Cough drops that contain dextromethorphan and guaifenesin (an expectorant) are considered safe for pregnant women to use. There are no studies that assess the safety of menthol during pregnancy. Therefore, the risks of menthol cough drops on pregnancy are not fully known.
Full Answer
What kind of cough drops are safe while pregnant?
- Halls Menthol-Cough Suppressant / Oral Anesthetic Plus Medicine
- Ricola Cough Suppressant Throat Drops
- Vicks Menthol Cough Suppressant / Oral Anesthetic Drops
Is it safe to use cough drops during pregnancy?
You can use cough drops that contain an expectorant known as guaifenesin. You can safely take cough drops with dextromethorphan in them. Cough drops with Cepacol and Chloraseptic are also safe to consume during pregnancy.
What medicines are safe during pregnancy?
The review based on studies involving around 65,000 pregnancies at different stages did not find any sign of higher risk of complications, miscarriages, preterm births or severe side-effects on the unborn babies from mRNA shots, the European Medicines Agency said.
Can I take guaifenesin while pregnant?
Still, there are some considerations for you if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and thinking of using a product that contains these active ingredients. Dextromethorphan and guaifenesin both appear to be safe to use during pregnancy. However, many liquid cough medications that contain these ingredients also contain alcohol.
Is pectin safe during pregnancy?
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Pectin is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in larger amounts. Children: Pectin is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts.
What cough drops are safe during pregnancy?
Expectorants like Mucinex, cough suppressants like Robitussin, vapor rubs like Vicks VapoRub, and cough drops are all considered safe during pregnancy.24-Sept-2020
Which throat lozenges are safe during pregnancy?
Sore throat Throat lozenges containing local anaesthetic and antibacterial agents may be used in pregnancy. Avoid excessive use as it may cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea. Gargling salt water or drinking lemon and honey products may also help to ease a sore throat.
What can you take for sore throat when pregnant?
Pregnant women can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a sore throat with a limit of 3,000 mg in 24 hours. An antihistamine may help if the sore throat is due to postnasal drip because it can dry up those secretions. Sprays or lozenges that contain benzocaine, a local anesthetic, can help numb the throat.09-Jan-2018
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What is pectin used for?
Pectin helps to reduce swelling or irritation and is a natural ingredient found in fruits. It is most commonly found in fruit-flavored, non-menthol cough drops. Pectin was previously used as an ingredient in anti-diarrheal medicine but was banned as it was found to be ineffective for that purpose (5).
What are cough drops used for?
When Cough Drops Are Useful. Though they’re referred to as “cough drops,” those soothing discs treat more symptoms than just a hacking cough. Also referred to as “throat lozenges,” they can treat a number of symptoms, including: Sore throat. Persistent cough. Stuffy nose. Dry mouth.
What is the best medicine for a sore throat?
Benzocaine is an anesthetic, meaning it helps to numb an area. It is commonly used in topical numbing agents, teething gels, or over-the-counter tooth pain remedies. It can be effective as an ingredient in cough drops as it can help to numb a sore throat.
How to get rid of a sore throat?
Drink plenty of water, especially if your sore throat is persistent. Drinking tea with honey and lemon: If you have trouble drinking cold liquids because of your sore throat, drink decaffeinated tea with a squeeze of lemon and a tablespoon of honey.
Can you use peppermint oil on your skin while pregnant?
Peppermint Oil. Peppermint oil acts similarly to menthol when used in a throat lozenge. And like eucalyptus oil, it’s not recommended for direct application on the skin during pregnancy, but the small volumes in which it’s consumed in a cough drop are unlikely to cause any issues with your baby.
Can you take cough drops while pregnant?
Cough drops may look and taste like candy, but many contain medicated active ingredients, and you may wonder whether they’re safe to take during pregnancy. The general medical consensus is that cough drops are perfectly fine to use to soothe a sore throat while pregnant, and that they’re unlikely to cause harm to you or your baby (1).
Is it safe to take menthol while pregnant?
It also helps to numb the throat and relieve congestion. Menthol is commonly used during pregnancy, but medical providers tend to disagree as to whether it’s completely safe or not as it has not been widely studied (6).
What Are Cough Drops?
Cough drops are primarily made up of menthol, a naturally occurring compound obtained from plant-derived peppermint and eucalyptus. You might also know them as throat lozenges or cough sweets and use them to reduce the irritation you can get in the back of the throat when you have a cough or sore throat.
Is It Safe To Take Cough Drops During Pregnancy?
Cough drops are considered to be OK to take during pregnancy. “This treatment is safe, but with everything, use the cough drops in moderation,” says Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman. “Like most medications and supplements, cough drops have not been studied in pregnancy.”
What If I Take Cough Drops Before Realizing I'm Pregnant?
As cough drops are generally deemed safe to take during pregnancy, you do not need to worry if you took them before realizing you were pregnant. “ [Cough drops] are not considered a risk in any trimester,” clarifies Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman.
Benefits Of Taking Cough Drops During Pregnancy
There are two main benefits of taking cough drops during pregnancy: to alleviate any cough-related pain and to ensure you stay well hydrated.
Safety Precautions
Cough drops are relatively safe to take. However, there are some things to be aware of.
Pregnancy Safe Alternatives
While cough drops are safe to take in pregnancy, there are natural alternatives to fighting your cough that you might prefer. Along with plenty of rest and fluids, these include drinking hot water with lemon and honey and gargling with warm salty water.
A Word From Verywell
Cough drops are safe to use during pregnancy but you should consult with a healthcare provider before taking them, especially if you have any concerns or underlying health conditions. “Patients with ‘colds’ or flu-like symptoms should consult their doctors or other obstetric care providers early, especially with a persistent cough,” urges Dr.
What is the best cough medicine for pregnant women?
Active ingredients. The active ingredient in most cough drops is menthol. Menthol helps treat a cough and sore throat by cooling your throat and reducing throat irritation. There are no studies that assess the safety of menthol during pregnancy.
When to call a doctor for cough?
For cough, call your doctor if it lasts more than a week, or if you also have: For sore throat, call your doctor if it’s very painful or lasts longer than two days, or if you also have:
Can menthol be used during pregnancy?
Therefore, the risks of menthol cough drops on pregnancy are not fully known. That said, there have not been any reports of negative effects on a pregnancy due to menthol use. To be safe, you should talk to your doctor before taking menthol cough drops during pregnancy.
Can you take cough drops while pregnant?
Cough drops are sold over-the-counter without a prescription from your doctor. They’re used for short-term relief of cough and sore throat. Most of the ingredients are likely safe to use during pregnancy, but their effects on pregnancy are not fully known.
Can you use cough drops with mucus?
You may have a more serious health condition. Talk to your doctor before using cough drops if you have a lot of mucus with your cough. In this case, it may be better to avoid cough drops and let your cough do its job, which is clearing your body of whatever germs are in the mucus.
Can you cough while pregnant?
Before you turn to cough drops, your doctor may suggest other ways to relieve your cough while you’re pregnant, such as the following. Healthy habits can help keep you from catching a cold or other virus that would give you a cough or sore throat. For more tips, read about cold and flu home remedies.
Can cough drops cause diabetes?
Many cough drops also contain corn syrup or other sweeteners. Talk to your doctor before taking these drops if you have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, or if you’re at risk for gestational diabetes. Corn syrup and other sweeteners can cause your blood sugar to rise, making your diabetes harder to manage.
How to make a cough drop?
A clove in each cheek, sucked on like cough drops. Add 1 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper to boiling hot water. Drink when cooled. Chamomile tea with honey. Ginger tea, made from fresh ginger root. Hot water, honey, and whole cloves in boiling water. Honey lemon tea.
Why is my throat sore during pregnancy?
Nagging sore throats are incredibly common in pregnancy. They can arise from the temperature changes happening outdoors, the temperature changes happening in your own body, the heartburn and acid reflux that seem to tear ...
Why do cough drops dissolve?
According to Health Status LLC, “Cough drops are small sweets that are supposed to be taken by mouth and dissolved slowly, in order to help sooth a sore throat due to the common cold or influenza. These sweets are medicated and also help relieve cough.
Can menthol cause pregnancy?
There have not been any reports of negative effects on a pregnancy due to menthol use. To be safe, you should talk to your doctor before taking menthol cough drops during pregnancy.
Is cough drop harmful during pregnancy?
The “simple” answer to so very many things in your pregnancy is: it depends. Even with something that strikes you as potentially “harmless” as a cough drop needs to be referred to a medical professional.
Do mentholated cough drops numb the throat?
They also often contain cough suppressants in addition to the oral anesthetic. And non-mentholated drops coat the throat with a soothing substance. They do not suppress coughs or numb pain in the throat.
What to do if you have a sore throat during pregnancy?
Regardless of what’s causing the soreness and how it feels, you might want to take a cough drop or two for some relief.
What is cough drops?
Cough drops are medicated candies that dissolve slowly on oral consumption. They offer relief from cough and sore throat caused by common cold and allergies. The medicine lubricates and soothes the throat tissues that are irritated due to cough and cold.
How to treat a sore throat and cough?
It is better to choose natural remedies over medications to treat cough and sore throat (17). Gargle with salt water (mix 1tsp salt in 8oz of water). It loosens mucus, relieves sore throat, and also kills the bacteria.
Can cough drops raise blood sugar?
Aggravate sugar levels: If you have gestational diabetes, cough drops will hike the blood sugar levels as many of them have high sugar content (16). Ingredients such as corn syrup and other sweeteners lead to a sudden increase in the sugar levels.
Is cough medicine safe?
Cough drops are usually considered safe when used temporarily, for short-term ailments such as a short-lived cold or sinus inflammation called sinusitis. But, you should avoid overindulgence of these drops and exercise caution to prevent long-term usage. Also, not all medications work the same way for everyone.
Is it safe to take menthol while pregnant?
Menthol drops are also regarded as safe, but there aren’t enough studies to prove they are safe or not during pregnancy (11). Take cough drops that only help in relieving cough and sore throat. Those containing simple ingredients work better.
Does coughing get better during pregnancy?
The cough does not get better in a week. Having a temperature of 101°C or more. Having skin rash, nausea, vomiting, headache or swelling. Cough drops may not seem like a big deal or as harmful as other medications taken during pregnancy. But it is best to be careful in keeping yourself and the baby safe.
What to take for coughing while pregnant?
And if you still aren't comfortable taking cough drops while pregnant, sip on some hot water with lemon, ginger, and honey, says Godfrey, which can also help minimize your cough (because, let's be real, any coughing during pregnancy is painful).
Can pregnant women take Advil?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both have entire websites dedicated to the topic of the meds pregnant women can and can’t take—NSAIDS like Advil, for instance, have been linked to higher rates of birth defects compared to pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), per the CDC.
Can you take menthol while pregnant?
But even without tons of research, the Cleveland Clinic says menthol cough drops are fine to take, as directed, during pregnancy. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn and clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine also says that she has never told women they cannot take cough drops during pregnancy.
What does it mean when you cough?
Get a checkup !: Cough is a symptom of throat and possibly lung problems. If you have a persistent cough, it could be simply related to allergy drainage or acid reflu ... Read More
Can cough drops cause arrh?
Cough drops: Good afternoon! It depends on what ingredients are in the cough drops. If it contains pseudoephidrine you may cause your heart to race or make an arrh ... Read More
Can you use ricola drops while pregnant?
Many OBs say yes: While ricola drops do contain three herbs which are less than ideal for use in pregnancy: elder, hyssop and horehound. They are in concentrations so ... Read More
Can cough drops suppress appetite?
No..: Cough drops are not a healthy way to suppress your appetite. To manage your appetite in a healthy way, check out this list of the top 10 natural appe ... Read More
What is pectin used for?
Overview. Pectin is a fiber found in fruits. It is often used as a thickener in cooking and baking. It is also sometimes used to make medicine. People use pectin for high cholesterol, high triglycerides, heartburn, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Pectin was used for years in combination ...
How long after taking pectin can you take fiber?
As a general rule, any medications taken by mouth should be taken one hour before or four hours after pectin to prevent this interaction. Lovastatin (Mevacor) interacts with PECTIN.
Is pectin safe to take?
When taken by mouth: Pectin is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in larger amounts. When taken by mouth alone or in combination with insoluble fiber (the combination used to lower cholesterol and other blood fats), pectin can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas, and loose stools.
Does pectin help with GERD?
Early research shows that giving pectin along with "tube feeding" reduces some symptoms of GERD, such as vomiting, cough, and wheezing, in children with cerebral pal sy. Mercury poisoning. Early research shows that taking pectin helps to pull mercury out of the body and into the urine.
Does apple pectin lower blood sugar?
Prediabetes. Drinking beverages containing sugar beet pectin does not seem to lower blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. Stomach ulcers. Taking apple pectin for 6 months does not seem to reduce the recurrence of ulcers in the small intestine.
Does pectin lower cholesterol?
Taking pectin by mouth seems to lower cholesterol. Taking it along with guar gum and small amounts of insoluble fiber lowers total and "bad" low-density lipoprotein ( LDL) cholesterol. However, the combination doesn't seem to affect "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglycerides. Prediabetes.
Does lovastatin interact with pectin?
Lovastatin (Mevacor) interacts with PECTIN. Lovastatin (Mevacor) is used to help lower cholesterol. Pectin might decrease how much lovastatin (Mevacor) the body absorbs and decrease the effectiveness of lovastatin (Mevacor). To avoid this interaction take pectin at least one hour after lovastatin (Mevacor). Dosing.
How to give your body a lot of sleep during pregnancy?
Learn more about the importance of bed rest during pregnancy. Drink plenty of fluids – Drink water, juice, or broth to add necessary fluids back into your body. Eat well – Even if you cannot stomach larger meals, try eating small portions often.
What is the best cough suppressant?
Tylenol) can be used to alleviate fevers, headaches, and body aches. Anesthetic sore throat lozenges can ease the pain in your throat. Codeine and dextromethorphan can often be used as cough suppressants.
Can you take cold medicine while pregnant?
Many medications you normally would use to treat the symptoms of your cold are not safe to take during your pregnancy. The following is a list of medications that pose little risk to your baby during pregnancy; however, it is best to consult with your doctor before taking any medications to relieve your symptoms.
Can you get a cold while pregnant?
When you become pregnant, your immune system is likely to change. As a result of these changes, you may contract a cold or cough at some point during your pregnancy. In addition, your illness may last longer. The good news is that even though you probably feel fatigued, the symptoms of a cold or flu are not typically dangerous to your baby.