So what CAN you take for a cold?

[Christelle2207]

Went to France in January. Caught cold which was thoroughly miserable and lasted 3 weeks. Took nothing but paracetamol and strepsils, gp and pharmacist both unhelpfully said I couldn't take anything with decongestant in which is almost all cold/flu remedies.
So...off to Germany Friday, I'm ok at the moment but DH is going down again and I expect to get it. aaaargh. Obviously they have pharmacies in Germany but keen to stock up before I go - is there anything else I can take????!!

Don't think so. Well, except for hot honey and lemon.

Nope, sorry! Being pregnant and ill or in pain sucks!

Afraid not - I had a really bad chesty cold over Easter and it still hasn't completely cleared - plenty of fluids, keep eating normally and rest. Maybe some orange juice for vit c and hot Ribena with honey and lemon. I hope you feel better soon.

My doctor has told me only paracetamol too.

Yes they have pharmacies here in Germany but I would make sure you bring paracetamol with you as the prices are extrotionate, it is about 9? for a (generic) pack as opposed to the 50p for the same generic version in Tesco!

Strepsils aren't advised either . Honey and lemon, paracetomol, olbas oil (a couple of drops in some boiling water for the steam works well) - that's about it. Sympathy :(

Steam is the traditional answer, I think.

I did an all day meeting with colleagues who didn't know I was pregnant and were baffled by my attempts to medicate my cold with fruit pastilles.

I went to France in March and also got a cold! I wrote a note in French and got father in law to take it to the chemist saying I was pregnant, had a cold, and sell me what I can have. He came back with paracetamol and nasal decongestant spray so I suppose you can take it in moderation. I also used a teaspoon of Vicks vapor rub in a bowl of boiling water and breathed it in with a towel over. Lots of sleep and feeling sorry for myself also worked eventually.

thanks all, Vicks vapor rub sounds like a good idea. Sounds like another miserable holiday :-(

you can also take tylenol...my doc gave me this when i had bronchitis in early pregnancy.

Tylenol is the American brand name for paracetamol isn't it?