How to treat cough while breastfeeding: safe and effective remedies

One of the main symptoms of colds and infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract is a cough.

There are many medications available to treat cough. Widely used in therapy and alternative medicine.

However, not all products can be used by breastfeeding women.

What medicines are allowed to be taken by women during the period?

Among these drugs, the following syrups can be distinguished:

1. Doctor Mom. The composition includes licorice root, ginger, basil and aloe.
2. Herbion. This medicine contains psyllium extract.
3. Alteyka. It is often prescribed as an expectorant based on the marshmallow herb.
4. Gedelix. The active ingredient of the drug is ivy extract.
5. Linkas. As part of the syrup - a collection of extracts of various medicinal plants that have a mucolytic effect.
6. Licorice syrup. Applies to any etiology.
7. Pertussin. Contains thyme, which, in addition to treating cough, has a detrimental effect on pathogens.
8. Prospan. Based on ivy extract.

You can also use when coughing means for rubbing the chest and neck - Vicks Active, Dr. Mom, Evkabal. However, it is necessary to observe the main rule during such a procedure - to prevent the medicine from getting on the chest area.

Mucolytic medicines containing ambroxol

The active ingredient ambroxol is found in many drugs that are used for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, which are accompanied by coughing:

Not all medicines are allowed for breastfeeding women

• Bronchitis
• Pharyngitis
• Tonsillitis
• Bronchial asthma

Ambroxol is available in syrup, tablets, solutions for inhalation and injection.

For nursing women, the most suitable remedy is in the form of a syrup or solution for inhalation.

The active substance quickly penetrates into the blood, and is excreted mainly during urination. However, some of the medicine may pass into milk, but the amount is so minimal that it does not harm the baby.

Popular analogues of the drug are:

• Ambrox
• Ambrohexal
• Lazolvan
• Mukolvan
• Ambrobene

The mechanism of action of the drug and the composition is almost identical. The advantage of the drug is also that the list of contraindications and side effects is small.

Acetylcysteine ​​and its analogues

There are many preparations containing the active substance acetylcysteine. They effectively thin the mucous secretion and contribute to its facilitated removal from the respiratory tract.

In addition to the mucolytic action, the products also have an antioxidant property, so they quickly neutralize oxidative toxins.

Analogues of Acetylcysteine ​​are the following drugs:

• Fluimucil
• Mukonex
• Acestine
• Vicks Active

They are available in various forms: powders for the preparation of a medicinal drink, solutions necessary for inhalation procedures, injection solutions.

Indications for the use of these drugs are diseases that accompany coughing:

• Laryngitis
• Tracheitis
• Pneumonia
• Laryngotracheitis
• cystic fibrosis
• Bronchial asthma
• lung abscess
• Bronchiectasis
• Emphysema

The instructions for some drugs that contain acetylcysteine ​​indicate that the drug must be taken with caution during lactation, so it is better to consult a doctor about the advisability of using these drugs.

Alternative Medicine

An excellent and safest treatment for such

a symptom, like a cough in nursing mothers, is considered inhalation. The procedure can be carried out over the container, inhaling the healing steam.

A more modern device for inhalation is a nebulizer, which can be bought at a pharmaceutical institution without any problems.

For inhalation with a dry cough, decoctions are prepared based on the following medicinal herbs:

• Coltsfoot
• Altey
• Chamomile
• St. John's wort

Cough with sputum will help eliminate inhalations from infusions of plants that promote expectoration. These are herbs such as yarrow, wild rosemary or lingonberry.

An excellent remedy for cough is the procedure with Borjomi. This mineral water improves the liquefaction of sputum and facilitates its discharge from the respiratory tract.

In the case of breastfeeding, women are advised to observe the drinking regimen. As a liquid, warm tea, plain water, fruit drink, compote are suitable.

It is possible to use tea from a medicinal plant or collections of herbs that have an expectorant effect. These include ivy, thyme, thermopsis, marshmallow, licorice root, plantain, coltsfoot.

It is important to remember that only a specialist can prescribe cough remedies for women. Folk methods should also be agreed with the doctor.

Medications are considered more effective and as safe as possible in the treatment of cough during lactation. Folk recipes are mainly used as auxiliary methods.

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06 Sep 2016 158