The process of pregnancy often brings the accompanying issues, such as headaches, nausea or fatigue. It isn’t easy to manage a stuffy nose or a snoring cough in addition to your pregnancy-related adverse effects.
But, if you’re planning to it, you won’t be able to use the same medications that you usually rely on to return to the same level of health. If you’re suffering from congestion and active cough, you might be wondering if Mucinex is safe to use.
It’s been determined that you should keep the Mucinex out of the medecine cabinet until the birth. At the very least we don’t have enough information about how this medication could affect the unborn baby.
What is Mucinex?
Mucinex (guaifenesin) is an over-the-counter cough medication available for purchase. It helps by thinning mucus and making it easier to eliminate the throat, nasal passages and the lungs. 1 “It helps to loosen and thin mucous in
the lungs, allowing to clear mucous, and aiding in clearing airways, making breathing much easier,” says Alan Lindemann, MD, an obstetrician and expert on maternal mortality.
If you experience coughing that is stricken but you are not able to get rid of it, make use of a different kind of medicine. “Mucinex is prescribed for coughs that are productive of mucus. It is not intended for dry coughs,” explains Megan Gray, MD, an OBGYN working with Orlando Health Physician Associates.
Certain forms of Mucinex contain dextromethorphan, which is an anti-cough medicine that reduces the brain’s reflex to cough.
Is it Safe to Take Mucinex While Pregnant?
There isn’t enough research conducted to determine if the drug is safe to use when pregnant. A few studies suggest that Mucinex could be risky to take in the initial trimester. 3 Since we aren’t aware of the way Mucinex could affect the development of a foetus in the last two trimesters, stopping the drug is the most secure option.
“It isn’t yet clear whether Mucinex is safe for use during the pregnancy stage,” says Dr. Lindemann. “Therefore I would not advise using it, particularly in the initial trimester. In any case, talk to your physician or midwife prior to taking any type of Mucinex.
Mucinex is a classified C pregnancy medication from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) this means it is recommended to avoid it because of insufficient research. 4 In the rare event your healthcare provider may determine that the benefits of Mucinex are greater than the risks of using it mucinex during pregnancy. They may permit you to use it in the second or third trimesters.
What if I take Mucinex Prior to recognizing I’m pregnant?
Don’t be concerned If you took Mucinex before you knew you were expecting. You didn’t realize you were expecting, so it’s not your blame. You should stop taking it and notify a doctor as advised by the doctor. Lindemann.
You can rest assured that if performed a pregnancy test near the time you missed your menstrual cycle, you’re unlikely Mucinex produced any effects in any way on the unborn baby. The umbilical cord, the one that carries the substances you consume to your infant does not begin to develop after five weeks of gestation and you’re about four weeks pregnant if you’re when you had your missed period.
Risques of Mucinex When you are pregnant
There aren’t enough studies regarding Mucinex in pregnancy, to know with certainty what the risk are. Due to the lack of information that is available there are dangers that nobody is aware about at present. 4
Certain studies suggested a connection between Mucinex during the 1st trimester of pregnancy and defects in birth however, the research isn’t sufficient to determine with certainty whether Mucinex causes birth defects.
When can I resume taking Mucinex?
It is perfectly safe to begin taking Mucinex following the time you give birth. After the umbilical cord has been cut, you’re no longer sharing the bloodline of your baby. If you’re breastfeeding it is possible to to hold off from taking Mucinex until the baby has been weaned, or at the very least, getting the bulk of their food via other means.
Similar to pregnant women, there’s only a small amount of research on the efficacy of Mucinex in nursing mothers. Consult with your healthcare professional regarding whether you are able to take this medicine or prefer safer alternatives. “In general the use of this medicine should be taken only when absolutely required and for the most minimal duration and the lowest dose needed to treat the symptoms” says the doctor. Gray.
