Can I Take Tylenol Cold And Flu Severe While Breastfeeding

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

How Can An Lll Usa Leader Help

Leaders are parent volunteers and not health care professionals. While Leaders are not permitted to tell you if a medication is safe, they are able to provide information about medications and possible alternatives to help you make an informed decision. Find your local LLL Leader through our Find Help! zip code search tool.

Leaders are also able to assist you in creating a pumping regimen to maintain your supply in the event that you do need to temporarily stop nursing or wean.

Can I Take Tylenol Pm While Breastfeeding

Tylenol PM is a combination of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine .

As we’ve seen above, acetaminophen is both a painkiller and an anti-fever drug.

Diphenhydramine’s role is to treat occasional insomnia associated with minor aches and pains. Diphenhydramine is not a sleeping pill as it only helps with insomnia when something like pain is keeping you awake.

While acetaminophen alone is generally recognized as safe for nursing mothers , the addition of diphenhydramine in Tylenol PM makes it more risky since it may cause effects in the baby and mothers’ lactation.

For instance it might make your baby drowsy, irritable and suffering from sleep disturbances.

As such, if you want to take Tylenol, it’s advisable to favor the version that only contains acetaminophen without diphenhydramine.

If you’re really set on taking Tylenol PM, taking a single bedtime dose after the last feeding of the day would limit the risks. Be especially careful if your baby is premature, born underweight or suffers from any medical condition.

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Making The Best Choice For Your Family

In many cases, it is safe to take NyQuil products while nursing, though some doctors do not recommend these products when nursing children younger than 2 months of age. If you have questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Generally, doctors recommend that nursing women choose alcohol-free products whenever possible. Nursing moms can safely use many alcohol-free versions of popular cold, cough, and flu medications such as NyQuil to get their sleep and still feed their baby safely. Just make sure you research the active and inactive ingredients in whatever over-the-counter medications you consider. But dont be afraid to get nighttime cold medication if you are nursing theres no use in everyone being up all night!

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What Are Dayquil And Nyquil

Dayquil is made up of acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant and phenylephrine, a decongestant.

Nyquil also contains acetaminophen and dextromethorphan, but instead of phenylephrine, it contains doxylamine, an antihistamine and sleep aid.

“Dayquil and Nyquil are both products that help alleviate cold and flu symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing, sore throat, fever, headache, and muscle aches,” explains Sara Huberman Carbone, MD, a pediatrician at One Medical in California. “The Daytime version, Dayquil, does not contain ingredients that are known to help with sleep, where Nyquil does.”

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Can Sinusitis Cause Miscarriage

Pregnant women who have a Sinus infection may suffer from pain in their babies. Infections of the sinus tract can cause miscarriage. Pregnant women who have a sinus infection are unlikely to harm their unborn babies. The symptoms of a sinus infection, however, can be complications during pregnancy in rare cases.

Can You Take Cold Medicine While Breastfeeding

For the most part, its okay for nursing moms to take many common cold medications. Many of the individual ingredients you might reach for to alleviate your symptomslike decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relieversare generally considered safe, and the ones that arent often have safer alternatives that provide the same kind of symptom relief.

There are a couple of caveats, though:Many of these medications do pass into breast milk in small doses, and some of them have the potential to decrease milk supply, as well. Neither of these caveats mean you cant take these medications while breastfeedingbut it does mean you need to be aware of the possible side effects and pay special attention to dosing instructions. If you are a breastfeeding parent, it is best to check with your primary care provider, OB-GYN, or lactation specialist before taking medications. Also, there is a free database, Lactmed, you can also use to look up medications. Read all labels for active ingredients, including vitamins, supplements, naturopathic, and homeopathic substances.

According to Dr. Mello, one of the best ways to choose breastfeeding-friendly cold medications and reduce side effects is to stick with single-symptom formulations instead of multi-symptom ones for example, takingSudafed and Robitussin separately if you have a cough and congestion, rather than Dayquil or Tylenol Cold.

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Potential Risks Of Taking Tylenol While Pregnant

Headlines linking Tylenol with potential harmful effects in pregnancy can be scary to read, but its important to understand the way the studies were conducted, and to understand that researchers make it clear that correlation does not equal causation. In other words, even if study results show that the regular use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is linked to disorders such as autism, researchers cannot definitively say that Tylenol is the cause of autism.

The definitive causes of autism and other mood and behavioral disorders have remained elusive, and at best are multifactorial, explains Gaither. Genetics, environmental factors, maternal medications during gestation, intrauterine infections and all have been causally linked to autism. In general, whether youre considering taking Tylenol PM during pregnancy because you cant sleep, or you need to feel human after a cold has taken you down, its smart to read labels and ask your doctor.

In a study review, the FDA found that the strongest link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and diagnoses such as ADHD occurred in women who took acetaminophen for over 20 weeks of their pregnancy. Anything thats causing protracted pain that leads to a consistent need for pain medication, such as Tylenol, needs to be medically evaluated right away, says Gaither.

Can I Take Cough Syrup While Pregnant

For a hacking cough, MacQuarrie says that syrups containing dextromethorphan can be taken as directed on the package if needed. Our general advice is the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time, she says. But she suggests first trying a lot of honey and water to suppress the cough reflex, which has been shown to be surprisingly effective.

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Which Cold & Flu Medication Is Safe To Take During Pregnancy

You are pregnant and start feeling sick. Before you reach for that bottle of cold or flu medicine, are you certain it is safe for your baby?

When you are pregnant, your baby will be exposed to everything you are exposed to. This means that when you are sick with a cold or flu your baby will not only be exposed to the cold or flu virus, but also any medication you may take.

Typically, with most viruses, you must wait for your immune system to fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe your symptoms while you wait.

However, not all over-the-counter medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Certain medications may hurt the baby or cause problems for you, such as increasing your blood pressure.

Use this quick list of pregnancy-safe natural cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter medications as a starting point. Remember, read the directions on the package for any medication you might take. Its also a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife before taking a cold or flu medication.

Is It Safe To Take Echinacea While Breastfeeding

There is no data on the safety of echinacea on nursing mothers or infants, but it is considered to be compatible with breastfeeding. Just make sure that the preparation doesnt contain other herbs and supplements that arent recommended. And, it has never been proven to be effective, points out Lamond. But its safe.

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Cold And Allergy Medicine Safe For Breastfeeding

The following medicines are considered safe for nursing parents, but it’s always a good idea to check with a healthcare provider or pediatrician before taking any new medications. Some medications can reduce your milk supply.

Pain relievers and fever reducers that are safe to take while breastfeeding include:

• Advil, Motrin

Allergy medicines and decongestants generally reduce symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. Safe options to take while breastfeeding include:

• Claritin : Claritin is safe to use based on supporting data but may have a negative effect on your milk supply when combined with a decongestant such as Sudafed .
• Zyrtec : Zyrtec is safe in occasional, small doses, but in large doses, it can reduce milk supply.
• Allegra Allergy : Allegra is safe in occasional, small doses, but it may have a negative effect on milk supply when combined with a decongestant such as Sudafed.
• Mucinex : Mucinex is most likely safe in occasional small doses, but more studies are needed.
• Afrin : This decongestant is sprayed into the nose and is not likely to enter the milk supply. Anyone taking this medicine should only use it for three days at most, because your body can become dependent on it. Oxymetazoline should be avoided if the infant has cardiac symptoms or high blood pressure.

Cough & Sore Throat Meds

• Sore throat sprays or lozenges are generally considered safe, as are cough drops. Avoid eating excessive amounts of cough drops containing menthol. Large amounts of menthol can reduce milk supply.
• Many forms of Robitussin, Delsym and Benylin are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Always check the active ingredients, as there are many versions.

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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.

Is It A Cold Or The Flu

The best way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is to take account of the typical symptoms.

• A cold is milder than the flu. Its symptoms come on gradually and typically you only run a low-grade to no fever. It generally starts off with a sore throat that goes away after a day or two, a cold ends with the main symptoms of a runny nose and cough.
• Influenza, commonly called the flu, is more severe and the onset is more sudden than a cold. Symptoms include a high fever , headache, chills, a sore throat that typically worsens by the second or third day, intense muscle soreness, and a general feeling of weakness and fatigue. These symptoms, along with sneezing and a cough, can last a couple of weeks or longer.

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When To See A Doctor

Most colds are mild and last between three and seven days. If your symptoms dont improve within this time span or worsen, make an appointment with your doctor. Sometimes, the common cold mimics other conditions or develops into a secondary infection. More serious symptoms to watch out for include wheezing, an earache, a severe cough, and facial pain. These symptoms may indicate one or more of the following conditions:

• ear infection

Classification Of Tylenol Cold

Each ingredient in Tylenol Cold has its own category. Acetaminophen is Category B. Many women take it during pregnancy with no adverse affects. Dextromethorphan HBr is Category C, along with the other two ingredients in Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe, phenylephrine HCl and guaifenesin. When considering the safety of a drug with multiple active ingredients, the category of each one must be considered. Since three out of four active ingredients in the Severe medication and two out of three in the Daytime formula are Category C, the medication is not safe for pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the risk.

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Safe Cold Medicine While Breastfeeding

In general, pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, NSAID pain relievers, acetaminophen, and second-generation allergy medications such as Zyrtec and Claritin are considered safe options for treating cold symptoms while breastfeeding. Per Dr. Mello, these drugs typically dont pass through breast milk in high enough quantities to cause side effects in your baby.

She does advise breastfeeding moms to avoidfirst-generation allergy medications like Benadryl, however, as they can cause sedation in your baby.

Its also important to pay attention to more than just the active ingredients. Other ingredients often included in common cold medications, especially cough syrups may be harmful. Many preparations contain a combination of dextromethorphan and ethanol , and those preparations should be avoided in breastfeeding, says Hannah R. Fudin, Pharm.D., a clinical pharmacist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Make sure tocheck the label of cough medications for alcohol before taking anything while breastfeeding while many dont include alcohol, there are still plenty of OTC medications, including cough syrups, that use it to increase the sedating effects of the medication.

Can I Take Tylenol To Ease Vaginal Pain After Delivery

Yes. Tylenol is often suggested to mothers who suffered during the act of birth giving. The pain is often quite strong during the first 3 days postpartum and goes away progressively as the wounds heal.

Tylenol is comparatively safe. However, if you breastfeed and your baby is premature, underweight or suffers from a medical condition, please do talk to your doctors before taking the medicine.

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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.

What About Herbal Medicines Or Dietary Supplements

Because of the lack of safety data, many experts including those at InfantRisk generally recommend that nursing parents avoid taking dietary supplements and herbal medicines.

In the US, the FDA only regulates the labeling of dietary supplements, not their content or quality.

Most herbals are labeled as dietary supplements, and so have to include the disclaimer that they have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent and/or cure any disease.

The supplement manufacturer does not have to get FDA approval for its products or claims, and it does not have to prove that the product is either effective or safe.

The ingredients in herbal products often do not match whats on the label. In a DNA study of 44 herbal products from 12 different companies, the researchers found that:

• 59% of the samples contained plant species not listed on the label
• 33% of the samples contained contaminants or fillers not listed on the label
• 32% of the samples contained a different plant in place of the products main labeled ingredient, which was NOT detected within the sample
• 9% of the samples contained only wheat or rice, and not the plant species on the label

If you are looking for information about a specific dietary supplement, some are listed in the medication resources listed above. Others can be found in this database.

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