sudafed - safe in preganacy? Help me pleeeease!!!

[linzie30]

I know the answer will probably be a big fat NO, but could anyone tell me if it's ok to take a normal strength Sudafed in the 1st trimester? I've only got the strip of tablets with no box or instructions. I've had a crummy cold for 10 days now which seems to be reaching its peak today - my sinuses are killing me, my head is splitting every time I move, and I swear, my teeth are hurting! All I have been taking is paracetomol which is just nonsense, doesn't help one little bit. Somebody help me! The only other thing I have is Vicks sinex which I think has given me the headache. I can't slope off to bed as I'm running (make that crawling) around after my 2 year old son. I would pay a zillion pounds to go to bed for the rest of the day....

It's not safe, sorry . I've got something similar - terrible sinus pain & headache & even my teeth hurt. Ugh. Running round after a 10 month old too. Luckily not preggers at least. You poor thing - could you try some steam inhalation?? Is there anyone who could take your ds off your hands for a break?

Linzie - I know it doesn't help today, but I was the same a couple of weeks ago, and got prescribed some a/b's by the doctor which knocked the sinusitis on the head within a couple of days.

afraid not picnickel, dh is in Iraq for a few days ( he's RAF) so I'm all on my lonesome. We live in Germany so no family nearby. It sucks! I'll have to wait till 7pm to steam my head off, otherwise ds will be far too interested in what the heck mummy's up to. I'm sure he already thinks I'm an idiot...

Sorry to be the barer of bad news, linzie but the answer is no, according to my local pharmacist. I had the same problem last year when I was pg but think the only thing you can safely take is paracetamol. Try holding your head over a steam bowl to clear your sinuses a bit. Also, I think a bit of olbas oil is ok to use.
Hope you feel better soon.

It's definitley worse being ill if you're stuck on your own, . Hope you're feeling better soon. Early night for ds so you can get stuck into steaming your head I reckon!! Chocolate might help too !

I'll be going to the doctor in the morning for some a/b's - I'm sick of feeling this bad. chocolate might help. I should really try it. Purely medicinal purposes, of course....

Apparently it's the decongestant that's the no-no in pregnancy

I so sympathise. I had the same thing during pregnancy andt he dr prescribed co-proxamol which sort of helped but it's partly the psychological effect of knowing you are taking something.

If you go to an RAF doc, ask for a container of menthol crystals to dissolve in boiling water and inhale. DH (Navy) got some from the doc, and they help quite a lot. My Dad is in the RAF, and we always seemed to have them in the house when I was little - I think it's a Forces thing