Which Cold & Flu Medication Is Safe to Take During Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog

By Maria Montoya, MD
| February 04, 2022

You are pregnant and start feeling sick. Before you reach for that bottle of cold or flu medicine, are you certain it is safe for your baby?

When you are pregnant, your baby will be exposed to everything you are exposed to. This means that when you are sick with a cold or flu your baby will not only be exposed to the cold or flu virus, but also any medication you may take.

Typically, with most viruses, you must wait for your immune system to fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe your symptoms while you wait.

However, not all over-the-counter medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Certain medications may hurt the baby or cause problems for you, such as increasing your blood pressure.

Use this quick list of pregnancy-safe natural cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter medications as a starting point. Remember, read the directions on the package for any medication you might take. It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife before taking a cold or flu medication.

Natural, Pregnancy-Safe Remedies

Before you try any medications, there are natural remedies you may find adequate relief from first. Here are a couple of safe, natural remedies to try:

• Gargle warm salt water
• Get as much restful sleep as possible
• Sip honey in hot water
• Stay well hydrated
• Use nasal saline sprays
• Try a humidifier

While not all herbs and supplements are safe in pregnancy. You may be able to safely take:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Manuka Honey
• Elderberry

Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking any supplements or trying at-home remedies or essential oils during pregnancy.

If natural remedies don’t provide enough relief, consider these pregnancy-safe medications.

Pregnancy-Safe Cold & Flu Medication

It is best to avoid taking medications when possible. If you do need to take something, follow the package directions carefully. Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking medication during pregnancy.

These over-the-counter medications are considered safe for most pregnant patients:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Safe during the entire pregnancy.
  • Take only as needed.
  • Try to limit regular exposure.
  • Not safe if you are allergic to it or have liver problems.
• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
  • Safe in the second and third trimester
  • Not safe in the first trimester due to a small risk of abdominal wall birth defects
  • Not safe if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or a history of heart disease
• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
  • Safe during pregnancy.
  • Not safe while breastfeeding.
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Safe throughout pregnancy.

Watch out for extra ingredients. Many cold and flu medications treat more symptoms than you may be experiencing. For example, Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom treats headaches, fever, body aches, cough, chest congestion, stuffy nose, and more. If you just have a stuffy nose, this is more medication than you need.

A word about antibiotics. Some sinus infections are treated with antibiotics. In general, pregnant patients should not take antibiotics unless it is necessary. Make sure your health care provider knows you are pregnant if they prescribe antibiotics.

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Medications to Avoid in Pregnancy

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications can hurt your developing baby. Do not take NSAIDs such as these when you are pregnant:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Naproxen (Aleve, Midol)
• Celecoxib (Celebrex)
• Aspirin (Bayer), unless your doctor or midwife prescribes daily low-dose aspirin.

Do not take these medications during pregnancy. These drugs can hurt the developing baby:

• Benzocaine (throat lozenges/throat sprays)
• Codeine (a pain and cough medication)
• Phenylephrine (i.e., Sudafed PE): it not considered safe while pregnant because studies with animals showed adverse effects to the fetus.

When you don’t feel well, the last thing you might want to do is read a medication label. However, it is worth taking a few extra moments to read the label and avoid additional risks. If you’re not sure what medicine is safe to take, call us. We are always here to help you.

To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from Ob/Gyn care

Call 505-272-2245.

Categories:
Women’s Health

Can You Take Cold Medicine While Pregnant? What To Do for a Cold or the Flu

Navigating pregnancy can be challenging, especially during cold and flu season. You’ve probably taken over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants to combat cold symptoms in the past, but if you’re pregnant, you’re probably wondering which remedies are safe for you and your baby. Here’s what you should consider when looking for relief from cold and flu symptoms while pregnant. 

What should I do if I get a cold while pregnant?

If you find yourself with a case of the sniffles during pregnancy, start managing your symptoms by getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Because some OTC cold medications can lead to complications or harm your unborn baby, you need to know which to avoid. Before reaching for your medicine cabinet, talk to your doctor about which cold medications are safe during pregnancy. 

Can having a cold or the flu while pregnant hurt the baby?

“Catching a cold won’t affect your unborn baby,” said Olga Tusheva, M. D., Inspira Medical Group OB/GYN. “They’re protected by the placenta, your immune system and their own immune system, ensuring they don’t experience symptoms.” However, more severe infections like the flu can be dangerous and cause complications that may affect fetal development. The flu shot can be a safe effective precaution for expecting parents. If you suspect you have the flu, talk to your doctor to learn about pregnancy-safe treatments that can help reduce symptoms and get you on the path to recovery. 

Which medications are safe for pregnant people?

Cold medications that are generally considered safe for pregnant people include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Some antihistamines, including loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 
• Most steroid-based nasal sprays 
• Some cough medications, including expectorants, cough suppressants and most cough drops 

Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medication, whether it’s prescription or OTC. “If you have any concerns about your medication, don’t hesitate to call your doctor,” said Dr. Tusheva. “They can help you determine what’s safe for you and your baby.” 

Which medications should I avoid while pregnant?

Cold medications that are generally considered off-limits during pregnancy include: 

• Some pain relievers and fever reducers, including ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen (Aleve)
• Most decongestants, including Claritin-D, DayQuil or Sudafed 
• Non-steroidal nasal sprays, such as Afrin 

Always read medication labels carefully and avoid alternative or homeopathic remedies, such as echinacea, vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies, until you have approval from your doctor. 

What natural remedies offer relief to cold and flu symptoms? 

“Before turning to medication to alleviate your cold and flu symptoms, consider naturally effective remedies,” said Dr. Tusheva. For symptom relief, use a humidifier or saline-based nose drops or sprays to alleviate dry nasal passages. Consider gargling with warm salt water to ease a sore throat and mix honey into your tea to suppress coughing. 

How can I avoid getting sick while pregnant?

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick while pregnant is to wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines, including your flu shot, and talk to your doctor about other ways to stay healthy. 

Inspira women’s health specialists provide personalized maternity care to pregnant people throughout South Jersey. Learn more about our treatments and services or schedule an appointment. 

Inspira Health is a high reliability organization (HRO), which means safety is the top priority for patients and staff. To make an appointment, call 1-800-INSPIRA.
 

Topics:
Women’s Health, Maternity

Colds during pregnancy: how to treat?

Any cold or respiratory disease in early pregnancy, during the primary formation of the fetus, can lead to unpredictable consequences and complications. The matter is complicated by the fact that most medications are absolutely contraindicated for use during gestation.

In this regard, the treatment and prevention of colds in pregnant women is an important issue, which should be approached especially responsibly! The main thesis is: be careful with medicines and apply mild preventive measures based on alternative medicine methods to avoid respiratory diseases and flu.

“One for two – immunity”

This is a very fragile system, it is not necessary to interfere in its work, but it is necessary to support and strengthen it. Pregnancy belongs to the category of special, albeit temporary, conditions during which a woman needs additional protection.

This issue will help simple recommendations that are available to everyone:

• During the period of frequent weather changes, it is necessary to dress warmer, paying special attention to footwear.

• During an epidemic, it is better for a pregnant woman to refrain from being in crowded places – transport, metro, shops and hospitals. If there is an urgent need, to prevent possible infection, a protective respiratory mask should be worn before leaving the house.

• Be especially careful about hygiene after visiting the street and public places. Upon returning home, the first thing to do is wash your hands thoroughly.

Interesting: More than 90% of all acute respiratory infections are caused by viruses, about 10% are bacteria and other pathogens. Accordingly, any soap can be used, not necessarily antibacterial.

• Before going outside, you can lubricate the nasal mucosa with oxolin ointment. Upon returning home, flush the upper respiratory tract with soda solution.

• Rationalization of nutrition and intake of vitamins will strengthen the immune defense. It is especially useful to eat fruits and vegetables that are enriched with vitamins and have not undergone heat treatment.

Interesting: our grandmothers used to say: in order not to get sick, you need to drink chicken broth! Strange, but until recently, scientists did not attach much importance to this prophylactic. Pulmonologist Stefan Rennard decided to find out if this was true or not. The professor conducted a study and proved that the use of chicken broth affects the mobility of neutrophils, leukocytes that protect the body from infections and activate the immune system.

• Vitamins can be taken using ready-made pharmaceutical multivitamin complexes. Before choosing a drug, you should consult your doctor.
• Compliance with the regimen and duration of sleep – at least 9 hours a day. The possibility of psychotraumatic situations should be minimized.
• Maintaining cleanliness in the living quarters (ventilation, wet cleaning).
• Air humidification is an important aspect in the prevention of influenza and respiratory diseases. If air conditioners or heaters are used in the house of a pregnant woman, it would be best to purchase a mechanical humidifier.

Medications for prevention

• Grippferon – a drug in the form of drops for the nose, which provides prevention and treatment of influenza, is not contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women. The drug stimulates an increase in immunity, has a pronounced antiviral effect that can protect against colds, infections and influenza varieties.
• Ascorbic acid – can be used as a separate source of vitamin C in a synthetic version, with a reduced daily intake from food. Ascorbic acid not only prevents infection, but also fights viruses that have already entered the body of a woman.
• Viferon – nasal ointment, which is prescribed for the prevention of influenza and respiratory infections during an epidemic. The ointment has protective and immunomodulatory effects, and also allows you to deal with disorders that are already occurring in the body at the time of use. Viferon in the form of a nasal ointment has no contraindications for use in pregnant women at any time, including the first trimester.
• Aquamaris is a natural drug in the form of a nasal spray that allows you to moisturize the nasal mucosa, thereby reducing the risk of influenza viruses entering the nasal cavity.

I would like to say a few words about such a method of prevention as vaccination. Most often, the expectant mother may be at risk of infection due to the annual influenza epidemic. This disease is dangerous for a pregnant woman precisely because of its complications: pneumonia, bronchitis, otitis media. Influenza in a pregnant woman can also affect the health of the fetus. Most of all, it is dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, when the tissues and organs of the human embryo are laid and formed. Viral intoxication or drug exposure can lead to pathology of the child’s organs. In later pregnancy, there is a risk of infection of the fetus.

The most dangerous consequence of influenza in a pregnant woman is threatened miscarriage or premature birth!

It is quite natural that expectant mothers often wonder whether or not to vaccinate.

Studies have concluded that the use of inactivated (“killed”) influenza vaccines does not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus and does not harm the health of a pregnant woman. After consulting with your doctor about such an inoculation, you can come to an optimal solution. If an influenza epidemic is inevitable, and the pregnant woman has no contraindications, then the vaccine should be given. If a pregnant woman has a negligible risk of infection, she does not come into contact with a large number of people, or is opposed to vaccination, then you can not do it. According to research, it is known that vaccination of mothers reduces the risk of influenza infection of a born child by 63%. Seasonal influenza prevention is carried out in September, October. Vaccinations for pregnant women are recommended from the second trimester of pregnancy.

In the period of a planned pregnancy, a flu shot is given 1 month before it: the formation of immunity occurs 2-4 weeks. Protection after vaccination lasts about a year.

If infection does occur, action should be taken immediately if at least one symptom of the disease is detected. The health of a pregnant woman and her unborn child depends entirely on her responsibility and respect for her own body.

Proven folk remedies will be used first. Since pregnant women cannot steam their legs, steam their hands, and this will facilitate nasal breathing. Bundle up, put on woolen socks and crawl under the covers: warmth, peace and sleep are good for colds. Do not forget to drink plenty of water – hot green tea with lemon and honey, lime blossom tea, cranberry juice, rosehip broth, dried fruit compote. Ginger in the form of tea also helps, not only with catarrhal symptoms, but with nausea in the morning.

Various hot milk drinks are also suitable. Honey can be added to milk, and it is best to boil it on onions. It must be emphasized right away that not all herbs for colds during pregnancy can be used. Here is a list of medicinal plants that are contraindicated: aloe, anise, barberry, elecampane (grass and root), sweet clover, oregano, St. John’s wort, strawberries (leaves), viburnum (berries), raspberries (leaves), lemon balm, lovage, wormwood, licorice ( root), celandine, sage. Accordingly, preparations containing these plants should not be taken.

The use of medicines for colds during pregnancy must be treated with great care!

It is contraindicated to use the following drugs : Pertussin, Tussin plus, Joset, Glycodin, Ascoril, Travisil, Broncholitin, ACC, Grippeks, Codelac, Terpinkod. Do not use lozenges and lozenges for sore throat or cough are also undesirable due to the likelihood of allergic reactions.

Spray Pinosol, judging by the components indicated in the instructions, is not dangerous during pregnancy. However, the essential oils contained in the preparation – pine, peppermint, eucalyptus, thymol, guaiazulene (wormwood oil) – can lead to an allergic reaction with swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Viferon suppositories are allowed to be used only after 14 weeks from the start of conception. This drug contains recombinant human interferon alpha-2, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol acetate and has antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects. It is used in the treatment of various infectious and inflammatory diseases in adults and children (including newborns). In the form of an ointment, Viferon is used to treat herpetic lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. The ointment is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days.

The homeopathic preparation Stodal, which includes predominantly herbal ingredients, acts on various types of cough and has an expectorant and bronchodilator effect.

Viburkol – homeopathic suppositories – have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antispasmodic action. They are prescribed in the complex therapy of acute respiratory viral infections and other uncomplicated infections (including in newborns), as well as in inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.

So, you can try to eliminate a slight ailment on your own, but there are conditions under which you need to call a doctor at home:

• Prolonged fever;
• Myalgia, fatigue, fatigue, general malaise;
• Difficulty breathing, nasopharyngeal lumps and dry or wet barking cough;
• A pregnant woman is troubled by severe pressing headache.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the importance of treating chronic diseases before pregnancy, a healthy lifestyle during childbearing and following all doctor’s orders.

I wish expectant mothers and their loved ones to try to maintain a good mood: optimists live longer and happier, they are more productive. Remember your victories and pleasant moments more often and everything will be fine!

Cold during pregnancy – Juno

Content of Article

Symptoms of a cold in pregnancy

The common cold is more often a viral infection (SARS, influenza). There are also bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis. More often they occur as a complication after SARS in pregnant women.

The following clinical symptoms usually indicate that a pregnant woman is sick:

• Signs of intoxication. Weakness, drowsiness, body aches, headaches and muscle pain, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. In the early stages during toxicosis, symptoms can be especially acute.
• Cough. It can be dry and wet, may be accompanied by discomfort and sore throat.
• Runny nose. It is characterized by viscous secretions and difficult breathing, decreased sense of smell.
• Sore throat. It can be mild or pronounced, in severe cases it is accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes and the appearance of purulent deposits.

With a cold in pregnant women, a rise in temperature is possible. In mild cases – up to subfebrile values ​​in the region of 37.0-37.4 degrees. With complicated SARS, influenza, bacterial infections, there are higher values ​​- up to 38‒39degrees. It is important to establish the cause of the condition in time and exclude severe pathologies.

How a cold affects pregnancy

In pregnant women, immunity is reduced so that the mother’s body does not reject the fetus. The baby has the genes of the father, which can be recognized as alien. It is important that the immune system does not “notice” them. Temporary weakening of protective functions and makes a woman vulnerable. It is a mistake to think that only hypothermia causes a cold during pregnancy – infection from a sick person is possible.

It is much easier for an expectant mother to get sick than for others for several more reasons:

• Hyperventilation. For enhanced supply of tissues with oxygen, the diaphragmatic type of breathing is unconsciously switched on. The lungs are more ventilated, but it is also easier for viruses to penetrate.
• Swelling of mucous membranes. This occurs against the background of an increase in the volume of circulating blood, especially in the later stages, and also facilitates the entry of viruses into the body.
• Limited arsenal of remedies. For example, most antiviral and many other drugs should not be taken, especially at the beginning of gestation.

A cold is dangerous for a more protracted course than before pregnancy, as well as an increased risk of clinical manifestations and complications.

Consequences

Viruses are able to penetrate the placenta to the fetus and lead to disturbances in the system of uteroplacental blood flow. Therefore, with SARS in pregnant women, complications such as the development of placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth retardation of the baby, placental abruption are possible.

A common and seemingly harmless runny nose causes oxygen deficiency and can lead to hypoxia in the mother and fetus. Coughing, sneezing increase pressure in the abdominal cavity and provoke uterine tone. There is a risk of miscarriage and even premature birth.

With SARS and influenza, blood counts change. Among the most negative consequences are placental abruption and bleeding.

In the early stages, getting sick is especially dangerous. The internal organs are just beginning to form, and a severe infection can cause malformations and even death of the fetus. Colds during pregnancy and later weeks are dangerous with the risk of pneumonia, bronchitis, otitis media, as well as more serious diseases – encephalitis and meningitis.

In the presence of concomitant diseases, an exacerbation of pathologies of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory organs, kidneys, and liver is possible. The consequences can be very serious, so you need to be treated in a timely manner and consult a doctor at the first symptoms.

How to treat a cold during pregnancy

You can’t carry the disease “on your feet”, so you need to immediately contact the doctor who manages the pregnancy for the correct prescription of therapy. The difficulty is that not all medicines are suitable for expectant mothers.

First of all, you need to drink more fluids, preferably clean water. In some cases, folk methods are suitable. How to properly treat and what to do depends on the manifestations of a cold during pregnancy.

Runny nose

Nasal congestion can be a physiological reaction – as a result of increased swelling and changes in hormone levels. This is especially true for late periods. However, rhinitis often occurs with viral infections. There is a violation of the sense of smell, increased discharge from the nasal passages.

Key recommendations:

• Do not get carried away with vasoconstrictor drops on their own – in some cases they can increase pressure and affect blood flow. Pregnant women are allowed Nazivin and Vibrocil – no more than 2 times a day and no longer than 3 days, only with severe congestion. When the puffiness subsides, you can drip Pinosol – drops based on mint, pine and eucalyptus oils.
• You can massage the wings of the nose, smearing them a little with warming ointments (Doctor Mom or Asterisk balm).
• Among folk medicines, a solution of aloe juice mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 1 is popular. It needs to be dripped into the nasal passages 1-2 times a day.

The safest treatment for a runny nose is rinsing the nasal passages with sea water or saline. The pharmacy has ready-made products: Aqualor, Aquamaris. Often, rinsing is enough to restore good health and normal breathing.

Fever

During the gestation period, a small temperature of up to 37.2 degrees can indicate sudden hormonal changes. Sometimes an unpleasant phenomenon happens even before the delay of menstruation, therefore it is definitely not related to pregnancy and indicates disorders in the body. Therefore, any deviation from values ​​above 36.8‒37 degrees is a reason to contact a specialist.

General recommendations:

• It is not necessary to bring down the subfebrile temperature to 37.5-38 degrees. This is an immune response that helps to cope with the disease.
• If a woman comes down with a cold or the flu with a high fever, safe antipyretics can be taken, preferably paracetamol tablets, syrup or powders.
• In addition, it is useful to drink tea with raspberry jam or lingonberry, linden herb. Drinks will help fill the deficiency of vitamins and defeat viruses faster.
• Rubbing with water at room temperature is allowed. It is forbidden to use vinegar and alcohol – they are harmful to the body of the mother and child. In no case should you soar your feet in warm water and generally overheat the body, even if there is a chill.

When reaching 39 degrees or more, it is imperative to contact specialists. At the same time, it is not the best solution to go to the hospital, be sure to call an ambulance.

How to cure a throat

Sore throat is associated with pathogenic microorganisms on the mucous membranes. Pregnant women are prescribed antibiotics only in extreme cases, so first you need to be treated with safe methods:

• Often, it is advisable to rinse every hour with a solution of salt or soda (dosage: 1 teaspoon per glass of water) or infusion of chamomile, eucalyptus.
• Gargle with solutions of Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Furacilin up to 3-4 times a day.
• In the absence of temperature, smear the neck with warming balms (Doctor Mom, asterisk), then wrap it with a scarf.
• Dissolve local tablets (Geksoral, Lizobakt, Pharyngosept). From the second trimester, Stopangin spray is allowed.

After any treatment for the throat, you should not drink or eat for at least 30 minutes, otherwise there will be no effect.

Cough

The symptom can be caused by various reasons, so the choice of therapy must be approached carefully. Many cough medicines are prohibited for pregnant women.

Allowed:

• inhalations over boiled potatoes or soda solution. An important condition is the absence of temperature;
• reception of warm milk with the addition of butter or honey. You can also mix milk with Borjomi or soda solution in a ratio of 1:1;
• the use of infusions of plantain, coltsfoot, thyme.

Safe drugs include Lazolvan, ACC, Mukaltin, Tantum Verde. But they must be prescribed by a doctor.

What can pregnant women with colds at different periods of time

Treatment should be absolutely safe for the baby in any month of gestation. If it is necessary to take antibiotics or other potent drugs, the doctor correlates the benefit to the mother and the risk to the fetus.

How to treat a cold during pregnancy in the 1st trimester

In the embryo at the beginning of pregnancy, all organs and systems are laid down and formed. Therefore, in the first trimester, exposure to chemicals and negative factors is especially dangerous. Colds during pregnancy should be treated with the most gentle methods – gargle with herbs, drink tea with raspberry jam, do steam inhalations. Any tablets and powders can be used only as a last resort.

Second trimester

After 12 weeks, the protective barrier for the fetus is fully formed. The placenta maximally filters all the substances that come to the baby. Colds during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester are already treated more easily. You can quickly return to normal health with the help of complex gargles, honey and propolis. In the second trimester, it is acceptable to take some antibiotics, paracetamol, it is allowed to use sprays, nasal drops.

Third trimester

The fetus is already almost formed, so the list of allowed funds is expanding as much as possible. Of the herbs, only sage, horsetail, rue are not allowed – those that cause uterine contractions. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics and antivirals.

A decoction of lingonberry leaf is useful, as it has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. It is also useful for fluid retention, which is especially important in the third trimester for edema.

What is forbidden

In any month of pregnancy, try to refrain from drugs as much as possible, and also refuse from:

• any tinctures with alcohol, ginseng and eleutherococcus. If you are not sure about the safety of herbs, do not risk it. It is better to drink plain tea with lemon than to put yourself and your baby in danger;
• warming procedures. It is dangerous for expectant mothers to bathe in a bathhouse, it is forbidden to take hot baths and warm their feet, to make mustard plasters;
• taking immunomodulators and other strong drugs, especially those affecting blood pressure, heart function, blood clotting.

Remember that without a doctor’s prescription, you can not drink any pills and carry out procedures.

Prevention of colds during pregnancy

Here are some simple tips to keep you and your baby healthy:

• When the weather changes, it gets colder, the climate zones change, and just in the cold season, dress warmer than you are used to. Remember that the body of the expectant mother is especially vulnerable.
• During epidemics, refrain from gathering places. If you need to go somewhere urgently (supermarket, clinic, subway), wear a mask and try to avoid contact with people.
• Practice hygiene – wash your hands thoroughly after the street and any public places.
• Spray the nasal mucosa with Nasaval Plus spray before leaving the house – it will create a protective barrier.
• Eat rationally, eat foods rich in vitamins – eat more vegetables and fruits, take multivitamin complexes as prescribed by the doctor.