Can pregnant women use cough lozenges?

Flu and sore throat are common conditions in pregnant women. During pregnancy, pregnant women cannot arbitrarily use drugs. Therefore, cough lozenges are the choice of many people. However, despite being popular, not everyone understands about this product.

Cough lozenges are the treatment that many people think of when they have a common cold. However, is this product good for pregnant women? Please join aFamilyToday Health to follow the sharing below.

What symptoms can cough lozenges help relieve?

This candy is effective in treating a number of symptoms such as:

Sore throat

A persistent cough

Stuffy nose

Dry mouth

Reduce feelings of chills

Cough lozenges are short-lived. Usually, its ingredients are quite safe for pregnant women. When buying candies, do not rely on the taste, but carefully read the information on the packaging to avoid buying products that contain ingredients that treat symptoms that you do not have.

Is it safe to use cough lozenges during pregnancy?

Candies contain the same active ingredients as medications. This makes many pregnant women confused about whether to use it or not. In general, doctors believe that cough lozenges are safe and unlikely to harm a mother or fetus. If only used for a short time to treat symptoms of some common illnesses such as colds, flu, you do not need to worry too much.

What ingredients usually contain this candy?

Each manufacturer uses different ingredients, but in general, cough lozenges may contain the following ingredients:

Benzocaine

Benzocaine is an anesthetic that paralyzes an area. It is commonly used for local anesthesia and is often present in over-the-counter pain relievers. In cough lozenges, benzocaine has an anesthetic effect on the back of the throat, helping to relieve pain. Benzocaine does not enter the bloodstream, so it is quite safe for pregnant women.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus  (eucalyptus) is a natural antiseptic that kills bacteria. In addition, it also works to destroy phlegm. Therefore, eucalyptus oil combined with peppermint essential oil are two commonly used ingredients in cough lozenges to help relieve cold symptoms and soothe sore throats.

You may hear others advise against using eucalyptus oil during pregnancy. However, do not be too worried because the cough lozenges only contain a very small amount of eucalyptus oil.

Zinc gluconate glycine

Cough lozenges containing this ingredient are widely available in the market. Evidence suggests that supplementing with large amounts of zinc can increase the body's immunity, leading to rapid relief of cold symptoms.

Pregnant women should take no more than 40mg of zinc per day, while cough lozenges usually contain about 13mg of zinc. Therefore, every day you should only use about 2-3 pills containing this ingredient.

Pectin

Pectin works to reduce swelling and is quite safe for pregnant women. This is a natural ingredient commonly found in fruits. Therefore, this ingredient is usually found in fruit-flavored lozenges that do not contain menthol .

Dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. These candies can be helpful if you have a persistent cough or an itchy throat. However, this drug is currently controversial about its use in pregnant women, as a study in chickens shows that the substance can cause birth defects .

However, according to another study, this drug does not cause adverse effects on human pregnancy. If you are concerned about the potential harm to your unborn baby, look for a cough lozenge that does not contain this substance.

Menthol

Menthol is menthol as an ingredient. When you use cough lozenges that contain menthol, you will feel a cool sensation in your throat. In addition, this substance also helps to eliminate feelings of congestion. Doctors often discourage pregnant women from using cough lozenges that contain menthol because its safety has not been proven.

In addition to the above, some cough lozenges contain corn syrup or other sweeteners. Consult your doctor before taking these candies if you have type 1, type 2 diabetes , gestational diabetes or are at risk of gestational diabetes. Corn syrup and sweeteners can cause blood sugar levels to rise, making it difficult to control diabetes.

Besides cough lozenges, are there any other ways to treat sore throats?

In addition to cough lozenges, there are also some things you can try to treat a sore throat:

Gargle with salt water:  Rinse mouth for about a minute with a cup of hot water mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and spit it out. This can help soothe the throat, kill phlegm, and kill bacteria.

Drink plenty of water to keep the body moist:  Dehydration not only irritates the stomach, but also causes a dry, itchy throat.

Drink tea mixed with lemon:  You can try a cup of decaffeinated tea with a little lemon. If you are planning on adding honey, choose pasteurized honey to limit your baby's exposure to harmful bacteria.

When should I see a doctor?

A sore throat can be a sign of a serious illness that needs immediate treatment. If you have the following symptoms, see your doctor:

Fever above 38 ° C

Rash

Sore throat lasts more than 3-4 days

Red or white spots on the throat

The symptoms of a sore throat and cold have turned well but suddenly worsen.

Some notes before using lozenges

Before taking any medicine, including a cough lozenge, see an obstetrician and gynecologist to see if it is safe for you. Your doctor will ask more about your symptoms before giving an opinion. In addition, you should also ask your doctor some of the following issues:

How long you can use the lozenges and how much each day you should use.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms have lasted for many days, as this could be a warning sign that you have a medical problem.