During pregnancy a woman must consider the potential risk of taking certain drugs and compare it with the perceived benefit of the medication. Cough medicines may help alleviate the discomfort but many contain ingredients that can pose a risk to the unborn baby. Pregnant women should avoid extra or maximum strength versions of cough medicine, those containing alcohol and only take a cough medicine with the approval of a medical care provider, warns FamilyDoctor.org.
Decongestants
Decongestants treat congestion associated with colds or allergies. The DrSpock website points out that pseudoephedrine is the primary decongestant recommended for pregnant women. However, pregnant women should not use this drug during the first trimester. The Food and Drug Administration considers pseudoephedrine a category C drug, meaning that pregnant women should only use it when the benefits outweigh the potential risk to the fetus.
Cough Suppressants
A cough suppressant stops the urge to cough. This proves especially helpful in treating dry coughs or ones caused by itching in the throat. Dextromethorphan is a common cough suppressant considered safe for use in pregnancy, according to the DrSpock website. It is still a category C drug, meaning reproductive studies in animals may have found adverse effects in the fetus but the same studies have not been replicated in pregnant women.
Expectorants
An expectorant loosens thick phlegm to make it easier to bring up out of the chest when coughing. Guaifenesin is one expectorant considered safe during pregnancy. It is a category C drug according to Ameican Family Physician.
Antihistamine
An antihistamine can block the body's reaction to allergies or other foreign agents that cause coughing. American Family Physician points out the most common antihistamines used in pregnancy include diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine and clemastine fumarate. All three of these drugs have a category B rating, meaning either animal reproduction studies have not shown any fetal risk but the study has not been replicated in pregnant women or no adverse effects were found in animal studies.
