Does anyone know what over the counter meds are ok while breastfeeding? I have cold symptoms and sinus pressure.
I suggest you visit the Web site www.kellymom.com. In the upper left-hand side, you'll see a link there that says something like "Is this safe while breastfeeding?" If you click on it, you'll see a large chart that details the various risk levels of different medications. Some are major (heroin, chemotherapy drugs) and some are generally recognized as safe or very low-risk to the breastfeeding mother and child (Tylenol, ibuprofen). The Kellymom chart is considered reliable among lactation prefessionals and is based on the book "Medications and Mother's Milk" by Dr. Thomas Hale (who is pretty much a genius, in my personal opinion).
Although many antihistamines are considered OK, I would suggest you try to treat congestion in other ways, such as with a hot shower, and/or use antihistamines sparingly just because they work by drying up excess body fluid--something you definitely don't want to do if your supply is sensitive.
La Leche League's Web site is also a gold mine of medically accurate breastfeeding information. You can find your local Leader to ask questions like this to and (when you're feeling better) go to a meeting to meet other nursing moms. I love LLL. All services are free and the site is www.llli.org.
When I have a cold, I like the tablets that dissolve on the floor of the shower (I think they are made by Vicks) and I also take ibuprofen, since it is an anti-inflammatory and can reduce swelling and thus, sinus pressure. I also allow myself to just lay in bed and nurse while resting and napping. You'll want to kick this cold thoroughly so you don't get run down and end up with mastitis--not likely, but a risk to the exhausted mom.
I am personally pretty conservative about meds in general, so rest assured you have quite a few drug options if you are miserable. Ibuprofen is your friend. ;) Good for you for being such a conscientious mother. . . . Feel better soon!
Benadryl, Tylenol products, ...
Hi Janice,
Have you tried a netty pot to release the sinus pressure? You can find one at whole foods or vitamin cottage. This will help and you can hopefully not need any medication.
You may also want to try Juice Plus, 15 different fruits and veggies that are in a capsule, chewable and gummiie. It has been proven to support the immune system. Check out www.DenverJuicePlus.com. I hope that helps and you feel better! :)
Lori
Janice,
It's always best to just shoot a call to your doctor or your babies pediatrician. I know I just had the same thing and they said it was fine to take psuedafed.
Feel Better :)
I know it's safe to take sudafed (sp?) and Tylenol while prego, but I'd call your dr's nurse just to be safe. One other thing that works to help relieve pressure is NeilMed Sinus Rinse. It's kind of weird but once you get used to it it really works. It's a little bottle that you put hot water in and the kit usually comes with a whole bunch of saline packets that you put in the water and disolve. Then you squirt the water up your nose...but it works and it does feel better after (I've been in the same boat this last week). Good luck and I hope you feel better! :)
My pediatiritian told me Tussins (ie robotussin) for colds, saline for nasal stuff- any antihistamines will dry up you milk.
There are very, very few medications that are not safe to take while breastfeeding, especially over-the-counter ones. And at 6 months, your baby weighs enough not to be affected much by the small amount of medication that passes through your milk. Just be on the lookout for side effects such as drowsiness or sleeplessness.
While some people say that antihistamines will dry up milk supply, there is actually no scientific evidence that they do. Pseudoephedrine can, though. But if your milk supply is well-established, a couple of days of cold medicine should not have much of an impact. My favorite cold remedy, if natural methods are not working, is Ibuprophen. It relieves pain and helps reduce swelling in the throat and sinuses, and seems to have fewer side effects than most cold medicines.
I found this link helpful:
http://www.breastfeeding.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-336.html
When I was pregnant/breastfeeding, I was told any tylenol product was safe to take.
A word to the wise--I learned the hard way that anything that dries out your nose will also dry out your breasts, so stay away from all anti-histamines. My best recommendation is go for a homeopathic product...I like Alpha CF. Also, to clear sinuses almost instantly put a drop of peppermint essential oil on either side of your nose and the back of your neck.
Jodi
I use Tylenol products when I get sick. I also take Vitamin C, Echinacea & Zinc to help boost my immune system. Good luck!
Make it a GREAT week!
Shawnasie
Every doctor or pediatrician will tell you differently, but I would suggest calling them none-the-less.
The netti pot idea will work wonders as well. I use Danactive and Airborne to get over a cold a bit faster.
For years I've used large doses of vitamin C and garlic tabs and perhaps lots of parsley. Not chewable vit C - http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/ will provide info ~ been using this for more years than I care to count. we never use OTC or 'scripts for colds n flus just above also the homeopathics http://alive.com/17a1a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=227
and other inf: http://ahealthierplace.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?comments_parentId=43&topics_offset=3&topics_sort_mode=lastPost_desc&forumId=9
Although antihistamines and tylenol are generally considered safe, I think we need to consider the cumulative lifetime impact these products have on our liver-where they are metabolized & excreted - In the system of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) liver chi stagnation is shown to contribute to a number of difficult challenges ~ my own experience with both systems has me avoiding OTC's & looking to the alternatives above.
Before taking any OTC products, check with the Pharmacist. They are the drug experts and can tell you which medications are safe to use when breastfeeding. There has been very little research on homeopathic and herbal medications so their safety is questionable and I wouldn't want to risk harming your baby.