Safe Cough Medicines During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Suffering through a cough and cold is unpleasant for anyone, but dealing with a bad cough when pregnant is even worse. Fortunately, certain cough medicines during pregnancy have been deemed "low-risk" and should be fine for most pregnant women to take. However, consult a doctor before taking cough medicine or any other type of over-the-counter medicine during pregnancy.

Warning

• While some cough medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, experts advise that women refrain from taking any form of over-the-counter medicine during pregnancy unless it is absolutely necessary.

Types

• The following types of cough medicine are considered safe during pregnancy: the expectorant guaifenesin (Robitussin, Mucinex), the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough, Vicks 44 Cough Relief), guaifenesin plus dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM), and most cough drops.

Time Frame

• None of these cough medicines safe during pregnancy should be taken for more than a few days, because prolonged use could be harmful to the fetus.

Considerations

• Cough medicines do not actually "cure" a cough, rather they help to temporarily relieve symptoms. For this reason, some pregnant women and their doctors do not consider cough medicines necessary.

Effects

• When taken responsibly, these cough medicines should not harm a pregnancy. Because suffering from a bad cough can be miserable when pregnant, many pregnant women and their doctors believe the benefits of taking cough medicine during pregnancy outweigh the risks to the fetus.