{"id":60739,"date":"2023-10-11T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T14:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60739"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:29:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:29:14","slug":"pregnancy-safe-cold-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/pregnancy-safe-cold-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"How to treat a cold during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting a cold during pregnancy can be a hassle: Not only do you have even more reasons to feel tired, achy, and uncomfortable, but you also have to find pregnancy-safe medications to treat your symptoms. Many <\/span>traditional cold medicines<\/span><\/a> are safe to use during pregnancy, but some aren’t—and still others are only safe to use during certain trimesters.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Here’s what you need to know about treating a cold during pregnancy, including what medications you can take and when, what treatments you should avoid, and what natural remedies may help alleviate your symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

What cold medicine can I take while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It’s important to remember that a cold is a viral illness—that means there’s no cure, but you can manage your symptoms until you start feeling better, says <\/span>Alyssa Dweck<\/span><\/a>, MD, an OB-GYN and medical advisor for INTIMINA in Westchester County, New York. <\/span>Antibiotics won’t make a viral illness go away more quickly<\/span><\/a>, so you shouldn’t use them unless you develop a secondary bacterial infection, like a sinus or upper respiratory infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of cold medicines you can safely use to manage your symptoms during pregnancy:<\/span><\/p>\n

Fever reducers <\/span><\/h3>\n

If you have a fever during pregnancy, you can take the over-the-counter medication <\/span>Tylenol (acetaminophen)<\/span><\/a> in the short term, Dr. Dweck says, though studies have found long-term use may <\/span>increase the risk<\/span><\/a> of having a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Acetaminophen can also relieve cold symptoms like body aches, sore throat, and headaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to take acetaminophen for cold symptoms, though, it’s better to take it by itself and not in a combination medicaton. Meaning, take regular Tylenol and not Tylenol Cold and Flu (or any other variations, like Tylenol Cold and Flu Severe). That’s because these combination formulations typically contain phenylephrine as a decongestant, says <\/span>Erika Gray<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., chief medical officer and co-founder of Toolbox Genomics, which is not advisable for use during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Decongestants <\/span><\/h3>\n

The best way to clear a stuffy nose is with the oral decongestant <\/span>Sudafed<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>pseudoephedrine<\/span><\/a>). Dr. Dweck says it’s best to avoid Sudafed in your first trimester, but the drug is generally safe for use in the second and third trimesters. Pregnant individuals with high blood pressure, however, should always avoid Sudafed, especially throughout their pregnancy. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a decongestant to use in the first trimester, Dr. Gray says nasal sprays, both steroid-based (like <\/span>Flonase<\/span><\/a>) and oxymetazoline-based (like <\/span>Afrin<\/span><\/a>), are generally considered safe during pregnancy. Be aware that oxymetazoline-based decongestants if used for more than three consecutive days causes <\/span>rebound congestion<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cough suppressants <\/span><\/h3>\n

Dealing with a nagging, hacking cough during pregnancy can be even more uncomfortable than usual, but there’s good news: Dr. Gray says both Robitussin (dextromethorphan) and Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan-guaifenesin) are safe cough syrups to use during all three trimesters at the standard recommended doses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Gray also says guaifenesin, an <\/span>expectorant that can help break up mucus for more productive coughs<\/span><\/a> and which is often sold in tablet form as <\/span>Mucinex<\/span><\/a>, is also safe to take. Pregnant women can also safely apply a topical menthol, like Vicks VapoRub, to <\/span>relieve congestion and coughing<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antihistamines<\/span><\/h3>\n

Antihistamines can help decrease the allergic component and relieve post-nasal drip in the form of a scratchy throat and runny nose. Several antihistamines are considered safe to use during pregnancy, including <\/span>first-generation drugs like Benadryl (diphenhydramine)<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>newer antihistamines like Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold medications to avoid during pregnancy<\/span><\/h2>\n

While the list of pregnancy-safe cold medications is probably a bit longer than you expected, there are still meds to avoid during pregnancy (unless your OB-GYN has decided the benefits outweigh the risks for you, individually). Here’s what to skip.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phenylephrine<\/span><\/h3>\n

In September 2023, the <\/span>FDA announced<\/span><\/a> that a common decongestant found on shelves, phenylephrine, is not actually effective to decrease congestion. Phenylephrine became popular after a federal <\/span>law was passed<\/span><\/a> in 2006 requiring sales of Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) to be moved behind the pharmacy counter (though you still don’t need a prescription to get it). Phenylephrine, on the other hand, was available as a decongestant in many cold medications found right on pharmacy shelves. <\/span><\/p>\n

Recent evidence suggests phenylephrine doesn’t work as a nasal decongestant, though—and because it carries the <\/span>risk of side effects<\/span><\/a> such as nervousness, dizziness, and sleeplessness, it’s best to avoid it when pregnant. This medication has risk and no proven benefit. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Dr. Gray says pregnant women should exercise caution with NSAID pain relievers like aspirin, Advil or Motrin (<\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>), and Aleve (<\/span>naproxen<\/span><\/a>). <\/span>Research has shown<\/span><\/a> a small risk of congenital disabilities associated with NSAID use in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and a greater risk of pregnancy complications and congenital disabilities associated with use after 20 weeks gestation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Codeine <\/span><\/h3>\n

Codeine<\/span><\/a> is sometimes added to combination cough suppressants to help people with severe coughs, but because it’s an opioid, pregnant individuals should not take it. <\/span>Taking codeine during pregnancy<\/span><\/a> can increase your risk for pregnancy complications like premature birth, low birth weight, postpartum hemorrhage, and infant opioid withdrawal symptoms after birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Combination formulations<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many cold medicines contain multiple active ingredients, which can make it even more confusing to determine if they’re safe. For example, NyQuil and DayQuil often contain pregnancy-safe acetaminophen and dextromethorphan but may also contain a small amount of alcohol and phenylephrine, neither of which are considered safe for use during pregnancy, says Gray. (Both ingredients, she explains, have been associated with an elevated risk of birth defects). <\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Theraflu preparations—of which there are many variations—also typically include phenylephrine, so those are not safe to take during pregnancy, either. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Dweck says any pregnant woman considering a cold formulation with multiple ingredients should closely vet each one separately to make sure it’s pregnancy-safe. In general, it’s better to avoid combination formulas and take individual doses of only the medications you actually need and that are safe during pregnancy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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

You probably won’t love this recommendation, but the fastest way to get rid of a cold while pregnant isn’t by taking any of the safe medications listed above—it’s by getting plenty of rest and fluids. It seems simple enough, but slowing down for several days to recover from a cold is easier said than done in many cases. <\/span><\/p>\n

These <\/span>home remedies<\/span><\/a> may speed up the recovery process and help kick your cold to the curb while pregnant:<\/span><\/p>\n