Pregnant women are constantly looking for ways to stay comfortable and healthy throughout their pregnancy, and they often struggle to find the best treatments and remedies. Coughs can be very uncomfortable and even painful, especially during pregnancy. It is important for pregnant women to find a safe and natural way to suppress a cough. Fortunately, there are a variety of natural cough suppressants that are safe for use during pregnancy. In this blog post, we will explore the various natural cough suppressants that can be used during pregnancy in order to alleviate coughing and associated discomforts. We will discuss the various benefits and potential side effects of these cough suppressants. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of consulting a doctor before using any kind of cough suppressant in order to ensure the safety of the unborn child.
What to take for common cold symptoms
A cough suppressant called dextromethorphan is used in over-the-counter medications like Robitussin to lessen coughing. Cough suppressants can come in immediate-release and extended-release preparations. For pregnant women, the maximum dose is 120 mg every 24 hours. Dextromethorphan-containing multisymptom medications frequently have “DM” in their names. Another drug that is frequently present in cough medications, including Mucinex, is guaifenesin. It works as an expectorant to thin mucus in your throat or chest so you can cough it up more easily. It comes in immediate-release or extended-release formulations. You should not take more than 2,400 mg in a 24-hour period. In the past, codeine-containing cold medications were used to suppress coughs. I don’t suggest these to expectant mothers because research indicates that they don’t actually work well, and the less opioid-containing drugs we keep in our medicine cabinets, the better. There is some evidence that honey can reduce nighttime coughing in kids. Certainly, I believe that pregnant women have a choice in this. If you want to try honey, I recommend taking a spoonful of the real stuff instead of a cold medicine that lists honey as a flavoring or ingredient because it’s unclear whether or not it will work as well.
By tightening the blood vessels in your nose, decongestant drugs lessen nasal swelling and sinus pressure. Many pregnant women can safely use the over-the-counter combination of pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine known as Sudafed. However, taking pseudoephedrine without first consulting a doctor is not advised for women with high blood pressure. The medication can cause jitters, racing heartbeats, and blood pressure to rise. Pseudoephedrine is now kept behind the pharmacy counter because it can be used to make methamphetamine. To buy it, you’ll need to show identification, and shops keep tabs on how much you spend. A typical decongestant’s maximum dose is 240 mg every 24 hours.
Sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes
Histamine release, an immune reaction to an invasive virus, causes these symptoms. Pregnancy-safe medications include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Triaminic Allergy). But because both can make you drowsy, it’s best to take these before bed. The maximum daily dose of chlorpheniramine is 32 mg.
Antihistamines are more effective than placebos within the first couple of days of treatment. Between days three and 10, patients didn’t report any improvement in their symptoms. There is no data on how well newer antihistamines, like loratadine (Claritin), work for cold symptoms because they are approved for allergies rather than colds.
There is a 3,000 mg daily cap on the amount of acetaminophen (Tylenol) that pregnant women can take for a sore throat. If postnasal drip is the cause of your sore throat, an antihistamine may help since it can dry up those secretions. Benzocaine, a local anesthetic, can be found in sprays and lozenges to help numb the throat. Antiseptics with menthol and phenol, like Chloraseptic, also ease throat discomfort. By sucking on hard candy, you can maintain saliva production and potentially lessen throat irritation.
In order to get antibiotics for a cold, so many patients call, usually after experiencing symptoms for a few days. Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, such as in cases of bacterial sinus infections or strep throat. Antibiotics, however, are ineffective against the viruses that cause the common cold. Antibiotic resistance is caused by overprescribing antibiotics for viral illnesses, which makes bacteria more resistant to antibiotic treatment over time. When an antibiotic is recommended by a physician for cold symptoms, the course of treatment is typically only three days long. After stopping the medication, the patient frequently feels better, but without the medication, they would have recovered in that amount of time anyway.
Which Drugs Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?
If you plan to take any medication while pregnant, it is best to consult your doctor first. Even herbal remedies and vitamins either haven’t been adequately studied. Common medications that should be avoided during pregnancy include: