Its cold and flu season, and a common question is can I take any medications while Im breastfeeding?. The answer is YES! KellyMom has a very comprehensive list of safe medications, but lets talk about the most common over-the-counter medications. Keep in mind I will be discussing the active ingredients, not the brand names because brand names come in so many different formulas. So youll need to look at the box at the list of ingredients. Congestion- pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE) are the two most common medications for congestion. They are found in many different cold/cough/flu combos and are available on their own as well. Kellymom lists both of them as L3 (safe). There is some studies that suggest they can lower milk supply though, so use with caution. Antihistamines - Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is rated as L2 (safer) Fexofenadine (Allegra) is rated as L2 Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is rated L2 Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin) is rated as L1 (safest) Keep in mind to look at the box. SOme of these medications also include a decongestant, so be sure to always look at the active ingredient list on the box when choosing a medication. Cough medication - Dextromethorphan (Robitussin) is L1 Guaifenesin (Mucinex) is L2 Again, be sure to check the box to look at all active ingredients. Pain- Both acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil/Mortin) are L1 With all medications, always discuss it with your health professional first, and always read the active ingredients on the box so you know what you are taking. I will post the link to the comprehensive kellymom list of medications in the comments below. Liz
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 01:00:58 +0000
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