If you are not pregnant, you may not take your cough and cold too seriously. However, pregnancy changes the scenario completely. This is because what may seem to be a small health issue pre-pregnancy may require deliberate thought during pregnancy. So, if you are sceptical about popping some cough drops to soothe your throat, you should read the following article. We shall be discussing whether or not it is safe to use cough drops during pregnancy.
Cough drops are small, candy-like medicines that provide temporary relief from the symptoms of a cough and cold. They are available as over-the-counter medicines and usually do not require a doctor’s prescription.
Cough drops, also known as throat lozenges are very effective in providing relief from a cough. However, it is not only the cough that is taken care of; these sweet discs are also beneficial in providing relief from a runny nose, dry mouth, sore throat, and persistent cough. Cough drops also help reduce the duration of your cold.
You may find these sweet flavoured medicated candies very palatable, but you may wonder whether they are safe to be used during pregnancy or not. Well, these sugary pills are usually considered safe as they are consumed only to provide temporary and short-term relief from the symptoms. It is very unlikely that these drops will harm your unborn child in any way. However, you should refrain from overconsumption, and read the labels for the active and inactive ingredients in order to avoid taking any harmful ingredients unknowingly.
Cough drops can contain any of the following ingredients:
Some of the active ingredients that may be used are as follows:
Some of the inactive ingredients in cough drops may include:
So, which cough drops are safe during pregnancy? Well, here are some of our recommendations:
While some ingredients may be safe during pregnancy, others may lead to complications.
With only limited access to allopathic medicines, it is natural to be tempted to pop a lozenge when you are pregnant and have a cold. Here are some side-effects to consider before doing so:
Mucus is required to get rid of germs from your body. However, sometimes, taking cough drops may suppress mucus formation and trap the germs inside the body, which may later resurface.
Most cough drops have high sugar content, so if you are suffering from diabetes or gestational diabetes, consuming them may increase your blood sugar levels.
Some cough drops may contain herbal ingredients which may not be safe for consumption during pregnancy because of the lack of studies on them.
Therefore, before you take any kind of cough drops, make sure you read the label carefully. In case of any doubts, you should seek your doctor’s assistance.
Here are some precautions that you should exercise before taking cough drops during pregnancy:
If you are consulting with your doctor regarding consuming cough drops during pregnancy, ask them the following questions:
These questions will help you understand the severity of your condition better.
Apart from cough drops, you may try various natural remedies to treat a cough. Following are some of the effective natural alternatives to cough drops:
We recommend that you stop using home remedial measures and seek your doctor’s help right away under the following situations:
Any of the above-mentioned symptoms will require immediate medical assistance, so as soon as you register any of these symptoms, get in touch with your doctor.
A cough is not a very serious medical condition during pregnancy and can be easily managed. If you wish to take cough drops to soothe your throat, we recommend that you ask your doctor’s permission for the same. Every pregnancy is different and unique, and thus you and your doctor may know what may be best for you.
Resources and References: Healthline