Cold Meds While Breasfeeding?

I would be extremely worried about something like sudafed - the psuedoephedrin can be passed through breast milk, and it is possible for a baby to OD on this type of drug passed through breast milk (rare, but possible). My understanding is that regular old Tylenol is the best really safe thing to take.

However, i think this is a question for your doctor - they are the ones that are aware of any recent studies that show how drugs are passed through breast milk and how they may affect the baby. In some cases it is known that the drug is passed through the breast milk, but understood that it causes no adverse affects in the baby (asthma inhalers fall into this category).

If you can handle it don't take anything. Everything you take goes into your milk and into the baby. If you are really suffering I would talk to your doctor and they will tell you what is safe to take.

Hi there! I breastfed my daughter till a year and I got a couple of colds. During colds I would take nyquil right after I breastfed her before bed, or dayquil during the morning right after we breastfed, that way the medicine would not be in my milk when she nursed. I did not notice a change in milk supply. But I also only took it when I felt VERY bad. So I think that maybe short time use might be okay, but if you take it several times a day for several days, then it might make your milk supply drop. I hope I made sense :) feel better!

You might want to find a good health food store and try homeopatics. I have used them for years, for a variety of things and have very good results. They are very safe, when I asked my baby doc about taking them during pregnancy..she told me "homeopathics are totally safe for use during pregnancy" I have been told they are safe for breastfeeding as well.
Good luck..feel better.

I have 2 children now ages 2 and 4. I think I probably took Sudafed while I was nursing each of them. You can still get it at pharmacies now (the pseudephedrine kind--little red pills) but you have to ask at the counter. I tried to minimize the amount I took, but I don't think it did any harm and I don't remember problems with my milk supply (then again, I had a LOT of milk). If you are congested and trying to get some rest you might also try the Breathe Right nasal strips--I found them very helpful! And for a cough, honey is as good as anything.

First of all, DON'T take the new Sudafed PE, or anything with phenylephrine. My doctor, who's very much a traditionalist about throwing medicine at illnesses, says the new product just doesn't work well enough to be worth taking... and in my experience I agree with him.

The original Sudafed - pseudoephedrine - does work, but you probably have to get your doctor to write you a prescription for it, since it's no longer over-the-counter. Never heard about it affecting milk supply, though.

My favorite remedies are the old-fashioned ones that don't involve pills. Vicks VapoRub or something similar rubbed on your chest. A few drops of Olba's Oil in a bowl of steaming water. Put your head over the bowl with a towel over your head to create a "steam tent". No "medicine", no risk to you or baby, and it works to clear your sinuses.

Good luck!

Nancysue,

I was told to take Robitussin while I was nursing. Ask your doctor though, or the on-call nurse. I vaguely remember all that info being given to me while I was still high on drugs from both pregnancies.

M.

I think you can take Tylenol cold/flu. Check with your pediatrician though to make sure. I nursed a few years ago and things change...or I may have forgotten! I've never heard that sudafed would deplete the milk supply, but I'm not sure it's good for a baby.

My pediatrician and Gyno both said that over the counter Tylenol products were okay. I only took them if I couldn't function otherwise so there was less exposure of chemicals and whatnot in my milk.

The best is no medicine at all, take time to get better by take hot soup, soak your feet with hot water to reduced of headache, use White flower oil (or any kind of medical oil have Menthol apply on your nose , chest ... ) helping running nose or cough, drink hot tea with lemon and honey. Tylenol is the last you can use with a minimum dose.

Check out this book: Medications & Mothers Milk

Hello Nancysue,

unfortunately ANYTHING that is meant to dry up your sinuses, will most likely have a negative effect on your milk supply - an addition to just being sick probably already lessening your supply a bit.
I had the worst cold a few months ago and all I could take was tylenol (regular) and hot baths with some vapor bath stuff in it for colds. The hot baths really helped with the symptoms (probably the same as sudafed would have). You could also get a humidifier going, that may help as well.

Make sure to drink plenty of liquids and nurse frequently, this may be just me, but my milk supply always takes a hit when I am sick.

Your MIL is right! Most cold meds can decrease your supply. The safest for nasal congestion is Afrin, and the safest for a cough is Mucinex guaifenesin. You can call the Providence Breastfeeding support line at ###-###-#### and they will look up any drug/medication for you to see if it is safe with BF!