Pregnancy is a very important and critical phase in the life of a women as well as the expected child. The guidelines and precautions advised by the doctors are to be followed. Intake of cough and cold medicines during pregnancy needs to be regulated carefully so that the side effects, if any do not percolate down to the mother and the expectant baby.
The cough and cold medicines comprises of suppressants such as dextromethorphan (DM), expectorants such as guafenasin, decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, nasal sprays xylometazoline or oxymetazoline like Drixoral and Dristan along with antihistamines such as diphenhydramine.
Some of the risks associated with the intake of cough and cold medicines in course of pregnancy are as given below:
Some of the cough medications contain antihistamines and painkillers and might not suit to specific patients, depending upon case background and history.
Though oral decongestants cough syrup are usually considered safe for expectant mothers yet a high dose can lead to troubles like an increase in stress levels and blood pressure.
Most of the cold and cough medications are widely available in the market. However, their ingredients and compositions differ. Hence, getting the composition checked and approved by the doctor could be a good idea.
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In the situation, the following measures are suggested:
The cold medications that contain dextromethorphan (DM) and expectorants such as guafenasin should be taken.
In case of a stuffy nose, a saline nasal spray should be tried at first followed by a decongestant spray. It is advisable to avoid oral decongestants.
Consulting the doctor should be considered if the intake of medicines does not have the desired impact in the first 7 days.
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