Pregnant Women - Beware Of Hazards Of Cold Medications

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Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 19 Dec 2011 - 10:00 PST

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For pregnant women a new warning outlining the possible dangers or common cold medicines during pregnancy has been issued by experts in pregnancy and breastfeeding health at the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information. CTIS is a California non-profit located at the University of California, San Diego. The center informs the public about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego and CTIS program director, explained:

"Every year around this time, we get a significant number of calls from pregnant and breastfeeding women in California who are battling colds and are worried about which meds they can and can't take."

Sonia Alvarado, CTIS supervising counselor who takes calls through the service's toll-free hotline and online chat service, said:

"The callers I've personally spoken to have valid concerns because there are certain ingredients in over-the-counter medications they need to watch out for that could be harmful to their developing babies."

Because of the potential harm this can cause, Dr. Chambers and Alvarado have created a list of tips for mothers and pregnant women suffering with colds this winter.

Top Five Cold Remedy Tips During Pregnancy:

• Less is more. Expectant mothers should only take medications needed for their specific symptoms. Several cold remedies contain 3-6 ingredients, some of these are not needed for the mother or unborn child. For example, if your symptom is a cough, do not take a combination medication that includes a nasal decongestant.
• Alternatives to Oral Decongestion. Although most investigations examining oral decongestants during pregnancy indicate that they are suitable for use during the first trimester, mothers should stay away from them in the first trimester because of potentially very low risk of vascular issues in the fetus. Saline drops or a short-term nasal spray decongestant should be considered as an alternative.
• Herbal Ingredient. Pregnant women should watch out for herbal ingredients in several over-the-counter medications as they have probably not been researched in pregnancy.
• Vitamin and Throat Lozenges Overload. Throat lozenges primarily contain sugar, although some may contain ingredients, such as vitamin C or zinc. During pregnancy the daily allowance of vitamin C is 80-100 mg per day and only 11 mg of zinc per day.
• Alcohol and Cough Syrups. Get an alcohol-free cough syrup as some can contain up to 10% alcohol, exposing the unborn child to alcohol on top of the other medications.

Women and health care providers in California who have questions regarding specific cold medications and other exposures during pregnancy or breasting can be directed to CTIS Pregnancy Health Information Line counselors at 800-532-3749 or via instant message counseling at CTISPregnancy.org. Outside of California, please call CTIS national affiliate, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), at 866-626-6847.

Written by Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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