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Summer 1998
Teratogen Hot Topic
Cough & Cold Medicine |
Cough & Cold Medicine
in Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
The following guidelines pertain to over-the-counter medications for the treatment of colds, cough and flu symptoms during pregnancy and breast-feeding. When a woman becomes pregnant, she has a 4% risk of having a child with a birth defect no matter what she takes or is exposed to during the pregnancy.
Based on current medical knowledge, over-the-counter medications do not increase the risk for birth defects when taken in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, if a woman has the potential for or has high blood pressure, decongestants should be avoided.
Also, if a woman is taking other medications, her health care provider must be consulted prior to taking over-the-counter medications to avoid any potential drug interaction.
- Pregnancy
Take a medication that matches your symptoms. The fetal effects of combination medications are not studied in pregnancy, therefore, it is best to avoid preparations that contain many different drugs.
Take short acting medications. Short acting drugs are those that suggest dosing every 4 to 6 hours. Long acting drugs (every 12 hours or once a day) are generally higher doses and stay in the system longer.
Although aspirin and ibuprofen type products (i.e., Motrin, Advil, Alleve, etc) do not appear to increase the risk for birth defects when taken in the first trimester, these medications should not be used in the second and third trimester without first consulting your health care provider. Should you need a medication for fever or aches, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used. Acetaminophen may be used as needed throughout pregnancy. Do not exceed the amount of acetaminophen recommended on the package label.
- Breast Feeding
Antihistamines may interact with prolactin production (hormone that helps make breast milk) causing a decrease in the breast milk supply.
Ibuprofen type products do not appear to pose a risk to the breast-feeding infant.
Take short acting (every 4 to 6 hours) medications while breast-feeding.
Take only medications that are needed for the symptoms.
Although aspirin gets into the breast milk in small concentrations it is best to avoid aspirin in breast feeding because of the relationship between aspirin and Reyes syndrome.
If either mother or infant are using any medications it is beneficial to contact the health care provider regarding any potential drug interaction before starting over-the-counter medications.
Contributed by Pregnancy RiskLine
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