Contents:
- Medical Video: Cough Medicine During Pregnancy
- Cough medicines for pregnant women can be consumed
- Cough medicines for pregnant women that should not be consumed
- What you should pay attention to before taking cough medicine
- When to go to the doctor?
Medical Video: Cough Medicine During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your immune system changes. As a result, you may be more prone to coughing during pregnancy. If left untreated and not handled properly, coughing may last a long time, making you and those around you feel uncomfortable. Therefore, you should treat your cough immediately. But wait, you certainly should not treat cough carelessly during pregnancy. Then, what cough medicines for pregnant women should and should not be consumed?
Cough medicines for pregnant women can be consumed
Many drugs that you should not take while pregnant. This is because some of these drugs may cause harm to the fetus. For that, you should pay attention to the medications you take while pregnant, even if only to treat minor ailments, such as coughing.
Medicines may taken when coughing during pregnancy is:
- Expectorant cough medicine or containing guaifenesin, commonly used to treat phlegm cough.
- Supressant cough medicine or containing dextromethorphan, commonly used to treat dry cough.
- A combination of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan
Cough medicines for pregnant women that should not be consumed
Should avoid it cough medicine for pregnant women containing:
- Codeine, is an opioid drug that can be given to stubborn dry coughs. This drug can cause dependence on babies who are still in the womb so that the gift is avoided for pregnant women.
- Decongestant pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, usually found in a combination of cough and flu drugs. This is because the content of the drug can inhibit blood flow to the placenta, and some even report this drug related to birth defects. Avoid this drug especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.
If your cough is accompanied by a fever, you can take a medication that contains acetaminophen (paracetamol) to relieve fever. However, you should avoid taking drugs containing ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve fever. Ibuprofen or aspirin can penetrate the placenta so that it can harm the fetus.
What you should pay attention to before taking cough medicine
You should always read the rules of use before taking medication. Although some drugs are declared safe for pregnant women, you should take the drug not exceeding the prescribed dose. If your condition does not improve after taking medication, you should consult your doctor immediately. Avoid taking medication for a long time without a doctor's prescription.
In addition to taking medication, you also need to get adequate rest during the day and night, eat regularly with a healthy and nutritious menu, and drink plenty of water when sick. These three things can help provide energy for the body to fight disease.
When to go to the doctor?
Reporting from the American Pregnancy Association, you should immediately see your doctor if:
- Cough does not improve in a few days
- This condition causes you to not have appetite or difficulty sleeping
- You have a fever of 38.8 degrees Celsius or higher
- You begin to experience phlegm coughs with unusual mucus colors
- Your cough is accompanied by chest pain and / or wheezing. This might be caused by an infection, so you need to see a doctor to get antibiotics.
