Cough medicine recommendations for pregnant women ranging from medical to natural

Have you ever been confused about the safety of taking medication to relieve cough symptoms during pregnancy? If it turns out to be safe, what are the options for cough medicine for pregnant women that can be taken? You can do various ways to help deal with coughs during pregnancy, including taking prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, to natural remedies.

So, to be clearer and more sure, let's look at the following options for treating coughs during pregnancy so that mothers get better quickly.

Can I take cough medicine while pregnant?

Pregnant women really need to sort out anything that enters the body such as drinks and food for pregnant women, including drugs.

Even so, pregnant women can take medicine to relieve cough symptoms. It's just that, you still need to pay attention to the type of medicine and the rules for taking it.

This is because carelessly taking medication while pregnant has the risk of increasing the chances of the baby having birth defects.

It is also important to take cough medicine for pregnant women according to the recommended dosage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you were taking before pregnancy.

Your doctor will tell you whether it is still safe to take cough medicine that you have previously taken.

If the drug is deemed unsafe to drink during pregnancy, the doctor will recommend other safer drug options.

Avoid taking medicines to relieve coughs during pregnancy with various ingredients to treat many symptoms at once.

It's best to take cough medicine that focuses on treating the symptoms you are currently experiencing, whether it's just a cough or a combination of cough and flu.

What cough medicines are safe for pregnant women?

There are two choices of drug groups as a way to deal with coughs when women are pregnant. First, namely OTC drugs or over the counterwhich can be purchased over the counter at the pharmacy.

Second, namely drugs prescribed by doctors so that they are not freely traded.

The following are recommendations for cough medicines that are safe for pregnant women to recover quickly:

1. Expectorant

Expectorant cough medicines work by thinning the phlegm or mucus that clots in the chest and throat.

So, this one drug is usually intended for symptoms of cough with phlegm during pregnancy.

Cough medicine for pregnant women that belongs to the expectorant class, namely guaifenesin and bromhexine.

Guaifenesin is included in the pregnancy risk category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in Indonesia.

This means, cough medicine containing guaifenesin may be a risk for pregnant womenl.

While Bromhexine is included in the pregnancy risk category A which means it is not a risk for pregnant women according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, according to UT Southwestern, guaifenesin can be taken by pregnant women to relieve symptoms as long as you consult a doctor first.

Don't forget, you also have to comply with the rules for taking the drug. The dose of taking guaifenesin cough medicine when pregnant is 200-400 milligrams (mg) per 4 hours.

So, the total consumption of the drug in a day or 24 hours should not exceed 2.4 grams. The side effects of guaifenesin usually resemble an allergic reaction, but this is rare.

2. Antitussive

Antitussives are a class of suppressant drugs that are useful for relieving coughs.

The exact mechanism of function is not known, but this drug is used to treat dry cough by acting directly on the brain.

Antitussives will inhibit the function of the brain stem which regulates response and reflexes so that the frequency of coughing is reduced.

One class of antitussive cough medicines that are safe for pregnant women is dextromethorphan.

Dextromethorphan is included in the category C pregnancy risk, aka it may be risky, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cough medicine during pregnancy, which is included in the antitussive category, is expected to relieve dry cough symptoms quickly.

The safe dose for this cough medicine is 10-20 milligrams (mg) which can be taken every 4 hours and 30 mg which can be taken for 6-8 hours.

The maximum dose of dextromethorphan cough medicine in a day or 24 hours is 120 mg.

Antitussive cough medicine including drugsover the counter(OTC) or can be obtained freely without having to go through a doctor's prescription.

In order to know whether the over-the-counter cough medicine that is sold in pharmacies contains dextromerthorphan or not, you can look at the drug packaging section.

Generally, the dextromethorphan content in cough medicines, including for pregnant women, is marked with the label "DM" on the drug package.

To be safer, make sure pregnant women have received the green light from doctors and pharmacists to take anti-titussive cough medicine.

3. Decongestants

Decongestants are drugs commonly used to treat coughs and colds.

Decongestants in the form of inhaled drugs such as oxymetazoline are known to be safe to use as cough medicines for pregnant women.

Apart from treating coughs, these drugs are also able to treat nasal congestion during colds.

This is because oxymetazoline is a nasal decongestant that is also safe to use during pregnancy.

With the note, you have no contraindications or restrictions on the use of certain drugs.

Open that alone, there are also oral (drinking) decongestants such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.

Side effects that may arise from consuming this dry cough medicine are drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, stomach pain or nausea, and dry throat.

Cough medicine oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine included in the pregnancy risk category C alias may be at risk, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Pregnant women who have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and prostate disorders are also advised to consult their doctor first before taking this medicine.

During pregnancy, you should first consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking decongestant cough medicines.

Are there cough medicines that are not allowed for pregnant women?

Again, not all cough medicines that you usually find are safe for pregnant women to take.

There are several cough medicines that are not recommended during pregnancy, from the first trimester, second trimester, to the third trimester.

Therefore, you must be aware of some of the ingredients of the drug that should be avoided when pregnant because it is quite risky.

The content of cough medicines that pregnant women should avoid to prevent risks to themselves and the fetus, namely:

1. Codeine

Codeine is a drug that doctors usually prescribe to relieve mild or moderate pain.

In addition, codeine can also help treat cough symptoms.

Codeine included in a drug with a risk of pregnancy category C alias may be at risk, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cough medicine containing codeine is not recommended for pregnant women.

This is because codeine is at risk of exposing the baby to respiratory problems at birth.

Plus, according to Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy, codeine taken during pregnancy has the risk of causing the baby to experience withdrawal symptoms after birth.

This condition is known by the name neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

NAS can occur in newborns if during pregnancy the mother takes addictive substances, such as opioids.

Codeine itself is an opioid class of drugs that can cause dependence like the use of narcotics.

2.

Pineapple can be used as a natural cough medicine because it contains bromelain.

Bromelain is a substance that has anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in relieving inflammation in the airways that triggers coughing.

Bromelain, which is composed of proteolytic enzymes and proteases, can help break down phlegm that clots in the throat and lungs.

You can eat fresh pineapple fruit or process it into pineapple juice.

If used as a natural cough medicine during pregnancy, try consuming pineapple at least 2-3 times a day to relieve dry cough symptoms.

However, before trying to use pineapple as a natural cough medicine, make sure you don't have an allergy to this fruit, huh!

6. Thyme

Thyme is an Egyptian herbal plant that can also be used as a natural cough medicine for pregnant women.

These leaves contain flavonoid antioxidant compounds that can help relieve inflammation in the throat.

To use thyme as a natural cough remedy, you can brew 2 teaspoons of dried thyme leaves in 1 cup of hot water.

Then, mix well this natural cough medicine and wait for a few minutes until the leaves are absorbed and drink it while it's warm.

8. Warm broth soup

Soup made from a mixture of bone broth, garlic, and a little turmeric can be a natural cough remedy for pregnant women.

When you have a prolonged cough, your body fluid levels tend to decrease, making you prone to dehydration.

As a natural cough medicine, bone broth contains electrolytes (sodium) so that the body can more easily absorb incoming fluids.

In addition, this natural cough medicine also contains the active compound allicin in garlic which has antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal functions.

These three substances are considered good for killing various organisms that cause coughing.

Meanwhile, turmeric is responsible for fighting inflammation that causes coughing and an itchy throat.

9. Mint leaves

Mint or peppermint leaves contain menthol which can provide a warm and relieving effect on the throat, as well as thin the mucus in the respiratory tract.

Because of this function, mint leaves can be used as a natural cough medicine during pregnancy.

However, you should choose a quality leaf type so that the benefits of mint leaves are more optimal. Fresh mint leaves have a bright green color and are spotless.

Home remedies to treat cough in pregnant women

Besides taking medical and natural cough medicines for pregnant women, you can also take a number of simple steps as additional treatment.

A combination of taking medicinal, natural cough medicines and home remedies can be a way to cure a cough faster.

Here's how to handle it at home if a pregnant woman has a cough:

Get enough rest in a comfortable sleeping position for pregnant women.
Drink plenty of water.
Eat foods that contain vitamin C to strengthen your immune system.
Inhaling hot steam from warm water or a humidifier to circulate air in the respiratory tract.

Try to keep the nutritional needs of pregnant women well met even though they are experiencing a cough. Also pay attention to a variety of foods that are prohibited for pregnant women.

No less important, make sure the air quality in the room remains at the ideal humidity level. Dry air can worsen the cough that pregnant women experience.

Conversely, inhaling moist air can help dissolve the phlegm that has accumulated along the respiratory tract.

If the cough symptoms in pregnant women do not go away with medical, natural, or home remedies, you should check with your doctor further.