Can I Take Cold Medicine While Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding when you have a cold is generally safe and may help boost the baby’s immune system. However, some allergy, cold, and flu medicines may not be safe to take while nursing.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and non-drowsy antihistamines are generally okay, but other medications such as NyQuil, Benadryl, and DayQuil should be used with caution while breastfeeding. It’s generally recommended that you avoid drugs that contain pseudoephedrine, as they may reduce milk supply.

Can I Breastfeed While Sick?

Yes, you can breastfeed your baby even if you’re sick. Nursing while sick is still beneficial for both you and your baby. It’s also an opportunity to remind yourself to stay well-hydrated, as this helps with milk production and can alleviate symptoms.

If you decide to take cold medicine while breastfeeding, it’s important to consider the following:

• Age of the infant
• Potential effects of the drug on breast milk production
• Amount of the drug that will enter the milk supply
• Proportion of the baby’s milk intake that is from breastfeeding

Premature babies and newborns are most at risk for being negatively affected by medicine in human milk, but the risk goes down around 2 months of age.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Immune Health

Breastfeeding offers many benefits for both the baby and the nursing parent. It helps pass antibodies to your baby, providing protection against your cold or viral infections.

If you’re too sick to nurse, consider pumping to maintain your milk supply. Using baby formula is also a safe alternative, ensuring your baby receives necessary nutrients if breastfeeding is not an option.

Cold and Allergy Medicine Safe for Breastfeeding

The following medications are generally considered safe for nursing parents. However, always consult a healthcare provider or pediatrician before taking any new medications, as some can reduce milk supply.

Pain and Fever Reducers

Pain relievers and fever reducers that are safe to take while lactating include:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen)
• Aleve (naproxen)

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) can be taken together. However, avoid taking more than one NSAID or more than one product containing acetaminophen at a time. Excessive doses of NSAIDs can cause an upset stomach, while too much acetaminophen can harm your liver.

Antihistamines

Allergy medicines help reduce symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. Safe options to take while lactating include:

• Claritin (loratadine): Claritin is safe to use based on supporting data but may have a negative effect on your milk supply when combined with a decongestant such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine).
• Zyrtec (cetirizine): Zyrtec is safe in occasional, small doses, but in large doses, it can reduce milk supply.
• Allegra Allergy (fexofenadine): Allegra is safe in occasional, small doses, but it may have a negative effect on milk supply when combined with a decongestant such as Sudafed.

Cough Medicine

Cough suppressants and expectorants are generally safe to take while breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Some cough medicines may contain alcohol, which should be avoided.

Cough medicine ingredients you can take on a short-term basis while lactating include:

• Dextromethorphan: A cough suppressant found in medications labeled DM
• Guaifenesin: An expectorant sold under the brand name Mucinex and in generic formulas

Decongestants

Oral decongestants can interfere with your milk supply and may not be safe for your baby.

Decongestant nasal sprays are safer because they are delivered straight to the source of congestion. They are not likely to enter the milk supply or hinder milk production.

Oxymetazoline is the primary ingredient found in decongestant nasal sprays sold under the brand names:

Oxymetazoline should not be used:

• For more than three days because your body can become dependent on it
• When nursing infants with cardiac symptoms or high blood pressure

Medications to Use With Caution

Cold and flu medications may contain ingredients that should be used with caution while breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Some can reduce your breast milk supply or affect your baby’s sleep or mood. Others cause drowsiness, which may make it unsafe for you to nurse.

Cold medicine ingredients to use with caution while lactating include:

• Alcohol: Can harm baby’s development; avoid nursing for 2 to 3 hours after consuming alcohol.
• Codeine: Causes drowsiness in nursing parent and child; may cause severe central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, and infant death.
• Diphenhydramine: May cause dizziness and drowsiness; larger doses can hinder milk production and cause the baby to be irritable.
• Doxylamine: May cause drowsiness; larger doses can hinder milk production.
• Hydrocodone: Causes drowsiness in nursing parent and child; may cause severe central nervous system depression.
• Phenylephrine: May hinder milk production; effect on infants unknown.
• Pseudoephedrine: May hinder milk production and cause the baby to be irritable.

Many of these drugs can be considered safe in small, short-term doses—especially when nursing older infants. However, you may first want to consider an alternative medication or consult with a healthcare provider to be sure that it’s safe for you and your baby.

Benedryl

Benedryl is a brand name of diphenhydramine. This drug may cause sleepiness, and prolonged use may decrease your milk supply. Nursing babies can also become drowsy or irritable.

DayQuil

DayQuil contains phenylephrine, a decongestant, which can reduce your milk supply. In addition, phenylephrine has not been studied on nursing infants, so its safety profile is unknown.

NyQuil

NyQuil contains alcohol and doxylamine, an antihistamine and sleep aid. Taking NyQuil may cause unwanted drowsiness.

If you’re breastfeeding, it’s important to consider how sedating medications might affect your ability to safely care for your baby, especially during nighttime feeds or if you’re the only adult present.

Alternative Cold Medicines and Remedies

In addition to OTC medications, some alternative remedies can help treat symptoms of common illnesses (like colds), such as:

• Congestion: A steamy shower or bath, saline-only (saltwater) nasal spray, and plenty of warm fluids can help ease congestion.
• Cough: Warm water with lemon and honey can ease the nursing parent’s cough. Honey is not recommended for children younger than 12 months of age, but if the nursing parent has honey in warm water or tea, it’s considered safe.
• Sore throat: Gargling with warm salt water is a safe way to ease a sore throat. Eating cold ice pops may also offer some relief for throat pain, as would warm soup.

You can always talk to your healthcare provider about other options for symptom relief.