What Cold Medicines Can Be Taken While Nursing?

Nursing is growing in popularity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it, electric pumps make it easier to continue when mom goes back to work and women are growing more comfortable breastfeeding publicly. But as more women nurse for longer periods of time, there is growing concern about what women ingest while nursing. Some things, like chocolate, are perfectly safe. Other things, such as the medication Methotrexate, should never be taken. The American Academy of Pediatrics rates medication safety levels and the safest cold medications follow.

  1. Considerations

    • Medicines that a mother takes while nursing do pass into her milk. However, the dosage is usually so small (often less than 1 percent) that most medicines are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers. When taking medications while nursing, try to minimize the number of ingredients. If your headache is the worst part of your cold, simply take a painkiller instead of a pill that also has a decongestant and cough suppressant.

    Painkillers

    • Acetaminophen, found in Tylenol, and ibuprofen, found in Advil, are the safest painkillers.

    Cough Medicine

    • Dextromethorphan is the safest ingredient for cough suppression. It is included in many couch and cold medications and can be identified when the medicine as the letters "DM" after its name.

    Decongestants

    • There is no decongestant at the "safest" level. Medications containing phenylephrine (such as in Sudafed) are considered moderately safe. The main concern is a possible decrease in milk supply, so if you do take a decongestant make sure to monitor your milk supply.

    Antihistamines

    • The ingredient in Actifed is considered the safest antihistamine. Claritin and Allegra are considered safer.

    Other Remedies

    • Saline nasal sprays are safe while nursing. Breastfeeding mothers with colds can also drink black tea and fenugreek or eat cayenne pepper and garlic to help with symptoms.

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