{"id":47426,"date":"2021-11-30T09:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T14:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=47426"},"modified":"2024-05-28T09:50:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T13:50:41","slug":"cold-medicine-while-breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-medicine-while-breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"What cold medicine can I take while breastfeeding?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s not fun to be sick with a cold while you\u2019re trying to keep up with the demands of a breastfeeding baby, but take heart: It\u2019s easier to treat your symptoms with <\/span>over-the-counter (OTC) medication<\/span><\/a>s while you\u2019re breastfeeding than when you\u2019re pregnant.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe field of medications you can take is way wider than it is in pregnancy,\u201d says <\/span>Leah Mello, MD<\/span><\/a>, an OB-GYN at Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, Texas. \u201cA lot of common cold medications are okay to take while breastfeeding.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, there are limitations when treating your cold symptoms while breastfeeding and some meds you should avoid completely. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about taking cold medications when you\u2019re breastfeeding, from what you should take and what you should skip to when and how to dose safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take cold medicine while breastfeeding?<\/span><\/h2>\n

For the most part, it\u2019s okay for nursing moms to take many common cold medications<\/a>. Many of the individual ingredients you might reach for to alleviate your symptoms\u2014like decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relievers\u2014are generally considered safe, and the ones that aren\u2019t often have safer alternatives that provide the same kind of symptom relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a couple of caveats, though:<\/span> Many of these medications do pass into breast milk in small doses<\/span><\/a>, and some of them have the potential to decrease milk supply, as well. Neither of these caveats mean you can\u2019t take these medications while breastfeeding\u2014but it does mean you need to be aware of the possible side effects and pay special attention to dosing instructions. If you are a breastfeeding parent, it is best to check with your primary care provider, OB-GYN, or lactation specialist before taking medications. Also, there is a free database, <\/span>Lactmed<\/span><\/a>, you can also use to look up medications. Read all labels for active ingredients, including vitamins, supplements, naturopathic, and homeopathic substances.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Mello, one of the best ways to choose breastfeeding-friendly cold medications and reduce side effects is to stick with single-symptom formulations instead of multi-symptom ones; for example, taking<\/span> Sudafed<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Robitussin<\/span><\/a> separately if you have a cough and congestion, rather than Dayquil or Tylenol Cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time you have a list of multiple ingredients, that increases the chance of taking an unsafe one or exposing mom and baby to [something that could cause side effects],\u201d Dr. Mello warns.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, focus on treating your individual symptoms\u2014even if that means taking multiple kinds of compatible drugs\u2014rather than preparations that aim to treat a half-dozen symptoms or more. It\u2019s also easier to track possible side effects this way; if you think something you\u2019re taking is decreasing your milk production or making your baby irritable, you can cut it out while continuing to take other medications to see if it\u2019s really the cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Safe cold medicine while breastfeeding<\/span><\/h2>\n

In general, pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, NSAID pain relievers, acetaminophen, and second-generation allergy medications such as Zyrtec and Claritin are considered safe options for treating cold symptoms while breastfeeding. Per Dr. Mello, these drugs typically don\u2019t pass through breast milk in high enough quantities to cause side effects in your baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

She does advise breastfeeding moms to avoid<\/span> first-generation allergy medications like Benadryl<\/span><\/a>, however, as they can cause sedation in your baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to pay attention to more than just the active ingredients. Other ingredients often included in common cold medications, especially cough syrups may be harmful. \u201cMany preparations contain a combination of dextromethorphan and ethanol [i.e., alcohol], and those preparations should be avoided in breastfeeding,\u201d says <\/span>Hannah R. Fudin, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, a clinical pharmacist with the <\/span>U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure to<\/span> check the label of cough medications for alcohol<\/span><\/a> before taking anything while breastfeeding; while many don\u2019t include alcohol, there are still plenty of OTC medications, including cough syrups, that use it to increase the sedating effects of the medication.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
What cold medicine can I take while breastfeeding? <\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Drug class<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nSafe<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nUnsafe<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nPossible side effects or risks<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antihistamines<\/span><\/td>\n\n\n
    \n
  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Unisom (doxylamine)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Irritability and drowsiness in infants<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pain relievers<\/span><\/td>\n\n\n
    \n
  • Codeine<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Aspirin<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
No known effects<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Decongestants<\/span><\/td>\n\nPhenylephrine (not well studied)<\/span><\/td>\nReduced sleep in babies, infant irritability, reduced milk supply in moms<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cough suppressants<\/span><\/td>\nRobitussin (dextromethorphan)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nFormulations with alcohol or codeine<\/span><\/td>\nDrowsiness in babies. Avoid use in infants less than 2 months old<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Expectorants<\/span><\/td>\nMucinex (guaifenesin)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nUnknown<\/span><\/td>\nCaution advised; no human data available to assess risk to infant or milk supply<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nasal sprays<\/span><\/td>\n\nUnknown (most others not well studied)<\/span><\/td>\nNo known effects<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Throat lozenges\/cough drops<\/span><\/td>\nMost throat lozenges are safe<\/span><\/td>\nUnknown<\/span><\/td>\nGenerally safe although large amounts of menthol can decrease milk supply<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Topical ointments<\/span><\/td>\nN\/A<\/span><\/td>\nVicks Vaporub<\/span><\/td>\nContains camphor, which can be harmful to babies if transferred on skin or inhaled<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How to take cold medicine safely<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even though many typical cold medications can be taken by breastfeeding women, it\u2019s still important to be mindful of any possible interactions, contraindications, and side effects of OTC drugs. And really, that goes for everyone!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou should always follow the dosing on the bottle, whether you\u2019re pregnant or not,\u201d Dr. Mello says. All drugs can cause side effects under the right circumstances. She adds that you should never take more than the recommended amount of a drug within the timeframe given on the packaging.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though taking single-symptom medication usually reduces the risk of complications for breastfeeding mothers, you also have to be careful when mixing and matching drugs; make sure there are no<\/span> drug-to-drug interactions with other medications you\u2019re taking<\/span><\/a>, or that you don\u2019t take two medications with the same ingredient. If you\u2019re unsure, ask your pharmacist about drug interactions for the medications you want to take.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as the timing of your dosages, you may be able to orient them around your baby\u2019s feeding schedule to further reduce the amount of medication that ends up in your breast milk\u2014though this may not always be possible or even necessary, depending on the drug. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that<\/span> short-acting medications are always preferable to long-acting ones<\/span><\/a>. (For example, you should opt for a four- to six-hour preparation of pseudoephedrine versus a 12-hour extended-release formula if you have a choice.) It may be helpful to write down the names of medications, doses, and times taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short-acting medications can be taken right after your baby feeds, allowing a good amount of the drug to leave your system before the next feeding. If this isn\u2019t possible, the AAP recommends taking long-acting drugs when your baby goes down for their longest period of sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, it\u2019s important to observe your baby for side effects if you\u2019re breastfeeding while taking any medication. \u201cSome medications can cause irritability and decreased milk supply, along with drowsiness, in babies [when mom is taking them],\u201d Dr. Mello says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Home remedies for a cold\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re still concerned about taking any medications while breastfeeding\u2014or you want to supplement OTC drugs with natural remedies\u2014there are also non-pharmaceutical ways to ease your symptoms. Some of these <\/span>cold remedies<\/span><\/a> are safe to use while breastfeeding, and some may or may not be (i.e., the data is unclear); if you have concerns, check with your provider or lactation consultant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Definitely safe for breastfeeding:<\/span><\/h3>\n