Can i take tylenol cold and sinus while pregnant

While you’re pregnant, you want to ensure your baby is born safe and healthy. That includes seeing your obstetrician regularly, watching your diet, getting exercise, and making sure any medication you take is safe for your baby.

Table of Contents Show

Which Cold Medicines Are Safe to Take While Pregnant?
Which Over-the-Counter Pain Medications are OK for Pregnant Women?
Is Tylenol Cold Safe During Pregnancy?
Can I Take NyQuil While Pregnant?
Which Drugs Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?
Which Medicines Are OK to Take During Pregnancy?
Is Robitussin DM Safe to Take During Pregnancy?
What Are Safe Cough Medicines to Take While Pregnant?
Can You Use Vicks While Pregnant?
What cold and sinus medications are safe during pregnancy?
Can you take Tylenol sinus congestion and pain while pregnant?
What sinus medicine is safe during pregnancy?
What kind of cold medicine is safe during pregnancy?

Which Cold Medicines Are Safe to Take While Pregnant?

Doctors have studied many different cold remedies that are deemed safe to take during pregnancy. These include:

Benadryl
Robitussin
Mucinex
Tylenol
Cough drops (both menthol and non-menthol)
Saline nasal drops

Make sure not to take any formulations of these medicines that are labeled SA for “sustained action” or “multi-symptom.”

Which Over-the-Counter Pain Medications are OK for Pregnant Women?

For headache or backache pain during pregnancy, doctors prefer you take Tylenol. Aspirin isn’t recommended, nor are NSAIDs like Aleve or ibuprofen such as Advil.

Is Tylenol Cold Safe During Pregnancy?

Tylenol Cold contains acetaminophen, dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), and phenylephrine (a decongestant). Phenylephrine should be avoided. Your doctor may allow limited amounts of Tylenol Cold after the first trimester.

Can I Take NyQuil While Pregnant?

Doctors don’t recommend you take NyQuil during pregnancy due to its high alcohol content.

Which Drugs Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?

It’s best to ask your doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy. Even herbal remedies and vitamins either haven’t been adequately studied. Common medications that should be avoided during pregnancy include:

ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure, which can cause miscarriage or birth defects
Isotretinoin (Accutane) for cystic acne causes extreme birth defects
Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis causes birth defects or miscarriage
Naproxen (Aleve), an NSAID used for pain treatment, can cause birth defects, miscarriage, increased fetal blood pressure and can reduce the amount of amniotic fluid
Valproic acid for epilepsy and bipolar disorder can cause heart defects and cleft palate

Which Medicines Are OK to Take During Pregnancy?

There are many medications that are safe to use in moderation during pregnancy. Including:

Heartburn remedies like Tums, Mylanta, and others that contain calcium carbonates
Anti-diarrheal medications like Kaopectate; avoid those containing salicylates like Pepto Bismol
Prenatal vitamins
Antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and loratadine (Claritin)
Anti-Gas remedies such as Gas-X and Mylicon
Cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan (Mucinex and Robitussin)
Sleep aids like Tylenol PM, Unisom, Sominex, and Nytol

Is Robitussin DM Safe to Take During Pregnancy?

Robitussin DM is a cough remedy containing guaifenesin to loosen mucus and dextromethorphan, a medication to suppress coughing. Both ingredients are safe to use during pregnancy.

What Are Safe Cough Medicines to Take While Pregnant?

Ask your doctor before taking any cough remedies during your first trimester. Cough medicines and cough drops are generally regarded as safe during the second and third trimesters and include those containing dextromethorphan. Brand names are:

Mucinex
Robitussin
Vicks 44

Can You Use Vicks While Pregnant?

The active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub are menthol and camphor oils used as a cough suppressant. Vick 44 is a cough syrup that contains dextromethorphan. These medications have been deemed safe for use during pregnancy.

To get more information about which medications you should take while pregnant, make an appointment today Huey & Weprin Ob/Gyn in Englewood and Kettering, OH. We offer specialized, compassionate care combined with cutting-edge treatments in obstetrics and gynecology.

The universal disclaimer on medications during pregnancy is no medication has been studied completely. No study could take into account all the variables of human development that pertain to the specific medication. That being said, avoid taking unnecessary medications. This is most important during the first eight weeks of the pregnancy. Certainly, there are chronic prescribed medications such as anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives and thyroid medication, to name a few, which can be very important to the mother's well-being during pregnancy and will be continued. Sometimes, a medication will be changed to a safer alternative. Specific questions regarding medications can be handled at clinic appointments.

What about self-medication or OTCs for acute conditions?

The following are generally acceptable during pregnancy (select to read more):

Pain or headache

Tylenol (acetaminophen); Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) up to 20 weeks pregnant; Benadryl; Magnesium. Tylenol and Motrin may be used together. To alleviate a migraine headache, drink a caffeinated beverage with Tylenol and Motrin.

Cold, runny nose

Vaporizer at bedside
Vicks VapoRub
Nasal irrigation: 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 8 oz. warm water. Irrigate nasal passages 3-4 times daily
Cepastat lozenges or throat sprays
Afrin (oxymetazoline)—theoretic precautions in IUGR cases
Antihistamines
- Chlor-trimetron (chlorpheniramine)—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Novahistine—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Tylenol cold and sinus—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Advil cold and sinus—after 12 weeks and before 20 weeks pregnant
- Claritin (loratadine)—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Zyrtec—after 12 weeks pregnant
- Mucinex D—after 12 weeks pregnant

Cough

Robitussin (guaifenesin)—after 12 weeks pregnant
Delsym (dextromethorphan)—after 12 weeks pregnant
Any over the counter cough/throat lozenge

Sinus tenderness

Vaporizer/Vicks VapoRub
Antihistamines as above
Saline nasal spray/irrigation
Afrin (oxymetazoline)
Warm packs to eyes and sinuses

Heartburn/Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Tums
Maalox
Pepcid (famotidine)
Prescription: nexium (esomeprazole), protonix (pantoprazole), available in some cases and considered safe during pregnancy
Pepto Bismol: do not use during pregnancy
Prilosec

Nausea and vomiting*

Strategies
- Avoid odors and triggers
- Avoid spicy and fatty foods
- Omit iron supplement
- Eat bland, dry high protein foods
- Eat small frequent meals with fluids between
- Avoid an empty stomach
- Keep crackers at bedside; eat before rising

Alternative therapies
- Ginger: ginger ale or capsules (250mg 4 times per day taken orally)
- Vitamin B6
- P6 elastic wristband (acupuncture point)
Antihistamines available without a script
- Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) 50mg 4 times per day
- Antivert (meclizine) 25mg 3 times per day
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine) 25mg 3 times per day
Prescription medicines available if indicated

* adapted from Niebyl. "Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Clinical Perspective". Academy for Healthcare Education. Nov. 2002 pp.6-9.

Diarrhea

(You may follow these instructions if symptoms are acute and no alert signs such as fever, bloody diarrhea or weight loss have occurred.)

Clear liquids/bland diet until symptoms resolve
Imodium AD

Constipation

Miralax
Water consumption should be at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
High fiber diet
Fiber laxatives such as Metamucil, Citrucel, Fibercon
Milk of magnesia
Magnesium Citrate—120 to 240 mL orally
Mineral oil—may decrease absorption of fat soluble vitamins
Glycerine suppositories
Colace

Hemorrhoids

Increase fluids
Increase fiber through diet or supplementation as above for constipation
Avoid straining with defecation and avoid prolonged times on the toilet
Use sitz baths to soothe
Try topical therapies—will not cure, but may decrease symptoms, for example, Tucks, Preparation H, Hydrocortisone and epi-foam

What cold and sinus medications are safe during pregnancy?

Pregnancy-Safe Cold & Flu Medication.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Safe during the entire pregnancy. Take only as needed. ... .

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) Safe in the second and third trimester. ... .

Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) Safe during pregnancy. ... .

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Safe throughout pregnancy..

Can you take Tylenol sinus congestion and pain while pregnant?

Medication: How to Alleviate Sinus Congestion While Pregnant: Medications used to treat acute sinus infections include cefprozil (Cefzil) and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also regarded as safe to use during pregnancy for pain relief and/or headaches.

What sinus medicine is safe during pregnancy?

If a runny nose is more of a problem than a congested one, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, loratadine or cetirizine are all safe to take during pregnancy.

What kind of cold medicine is safe during pregnancy?

Expectorants like Mucinex, cough suppressants like Robitussin, vapor rubs like Vicks VapoRub, and cough drops are all considered safe during pregnancy.