Cold medicine for pregnant women that is safe and effective & bull; hello healthy

Pregnant women are prone to colds because changes in their body hormones tend to weaken the immune system. Especially if it has entered the rainy season. However, do not take medication carelessly because certain substances can pose a risk to the fetus in the stomach. Here are a variety of choices for cold medicines that are both effective and safe to drink for pregnant women.

You can't just take medication while pregnant

Whatever you experience, feel, and consume during pregnancy can affect the fetus in the womb. That's why you should not take medicine carelessly even if the disease is only "trivial" colds.

As much as possible avoid certain non-prescription drugs, especially if your pregnancy is less than 12 weeks. The reason is, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is a critical period in the development of the fetal vital organs. Wrong taking medication can be dangerous for the development of the fetus in your womb.

Make sure to always consult a doctor before taking any medicine and whenever you feel that there is something unusual in your body. That way, the risk of pregnancy complications due to wrong medication can be minimized.

The choice of cold medicine that is safe for pregnant women

Depending on the symptoms and complaints you feel, here are some of the safest cold medicine options for pregnant women:

1. Paracetamol

Paracetamol is a pain reliever medication that relieves the accompanying symptoms of colds such as fever, headache, sore throat, and aches.

Paracetamol is a cold medicine that is safe for pregnant women to drink. You can get this drug at the nearest pharmacy, drug store, or supermarket without redeeming a doctor's prescription.

Even so, make sure you take the medicine according to the recommended dosage. Read carefully the rules for using the medicine listed on the packaging label before using it.

2. Antihistamine drugs

Antihistamine drugs such as diphendyramine and chlorpheniramine are classified as safe for treating colds of pregnant women caused by allergies.

Both diphendyramine and chlorpheniramine are also effective in soothing the nose and relieving itchy throats, sneezing, and watery eyes. However, these two drugs can make you drowsy, so they should be taken at bedtime.

Again, use this drug wisely. Make sure the dose of medicine you take is in accordance with the rules of use. If you are in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a doctor or pharmacist.

3. Expectorant drugs

Colds which are also accompanied by cough with phlegm are annoying. Well, expectorant drugs containing guaifenesin can simultaneously overcome these two symptoms.

Guaifenesin works to thin and soften mucus in the respiratory tract so you can breathe easier. Guaifenesin also reduces the reflex for coughing.

However, the safety of guaifenesin in pregnant women is still a matter of debate. We recommend that you consult your doctor first.

4. Saline liquid

Another safe option for cold medicines for pregnant women is a saline-filled nasal spray. Saline is a saline solution that works to thin mucus and moisturize the respiratory tract. That way, the nose is no longer blocked due to colds.

You can get this one drug at the nearest drugstore without having to use a doctor's prescription. However, be careful when using it. If you don't know how to use it, don't hesitate to ask the pharmacist directly.

Even so, actually a number of cold medicine recommendations above only help relieve symptoms so that you can recover quickly. To really be able to cure a cold completely, you need to get antiviral medication through a doctor's prescription.

Rules for taking cold medicine for pregnant women

If doctors feel the need to recommend cold medicine, they will definitely warn pregnant women to pay attention to the packaging label. It is important to know what ingredients are contained in the drug and the rules of use. Because, many people are not aware that the cold medicine they are taking actually contains a combination of various medicinal substances at once.

Most cold medicines on the market are a combination of a variety of symptom relievers. For example, in one dose of drug tablets or capsules, it contains fever-reducing agents, pain relievers, antihistamines, decongestants, and others. This can increase the risk of drug-drug interactions, as well as the possibility of an overdose.

There is also a risk of overdose if you are taking many different drugs at the same time. For example, just taking fever-reducing drugs containing paracetamol. Then it won't take long to drink phlegm cough medicine which also contains paracetamol. Without you knowing it, you have doubled the dose of paracetamol that you don't really need.

So you should first take a single drug to treat one specific symptom until it gets better then switch to other types of drugs. Take the drug according to the recommended dosage and duration. Never lengthen, stop, add, or reduce doses of medicine arbitrarily.

The safety rule, do not decide to take any medication immediately before consulting your gynecologist. Remember, what a mother drinks and eats can affect the fetus in her womb. If you feel the cold symptoms are very annoying and are getting worse, do not delay to consult a doctor.

Alternative home remedies for colds

Before immediately prescribing cold medicine, doctors will usually advise pregnant women to rest first. You may also be advised to drink lots of water. These two home 'cold remedies' combinations have been shown to be effective at relieving symptoms naturally.

While taking cold medicine and getting plenty of rest, it's also a good idea for pregnant women to try the following things to relieve cold symptoms: