QUESTIONS DURING PREGNANCY
One of the challenges facing expecting mothers is finding safe and effective cold
& flu relief. Remember that no drug is 100 percent safe for all women, so it’s important
to check with your doctor before taking any kind of medicine during pregnancy.
There are some OTC products are generally recognized as safe during pregnancy. If
you need pain relief, acetaminophen has shown reliable safety and is the medication
of choice. To relieve sneezing and runny noses, antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine
are also considered safe for use during pregnancy. Both dextromethorphan to relieve
cough and guaifenesin to treat chest congestion should only be used under the direction
of your doctor. The nasal decongestant phenylephrine can reduce blood flow to the
placenta, and should not be used within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Under the
care of your doctor, it may be permissible to use phenylephrine for short term use
not to exceed 2 days.
Most importantly, you should keep an open and clear line of communication with your
doctor. Communication breakdowns can happen because of the complexity of an ever
changing cold & flu market. With SymptomPak™, your doctor can easily identify
each medication by ingredient, and give you specific recommendations regarding each
one. By simplifying the doctor-patient communication process, SymptomPak™
increases safe use for all expecting mothers.