Can I Take Cough Syrups While Breastfeeding
Cough syrups arent recommended while breastfeeding, says Lamond. Heres why: There are three active ingredients found in cough syrups. Pseudophedrine is oneits effective, but will lower your milk supply so its not advised. The second ingredient, dextromethorphan, doesnt dry up your milk, but its also not that effective. And the third, codeine, isnt effective and can be dangerous to baby. It passes through your breastmilk and in rare cases, it can harm your baby.
Are There Any Side Effects
As with all medicines, you may notice some side effects when taking Alka-Seltzer tablets. These are usually mild and they wont affect everyone. Possible side effects include:
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Mild stomach pain and heartburn these are the most common side effects but can usually be avoided if aspirin is taken with food
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Blocked or runny nose
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Skin reddening, blistering of lips, eyes or mouth, skin peeling
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Dizziness or ringing in the ears
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Kidney problems
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Increased bleeding/blood thinning , including bruises, nose bleeds and/or bleeding gums
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Stomach ulcer or stomach bleeding which may result in black or tarry stools, nausea, diarrhoea and/or vomiting
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Internal bleeding which may result in anaemia, causing weakness, increased tiredness and pale skin.
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An asthma attack if you are asthmatic and sensitive to aspirin, or breathing difficulties
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Changes in normal liver activity in blood tests
If you experience any side effects, speak to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist. You can also report any side effects using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
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The Purpose For My Project Is To See The Chemical Reaction And Time Of The Dissolving Of Alka Seltzer In Hot And Cold Watermy Question Is Does Alka Seltzer Dissolve Faster In Hot And Cold Watermy Procedures Are Boil
To my neighbour who doesnt get out much. To test lavoisiers law, a chemist freezes a small amount. We just have to watch what we eat, wash our hands to prevent infections the products below cover a broad range of tummy troubles and may help ease your symptoms. This demonstration, using bromphenol blue.
Alkaseltzer no longer keys its advertising only to stomach acid and indigestion.
Get fast relief of heartburn, upset stomach, acid indigestion with headache and body aches from as i reached for the alka seltzer praying it would help, the tablets seemed like they took forever to dissolve.
Do not use in the presence of asthma, a stomach ulcer or if you are.
Detailed instructions for application and abstract to the drug, the composition of active ingredients, side effects, indications frequent colds viral diseases, infections of the upper respiratory tract, acute respiratory disease influenza character, for colds pain, acute colds.
Doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
I have an upset stomach and a headache is it okay to take alka seltzer while breastfeeding my one and half month old baby? 90,000 u.s.
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As an absorbable antacid, sodium bicarbonate quickly neutralizes stomach acid.
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Can I Take Zinc While Breastfeeding
When it comes to taking zinc, theres no risk to your baby. The maximum recommended daily limit for zinc is 40 milligrams for breastfeeding women. Like vitamin C, zinc doesnt have strong evidence to support its use, but side effects, which may include stomach aches and a metallic taste in the mouth, are generally low.
These Surprising Safer Alternatives May Be A Better Choice

Mothers-to-be get headaches and upset stomachs just like everyone else. So its not surprising that most pregnant women have used over-the-counter medications. In fact, some data suggest that, overall, women are actually more likely to use certain medicationsincluding cough and cold drugs and acetaminophen after they become pregnant.
Theres a misperception that if a drug is available over-the-counter, that its approved by the Food and Drug Administration, so it must be safe for everyone, including pregnant women, Allen Mitchell, M.D. professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health and Medicine, said. Even doctors may think this is the case. But some OTC drugs have been shown to pose risks to the developing fetus at different stages of pregnancy.
To help you and your doctor make more informed choices about which medications to take, weve identified 10 common ingredients used in OTC drugs that are risky for pregnant women, as well as safer alternatives.
Even then, you should use alternatives judiciously, and only as advised by your health care provider. Experts refer to safer medications because for 98 percent of prescription and OTC drugs, there simply isnt enough data to say for sure that a drug is entirely safe to take during pregnancy. Due to ethical concerns, most FDA-approved medicines have not been tested in pregnant women.
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Which Cold Medicines Are Safe For Breastfeeding
If youre breastfeeding and come down with a cold, dont start popping pills just yet. Most cold medicines are considered safe to take while breastfeeding, but since they do enter your milk in small quantities, follow these smart steps to make sure the remedies you take are also safe for baby.
Check the active ingredients in over-the-counter cold remedies to help determine the safety level for baby, and avoid meds with a high alcohol content . If your doctor is prescribing a medication, always remember to mention that youre breastfeeding.
Its better to take any medicine just after youve nursed, to help limit babys exposure. Also, go for short-acting versions rather than time-release or once-a-day meds, since the long-lasting kinds are tougher for baby to metabolize.
In general, throat sprays, lozenges and cough drops are considered safe. Just steer clear of chomping on lots of drops that contain mentholit can reduce your milk supply.
As for popular cold medications, heres a breakdown of whats considered safe and what has yet to be tested:
Pseudoephedrine has been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics . However, it can potentially decrease your milk supply or cause baby to become irritable.
Acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, has been approved by the AAP, and most experts say its safe.
Guaifenesin has not been tested on breastfeeding moms, but its sometimes given to infants directly.
Dextromethorphan has been studied in breastfeeding women and is considered safe.
Let’s Get To It: Is It Safe To Take Cold Medicine When You’re Breastfeeding
Whether you’re reaching for Tylenol, Alka-Seltzer, cough drops, or any other common cold and flu medication, you probably don’t need to worry in most cases. Over-the-counter cold medicines are generally safe for breastfeeding moms, says Anna Graseck, MD, MSCI, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania.
So when you need relief from symptoms like a hacking cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose, you absolutely can take cold medicines. Meaning: They won’t do anything to hurt the health of you or your baby.
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Can I Take Antihistamines And Decongestants While Breastfeeding
Antihistamines are safe for breastfeeding women, says Shawna Lamond, director and staff physician at The Alex Breastfeeding Clinic and Riley Park Lactation in Clinic in Calgary. She explains that theyre often prescribed for rashes and other issues postpartum. But any medicine that will dry up will dry up the rest of you, she says. Antihistamines decrease milk production. If youre worried about supply, you can reach for nasal decongestants, like Otrivin, for up to three daysif you take them for longer than that, you might get rebound congestion. Or you can try a nasal steroid, like Nasacort, which is Lamonds go-to. I often combine that with a neti pot. Most women can get through their colds by controlling the symptoms with those two things, she says
Prescription Antibiotics & Steroids
Antibiotics prescription only: In general, it is safe to breastfeed while on a short course . These medications typically transfer into milk in acceptable amounts. Some infants can be sensitive to even small amounts in their GI tract, causing diarrhea. If age appropriate, probiotics or yogurt with live cultures can be used to minimize GI upset . Common names: penicillins, cephalosporins, azithromycin
Steroids prescription only: Short term courses of oral or injectable steroids are unlikely to affect breastfed infants. Doses used for respiratory infections do not require any interruption to breastfeeding. Common names: methylprednisolone , prednison, prednisolone, budesonide , triamcinolone
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Giving Haloperidol To A Child Under 12
- Severe Precaution: Use weight based dosing in children less than 12 years.
- Severe Precaution: Not recommended in children under 6 years unless clinician consultation.
- Severe Precaution: Possible paradoxical CNS excitation. Seizure risk in newborns.
- Severe Precaution: High risk of adverse CNS effects. Not recommended for use age < 6 years.
How To Take Alka Seltzer
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 13,005 times.
If youre suffering from cold symptoms, fever and body aches, or heartburn, youre probably in need of some fast relief. Alka-Seltzer can be really helpful in combatting the symptoms that are keeping you from feeling your best. Before taking any over the counter medication, talk to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to take. Then, go to any drugstore or box store and purchase the type of Alka-Seltzer that is designed to treat your symptoms. Read the directions, take as directed, and hopefully, youll be feeling better fast.
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Can I Take Vitamin C While Breastfeeding
Vitamin C is safe when taken within the recommended daily limit of 2,000 milligrams while breastfeeding. Your body can only absorb so much vitamin C, explains Alix Bacon, president of the Midwives Association of British Columbia. Beyond that, youre peeing it out, but it could give you a wicked stomachache. Research on whether it can help shorten the duration of a cold shows mixed results, so its not clear whether it works or not.
Cough & Chest Congestion

Benzocaine : Numbing Agent. Temporarily relieves pain associated with itching, sore throat. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies or case reports in breastfeeding women. Due to its low oral absorption after application, maternal blood concentrations are probably too low to produce any significant clinical effects in the breastfed infant. Benzocaine cough drops or lozenges are an excellent choice for cough relief in breastfeeding mothers. Common trade names: Cepacol.
Menthol : Numbing Agent. Commonly used for topical analgesics and sore throat relief. Only minimal amounts of Menthol would be transferred into breast milk. Adverse effects to infants from breastfeeding are unlikely due to low relative dose and first-pass metabolism. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in breastfeeding women. Menthol cough drops, lozenges, and/or chest rub are an excellent choice for cough relief in breastfeeding mothers. Common trade names: Halls, Ricola, Ludens, Vicks
Guaifenesin : This is an expectorant used to loosen respiratory tract secretions. It does not suppress coughing. The poor efficacy of expectorants in general would suggest that they do not provide enough justification for use in breastfeeding mothers. However, untoward effects to the infants have not been described. Common trade names: Robitussin, Mucinex
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Allergies & Sinus Congestion
Diphenhydramine : Antihistamine. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that is often used in cough, cold, sinus, and allergy formulations. It is also the main component in many sleep aids, including nighttime versions of cold medications, as well as motion sickness pills. Although the levels are low in breastmilk, this medication can cause sedation and therefore is not ideal in breastfeeding mothers. If you are taking a sedating medication, be sure to have support in caring for your infant. There are many non-sedating antihistamines on the market, which are likely a better choice. These include cetirizine , loratadine , and fexofenadine . There is some anecdotal evidence that diphenhydramine can suppress milk production, but this pattern is not supported by the medical literature. Common trade names: Benadryl, Tylenol PM.
Chlorpheniramine and Brompheniramine : Antihistamine. These medicines are similar to diphenhydramine, but they have fewer studies about breast milk safety. They are heavily sedating and not recommended. If you are taking a sedating medication, be sure to have support in caring for your infant. The non-sedating antihistamines mentioned above are still better choices. Common trade names: Aller-Chlor, C.P.M., Chlor-Phen, Chlor-Trimeton Allergy, Teldrin HBP.
I Am Nursing Mother And I Have Already Used Alka
During whole lactation period you shall first discuss with your doctor and then together you shall decide whether you shall take that drug or not however if you have already taken Alka-seltzer Plus Severe Cold And Flu then you shall inform your doctor, But you should not be worried too much as Alka-seltzer Plus Severe Cold And Flu comes in category of low risk drug.
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Is It Safe To Take Acetaminophen While Breastfeeding
Acetaminophen, the medicine found in Tylenol, has been well studied in breastfeeding moms. Very small amounts of the drug pass into the breastmilk, but its not enough that it affects the baby, and it doesnt affect your milk supply. As a result, its considered safe during breastfeedingand its often a go-to for controlling pain while recovering from childbirth injuries or C-sections.
Be careful about taking Tylenol while youre also taking cold and flu products like Nyquil, DayQuil, Excedrin or Robitussin, though. These medications also contain acetaminophen, so it can be easy to accidentally exceed the recommended maximum dose, which can cause serious problems like liver failure. Because these medications contain a mix of ingredients, it can be a challenge to figure out if theyre safe to use while breastfeeding. For recommendations on any particular drug, check with your healthcare provider or a pharmacist.
Can I Take Alka Seltzer While Pregnant
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Is Ginseng Safe To Take While Breastfeeding
Ginseng is a blood thinner, so its not recommended for people who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Morais notes that, while some types of ginseng are more dangerous than others, there is limited evidence on the amount of ginseng that is passed on to breastmilk, so its best to generally avoid ginseng during breastfeeding.
Can A Baby Catch A Cold From Breastfeeding
If you have a cold or flu, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, or mastitis, keep breastfeeding as normal. Your baby wont catch the illness through your breast milk in fact, it will contain antibodies to reduce her risk of getting the same bug. Not only is it safe, breastfeeding while sick is a good idea.
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Alka Seltzer Cold And Flu Safe For Breastfeeding
where breastfeeding information is available, she should continue breastfeeding.The Facts About Medication For Colds and the Flu, cough drops, The severe cough relief reduces pain and fever caused by the common cold as well as relieving symptoms such as nasal congestion, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the Keep Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus and all medications out of the reach of children, dosage, Raw is always best, from missing work or school, MSCI, What To Avoid While Using Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, or any other common cold and flu medication, you probably dont need to worry in most cases, This medication may pass into
Missing:
Every Medication Should Be Considered On A Case

Even if its generally safe to take a particular cold medicine while breastfeeding, there’s still a chance of side effects. Drugs containing phenylephrine and pseudoephedrinecommon decongestants found in meds like Sudafed Congestion PE and Mucinex Dcan decrease breast milk production, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine . In a small study, eight nursing mothers who took four 60-mg doses of pseudoephedrine daily saw a 24-percent decline in the amount of milk they produced. So, if you’re a new mom whose lactation “is not yet well established” or have difficulties producing enough milk for your little one, your best bet is to steer clear of these ingredients, per the NLM.
Some antihistamines containing diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine could make both you and your baby sleepy and sluggish, says Dr. Ross. She recommends finding non-drowsy alternatives to these medications, as well as avoiding medicines with a high alcohol content, which can have similar effects. If you choose to take a cold medication with these active ingredients, consider using a small dose of 2 to 4 mg after your last feeding of the day and before bed to minimize any side effects, according to the NLM. TL DR: be sure to examine the ingredient label before dropping anything into your cart.
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Pregnancy Of Phenylephrine In Details
Phenylephrine crosses the placenta at term.
Maternal use of Phenylephrine during the first trimester of pregnancy is not strongly associated with an increased risk of fetal malformations maternal dose and duration of therapy were not reported in available publications. Phenylephrine is available over-the-counter for the symptomatic relief of nasal congestion. Decongestants are not the preferred agents for the treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy.
Oral Phenylephrine should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy short-term use of intranasal Phenylephrine may be beneficial to some patients although its safety during pregnancy has not been studied. Phenylephrine injection is used at delivery for the prevention and/or treatment of maternal hypotension associated with spinal anesthesia in women undergoing cesarean section. Phenylephrine may be associated with a more favorable fetal acid base status than ephedrine however, overall fetal outcomes appear to be similar. Nausea or vomiting may be less with Phenylephrine than ephedrine but is also dependent upon blood pressure control. Phenylephrine may be preferred in the absence of maternal bradycardia.