Safe drug choices for breastfeeding mothers according to their conditions

Mothers who are currently breastfeeding are not advised to take medication. This is because what a mother consumes while breastfeeding can enter the breast milk so that it flows into the baby's body. In order to recover quickly and smoothly breastfeed your little one, mothers need to know drugs that are safe to drink at this time.

So, what are the lists of drugs that are safe for breastfeeding mothers? Find out the full explanation, let's!

Safe drug choices for breastfeeding mothers

Exclusive breastfeeding is a right for every baby because there are various benefits of breastfeeding that can be obtained by babies and their mothers.

But sometimes, there are problems with breastfeeding mothers and breastfeeding challenges that may occur, one of which is when the mother is sick.

When sick during breastfeeding, the mother of course still has to take medication and get enough rest to restore her health condition.

Don't worry about taking medication during breastfeeding. There is no myth that breastfeeding mothers justify the consumption of drugs is prohibited as long as they are taken according to the right rules and recommendations.

Unfortunately, not all drugs can be taken by breastfeeding mothers. Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, almost all drugs that enter the mother's body flow in the blood and breast milk to a certain extent.

Although most of the drug levels in breast milk are low and do not pose a risk to the baby, there are drugs that can affect the baby's milk.

That is why not all medicines are safe for mothers who are breastfeeding to take.

Exposure to drugs that pass into breast milk can pose a worse risk for premature babies, newborns and babies with certain medical conditions.

So, you should know what drugs are safe for breastfeeding mothers in various conditions.

1. Decongestants

If a nursing mother has a cold and needs to take medication, most cold medicines are safe to take.

However, be careful when choosing, especially over-the-counter drugs without a doctor's prescription. There are cold medicines that contain a combination of several substances in one package.

This combination cold medicine should be avoided because there may be ingredients in the drug that are not safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Instead, choose flu and cold medicines that contain only one active ingredient for breastfeeding mothers, one of which is a decongestant.

Decongestants are used to relieve nasal congestion due to flu and colds. However, be careful again for the medicinal substances.

This is because in the market it is not uncommon to sell drugs with ingredients that are at risk of interfering with breastfeeding production of breastfeeding mothers, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine drugs.

So, nursing mothers need to be careful and more thorough before taking medication.

Even so, cold and flu medicines that contain decongestants are safe to drink for breastfeeding mothers.

With a note, you should first consult your doctor about the consumption of decongestant drugs for breastfeeding mothers and drink the rules.

You can switch to a spray decongestant as an alternative. Avoid using the drug for too long with excessive doses.

Use the dosage according to the instructions for use while you are breastfeeding.

2. Antihistamines

Flu symptoms may be caused by an allergic reaction. So, breastfeeding mothers need cold medicines that also contain antihistamines.

Antihistamine drugs are included in the list of cold medicines that are safe for breastfeeding mothers. You can choose an antihistamine that doesn't cause drowsiness, such as loratadine and fexofenadine.

3. Antiviral drugs

Other cold medicines that are safe for breastfeeding mothers are antivirals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this drug is classified as safe for breastfeeding mothers as long as it is taken as directed.

However, it is important to understand that antiviral drugs to treat flu should not be taken carelessly by breastfeeding mothers.

The reason is, this flu medicine for nursing mothers must be redeemed using a doctor's prescription.

So, this cold medicine which is classified as safe for breastfeeding mothers is not sold freely in drug stores or pharmacies.

Please consult a doctor for more information about using this cold medicine during breastfeeding.

4. Paracetamol or acetaminophen

Cold and cold medicines containing paracetamol or acetaminophen are also included in the list of drugs that are safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Nursing mothers can also take paracetamol to relieve toothache.

According to the NHS, this cold and toothache medicine is safe for consumption by breastfeeding mothers.

Drugs containing paracetamol or acetaminophen are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers because they do not interfere with milk production.

The effect given from drugs containing paracetamol or acetaminophen to babies is not so strong.

If breastfeeding mothers are also taking other cold medicines, make sure that the medicine they are taking does not contain the paracetamol mixture anymore because it can double the dose of the drug.

Instead of getting better quickly, drugs taken in excess of the recommended dosage can actually trigger serious problems, such as kidney failure.

So it's best to read carefully the composition table for every cold and flu medication that is safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Interestingly, paracetamol or acetaminophen is not only able to treat toothaches, but also headaches and fever.

Yes, paracetamol is one of the safe options for headache medicine for breastfeeding mothers.

Paracetamol works to inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which are hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Paracetamol belongs to a class of analgesic drugs that are usually used to relieve mild to moderate headaches.

Always consult a pharmacist or doctor so that the paracetamol drug you are taking is not combined with other drugs.

5. Ibuprofen

Toothache during breastfeeding certainly feels uncomfortable. Besides having to endure pain in your teeth, you still have to do other activities to take care of your little one.

There are various choices of toothache medications for breastfeeding mothers, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen has various functions, one of which can help relieve pain due to toothaches.

That is why, the drug ibuprofen can be an option for treating toothache in nursing mothers because it does not risk harming the baby.

In addition, ibuprofen is also a drug that can be used to relieve headaches, fever, and colds caused by sinus infections when breastfeeding mothers.

Ibuprofen is usually used to relieve headaches that are classified as mild to moderate.

Ibuprofen is also commonly used to treat tension headaches and migraines in nursing mothers.

This headache medicine is considered safe and is even touted as the best choice for breastfeeding mothers.

It is considered that this is because the substances from the drug ibuprofen that enter breast milk are not too much or even almost undetectable.

However, ibuprofen is prohibited for breastfeeding mothers if they have other conditions such as asthma and ulcers.

We recommend that you consult your doctor first before taking ibuprofen medication for breastfeeding mothers.

Don't forget, make sure you comply with the drinking rules and the recommended dosage for the use of the drug.

If ibuprofen and paracetamol are safe headache medications for breastfeeding mothers, there is another type of drug that is not recommended, namely aspirin.

Although it is quite effective in treating headaches, aspirin is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Aspirin passes into breast milk and may harm the baby.

6. Dextromethorphan

Nursing mothers can still cure coughs using cough medicines without a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC).

However, the use of cough medicine for breastfeeding mothers still has to be confirmed for its safety to a doctor first.

Breastfeeding mothers can take dextromethorphan, which is classified as safe to relieve coughs.

The drug dextromethorphan works by reducing the frequency of coughs, especially dry coughs.

The drug dextromethorphan is effective in relieving dry cough caused by a post-nasal drip condition.

Post-nasal drip is when the respiratory system at the top, namely the nose, produces excess mucus so that it enters the back of the throat and causes a cough.

However, the drug dextromethorphan is not recommended for those of you who have a history of asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, and diabetes.

If taken under these conditions, the drug dextromethorphan can worsen your health.

7. Lozenges

Another cough medicine that is safe for breastfeeding mothers is lozenges. This type of cough medicine does not dissolve easily into breast milk.

Lozenges cough medicine that contains antibacterial substances or benzydamine can relieve pain in a dry throat due to coughing.

In fact, lozenges can also help relieve pain and discomfort in the throat due to strep throat.

Yes, again, breastfeeding mothers still need to take medication to deal with health-related complaints, including when experiencing sore throat.

It is on this basis that lozenges are considered a safe medicine for nursing mothers to drink when they have a cough and sore throat.

8. ORS

Diarrhea is a digestive disorder with many causes. Generally, digestive disorders are caused by food and drinks contaminated with bacteria that cause diarrhea such as E. colli .

So before it gets worse, immediately treat diarrhea in the right way, for example by taking ORS which is safe for breastfeeding mothers.

ORS is a safe first aid drug for treating diarrhea in pregnant women.

ORS is available in powder formations that must be dissolved in boiled water or in liquid ready-to-drink preparations.

This solution is made from a mixture of salt, sugar, and water containing sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (CaCl2), anhydrous glucose, and sodium bicarbonate.

This drug works to replenish fluids and electrolytes and minerals in the body that are lost due to diarrhea.

ORS will restore body fluid levels within 8-12 hours of consumption. Apart from being able to be purchased at the pharmacy, you can also make this diarrhea medicine for breastfeeding mothers yourself.

You do this by dissolving 6 teaspoons of granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 liter of water. Stir well, and drink a glass every 4-6 hours.

9. Loperamide

Loperamide is a generic diarrhea medication that slows down bowel movements to produce a denser form of stool.

Loperamide is a diarrhea medication that is safe for breastfeeding mothers.

This is because only a small amount of the drug loperamide can pass into breast milk so there is no risk of harming the baby.

However, nursing mothers consult their doctor first so they know how many doses of this diarrhea medicine are right for their condition.

If you take the drug loperamide for more than 2 days, have a baby with low birth weight, and a premature baby, you should also talk to your doctor.

Do not overdose your medication because you risk triggering heart problems in the form of arrhythmias.

In addition, this diarrhea medicine can also cause debilitating side effects for nursing mothers, such as dizziness, headaches, difficulty focusing, and nausea.