Tylenol cold and head congestion severe while pregnant

The common cold causes more than just a little misery. Every winter, it attacks and makes many of us sick with headaches, fever, congestion, runny noses, sinus pressure and more.

Plenty of medications exist to ease the discomfort, but for pregnant women there are doubts about taking anything that might hurt the baby. Tylenol Cold comes in several forms that alleviate symptoms from mild to severe, but it is important to examine the individual ingredients to make an educated decision before taking the medication during pregnancy.

Active Ingredients in Tylenol

Tylenol Cold comes in several varieties. The most popular are Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom and Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Daytime.

The Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe has four active ingredients: acetaminophen, dextromethorphan HBr, guaifenesin and phenylephrine HCl. These ingredients reduce fever, suppress cough, work as an expectorant and lessen congestion. Tylenol Cold for Daytime has all the same ingredients except guaifenesin, which is an expectorant.

Medication Classifications

Tylenol cold and head congestion severe while pregnant

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All medications are given a pregnancy safety rating by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Category A drugs have been tested and proven to be completely safe for use during pregnancy. Category B drugs have been tested on animals and shown to be safe during pregnancy but have not been tested on pregnant women. They are presumed safe, but no tests have been done to prove it.

Category C drugs have been shown to be harmful to the fetus in animal tests and should only be taken if the health risk is greater than the possible damage. Category D drugs are known to cause problems for the fetus and should only be taken if it is a life-saving measure.

Classification of Tylenol Cold

Each ingredient in Tylenol Cold has its own category. Acetaminophen is Category B. Many women take it during pregnancy with no adverse affects. Dextromethorphan HBr is Category C, along with the other two ingredients in Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe, phenylephrine HCl and guaifenesin. When considering the safety of a drug with multiple active ingredients, the category of each one must be considered. Since three out of four active ingredients in the Severe medication and two out of three in the Daytime formula are Category C, the medication is not safe for pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the risk.

Medical Alternatives to Medicine

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Choose alternatives to help with cold symptoms during pregnancy that are Category B rather than using Tylenol Cold.

Tylenol itself is safe to take for fever. For a cough, take Robitussin (with the active ingredient dextromethorphan, which is not the same as dextromethorphan HBr).

Pseudoephedrine, sold by the brand name Sudafed, is safe after the first trimester for stuffiness and congestion. Take single-ingredient medications to treat only the most severe symptoms of your cold during pregnancy, and always check with your doctor prior to taking any medication.

Natural Alternatives

Because there is no actual cure for a cold, cold medications simply relieve the pain and discomfort temporarily.

If you do not want to take any medication during pregnancy, you can use natural alternatives to make yourself feel better until the cold passes.

Drink fresh fruit juices high in vitamin C. Turn on a vaporizer or humidifier to loosen congestion--or just turn on the hot shower, shut the bathroom door and sit and breathe in the steamy room for awhile. Cut out dairy because it makes congestion worse. Most importantly, rest as much as possible. Rest will enable your body to focus on healing.

By Maria Montoya, MD

You are pregnant and start feeling sick. Before you reach for that bottle of cold or flu medicine, are you certain it is safe for your baby?

When you are pregnant, your baby will be exposed to everything you are exposed to. This means that when you are sick with a cold or flu your baby will not only be exposed to the cold or flu virus, but also any medication you may take.

Typically, with most viruses, you must wait for your immune system to fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe your symptoms while you wait.

However, not all over-the-counter medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Certain medications may hurt the baby or cause problems for you, such as increasing your blood pressure.

Use this quick list of pregnancy-safe natural cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter medications as a starting point. Remember, read the directions on the package for any medication you might take. It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife before taking a cold or flu medication.

Natural, Pregnancy-Safe Remedies

Before you try any medications, there are natural remedies you may find adequate relief from first. Here are a couple of safe, natural remedies to try:

  • Gargle warm salt water
  • Get as much restful sleep as possible
  • Sip honey in hot water
  • Stay well hydrated
  • Use nasal saline sprays
  • Try a humidifier

While not all herbs and supplements are safe in pregnancy. You may be able to safely take:

  • Vitamin C
  • Zinc
  • Manuka Honey
  • Elderberry

Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking any supplements or trying at-home remedies or essential oils during pregnancy.

If natural remedies don’t provide enough relief, consider these pregnancy-safe medications.

Pregnancy-Safe Cold & Flu Medication

It is best to avoid taking medications when possible. If you do need to take something, follow the package directions carefully. Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking medication during pregnancy.

These over-the-counter medications are considered safe for most pregnant patients:

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
    • Safe during the entire pregnancy.
    • Take only as needed.
    • Try to limit regular exposure.
    • Not safe if you are allergic to it or have liver problems.
  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
    • Safe in the second and third trimester
    • Not safe in the first trimester due to a small risk of abdominal wall birth defects
    • Not safe if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or a history of heart disease
  • Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
    • Safe during pregnancy.
    • Not safe while breastfeeding.
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
    • Safe throughout pregnancy.

Watch out for extra ingredients. Many cold and flu medications treat more symptoms than you may be experiencing. For example, Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom treats headaches, fever, body aches, cough, chest congestion, stuffy nose, and more. If you just have a stuffy nose, this is more medication than you need.

A word about antibiotics. Some sinus infections are treated with antibiotics. In general, pregnant patients should not take antibiotics unless it is necessary. Make sure your health care provider knows you are pregnant if they prescribe antibiotics.

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Medications to Avoid in Pregnancy

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications can hurt your developing baby. Do not take NSAIDs such as these when you are pregnant:

  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • Naproxen (Aleve, Midol)
  • Celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • Aspirin (Bayer), unless your doctor or midwife prescribes daily low-dose aspirin.

Do not take these medications during pregnancy. These drugs can hurt the developing baby:

  • Benzocaine (throat lozenges/throat sprays)
  • Codeine (a pain and cough medication)
  • Phenylephrine (i.e., Sudafed PE): it not considered safe while pregnant because studies with animals showed adverse effects to the fetus.

When you don’t feel well, the last thing you might want to do is read a medication label. However, it is worth taking a few extra moments to read the label and avoid additional risks. If you’re not sure what medicine is safe to take, call us. We are always here to help you.

To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from Ob/Gyn care

Is Tylenol Cold OK to take while pregnant?

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Acetaminophen is a first-choice medication for pain relief in pregnant people. Some researchers suggest that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy might not be as safe as previously thought. But ACOG still recommends it as one of the only safe pain relievers expectant mothers can take.

What can I take for head congestion while pregnant?

Nasal decongestant sprays, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine), are the preferred decongestants for pregnant and breastfeeding women for temporary relief from sinus congestion.

Can you take Tylenol sinus congestion and pain while pregnant?

Medication: How to Alleviate Sinus Congestion While Pregnant: Medications used to treat acute sinus infections include cefprozil (Cefzil) and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also regarded as safe to use during pregnancy for pain relief and/or headaches.

Can you take Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Severe?

Yes, I recommend this product. These were great when having one of those days where your nose is either to stuffed or won't stop running, Tylenol cold and head works great and will help you get through the day or even sleep at night definitely recommend!! When I am sick these guys are always there to help me.