Is this the stupidest medication warning ever?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, I have a really annoying cold, and last night was kept up by a hacking cold. So despite my general policy against meds, and against cough syrup in particular (except for the DM stuff, taken to excess, to knock you out ... if you stay up, you see tiny weird bunnies. Um, anyway ...).

Ahem.

Yes, so DH went out to get me some cough syrup, for a dry cough. I said stuff off the shelf was fine. He dutifully got some.

I read the insert, because I'm that kind of person, and it says the medication is ok while pregnant and bf, but you should check with your doctor before taking any medication.

What are the terribly dangerous active ingredients in this drug? Treacle, and glucose syrup. I shit you not. Oh, there's a tiny bit of menthol, presumably so the useless bloody cough syrup doesn't end up tasting nice? Gah.

What,that is all that there is in it?
It's a bloody waste of time anyway.
The medication completely bypasses problem area anyway (obviously).
You'd be better off with a hot toddy to induce pleasant woozy feelings.

They just cover their ar$es big time, and we are left suffering the effects of everything! I have been preg and b/f for 3 years now and have practically given up. I am allergic to cats and I can't see how a 2yo b/f is vulnerable in the way a newborn is, but there is absolutely no variation in the advice, even though the advice for different stages of pregnancy can vary. Arrghhhhh!!!

Nothing actually stops a cough except codeine based products, and these are best avoided. You cough for a reason (usually)

PS the drug companies hate the leaflets too....I used to write the bloody things. You are forced to put all sorts of crap in them by government regs.

Moondog, I swear, those are the active ingredients. It has some flavourings etc, but no actual medicine. Gah.

Beansprout, I tend to follow the advice I can find online - it's more detailed and informative, and not worry about these things, to be honest. Anyway, there are antihistamines that are ok to give to babies from 3 months, so for sure you can take the adult versions of those drugs, right?

Kellymom, as usual, has good information about the effects of various categories of drugs on breastfeeding, with useful information like "slightly dangerous, but only in first 30-60 days". Tells you what symptoms to look out for in your baby etc etc. I'm sure they do something on antihistamines and bf.

Ooops, still NQC, just annoying someone with the name change.

Ah, codeine is a cough suppressant. I thought I'd read that somewhere. I will get out the cocodamol and take it tonight if needed. I get along fine with codeine, and use it only rarely. But if my choice is between codeine and staying up all night hacking away, I'm choosing codeine, every time. (Yeah, I know it's nasty. My sister was addicted. I maybe have 6 pills per year.)

Thanks QueenQuinoa - My mum has 2 cats and staying there is a bloody nightmare!!

Ah, look here . It's about hayfever, but it covers the big categories of antihistamine. Assuming it's OTC antihistamines you want to use for BF, that page will give you some very good options, both sedating and non-sedating.

Thank you!!!