These drugs are allowed during breastfeeding | Breastfeeding with a cold

These drugs are allowed during breastfeeding

A cold is usually a harmless viral infection that can be cured within days without medication. Especially during the nursing period, only the most necessary medication should be taken. A special eye and nose ointment containing the active ingredient dexpanthenol can be applied locally to the nasal mucosa.

The ointment helps to regenerate and care for the stressed mucous membrane. If the nose and adjacent paranasal sinuses are blocked, a nasal spray with saline solution can be used. It acts as a rinse and at the same time moistens the mucous membranes of the nose.

No side effects are known. Should a fever develop, paracetamol can be taken as a fever-reducing agent. However, it should only be taken at body temperatures above 39 degrees Celsius.

Paracetamol is proven to pass into breast milk.So far, however, no negative effects on the baby have been observed, so that paracetamol is allowed during breastfeeding. Longer-term use of paracetamol should first be discussed with a doctor. A doctor should also be consulted whenever a fever develops, as alternative causes for the fever should be ruled out.

These drugs are prohibited

In the case of complaints of the nose and the paranasal sinuses, decongestant nasal sprays should rather not be used, as there is no reliable data available as yet on the extent to which the active ingredient can be transferred to the child via breast milk. Instead, a nasal spray with a simple saline solution should be considered a better solution. If possible, no medicines should be taken for sore throats, as the effects on the baby during the breastfeeding period have not been sufficiently investigated in many cases.

Pain and fever-reducing drugs such as Novalgin, Naproxen, Indometacin or Diclofenac should not be used during the breastfeeding period. Ibuprofen should also not be the drug of choice and only after consultation with a doctor. Paracetamol alone is considered a safe antipyretic and pain-relieving agent.

The cough-relieving active ingredient Ambroxol, which is contained in many medicines for productive coughs (e.g. Spasmo-Mucosolvan juice), must not be used during the breastfeeding period. The same applies to the active ingredient N-acetylcysteine, which is contained in ACC® or Fluimucil® to liquefy the mucus in the airways. Finally, all so-called secretolytics are also not approved for use during lactation. These include extracts from ivy, as contained in Prospan® or Bronchipret® cough syrup, as well as thyme herb and primrose root extracts, which are sold under the trade name Bronchicum®.