy, and short-term use seems to be safe. This drug crosses the placenta. Dextromethorphan does not appear to pose a significant teratogenic risk, and a survey study found no association between it and congenital malformations. Guaifenesin: Animal studies are not available. Inguinal hernias increased among 197 mother-child pairs exposed to guaifenesin in the first trimester of pregnancy; 1336 other exposures during pregnancy showed no association with malformations. Phenylephrine: A monitoring study involving 1249 mother-child pairs exposed to phenylephrine during the first trimester revealed an increase in malformation, with a greater association with minor defects than major defects (8 eye and ear defects, 6 syndactyly, 4 preauricular skin tags, and 3 cases of clubfoot); 4149 exposures at any point during pregnancy were linked to 15 congenital dislocation of the hip, 6 umbilical hernia, and 4 Low molecular weight (about 167) phenylephrine is likely to transfer to the fetus. US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and pertinent information to support health care providers’ prescribing choices and advise women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. A, B, C, D, and X pregnancy categories are being phased out.
FAQ
How much Tylenol cold and flu can I take while pregnant?
What cold and flu medicine is safe while pregnant?
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Safe during the entire pregnancy. Take only as needed. …
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) Safe in the second and third trimester. …
- Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) Safe during pregnancy. …
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Safe throughout pregnancy.
Can you take cold and flu relief while pregnant?
Can taking Tylenol while pregnant hurt the baby?