Lemsip ok?

[Sneaks]

Hi is Lemsip ok to take. I am into week 6 of my pregnancy and smothered with a headcold here!

No. It contains a decongestant which is contraidicated in pregnancy. Sorry

contraindicated

No you are not allowd lemsip, my friend was taking it then read the back of the box, she phoned the Gp & he said she was not to take it, you can take paracetomol though so maybe this would help?

no, no decongestants

try some paracetamol if it is really bad, and steam...no olbas oil either

Thanks girls. I nearly had it made before I realised I should really check first!!!
Knew I would get some answers here!

No olbas oil? Blimey I didn't know that. I haven't used any but someone told me I should have got some when I had a cold a few months ago.

God I forget half the things youre not allowed with this pregnancy lark , and its only been 4 years!

No lemsip? Oh dear, i've had a few in the last couple of months and used some olbas oil too!!!!! Bad mummy!! In fact, just had a lemsip and honey last night...

decongestants muck about with all mucous levels in your body, not just the nes in your nose. There is a risk that they can dislodge your 'plug' (your show) and increase the risk of miscarriage/early labour

I had one the other day, before i realised I was pregnant! I hope it will be ok ..

Goodness, I didn't think! Oh well, i have under two weeks to go now so I won't worry too much. I think it'll be okay. Congrats on your PG!!!

Ok, let's not panic. There is a small theoretical risk with the use of decongestants as NDP says. It is certainly best to avoid products such as Lemsip if you can but one dose is highly unlikely to have done any harm at all.

As far as I know, there is no documented case of harm caused to a pregnancy by the use of essential oils. However, as with all these things, it is best to exercise caution. Some essential oils can be very effective and as such are contraindicated in pregnancy, and I would certainly not advise a full-body massage with eucalyptus oil, for example. However, there is no evidence - that I can find - to suggest that a drop or two of olbas oil (which is not essential oil, after all) in a bowl of hot water is going to cause any problems whatsoever. If anyone does have this evidence, I'd be more than happy to take back what I say, honest!

I do feel very strongly that these days pregnant women spend an awful lot of time being scared to death of doing or eating or drinking the 'wrong' thing. Risks should always be weighed against benefits, and proper evidence used wherever possible.

Sorry, yes, I should have made it clear in my post that though the risk does exist, it is small.

Sorry to alarm anyone !

As an alternative to Lemsip, I'd recommend trying Lloyds Chemist's own brand 'hot lemon cold relief powder'. It contains paracetamol only, no decongestants and the in-store pharmacist at my branch said that it was perfectly ok to take in pregnancy as long as you didn't take any other paracetamol based products in addition to it.

Or, you could take paracetamol accompanied by hot water, the juice of a couple of freshly-squeezed lemons and a big swirl of honey. Tastes much nicer than the commercial preparations, imo!

(Whether or not you decide to add a small slug of whisky is, of course, entirely up to you and your evidence-based risk/benefit analysis )

I found soluble paracetamol dissolved in hit squash just as effective as lemsip TBH.

Another alternative to Lemsip is squeezing a fresh lemon into a mug, adding hot water and then spooning in honey to taste. Sip away, and when it's cool enough, knock a couple of paracetomol back with it. You'll feel much better with that than a Lemsip

I was precribed decongestants during the last two of my pregnancies because I got congestion-related headaches every day without them.. so I'm sure decongestants can't be that bad.

Have also never read anything about this risk, be it a moral panic type story or an official warning.

Oh.. yes - exactly what Snafu said

Thanks a lot There are lemons being picked up in town as I type !

My mom just sent me a couple of issues of American Baby Magazine. Under the topic of "over the counter meds that are safe to take during pregnancy" they allow both pseudofed and benadryl...

I know every country is different. In France runny cheese is fine but god forbid you have a cat in the house. I read somewhere that in Ireland Guinniss is recommended (but that could be bs!)

Still, how are the studies in two "first world" countries coming up with such radically different information? I always wonder about this.

God, been sniffing olbas oil as have had an awful sinus headache. Need to Google it and see!

Just had a look at BabyWorld's website, and they suggest that sniffing a few drops of olbas oil on a tissue every now and then is ok, as is using a few drops in hot water for steam inhalation, but should not be used regularly.

thank you! maybe i was confused about the whole essentail oil thing...sniff away !