anyone taken Night Nurse or similar in pregnancy?

[sallycinamon]

I'm nearly 18 weeks pregnant and have a really bad cold with a cough that is keeping me awake for hours in the night. I don't think it is a chest infection (I had one of those about 6 weeks ago!)so it's probably pointless going to the docotrs. However, I desperately need a good nights sleep tonight and thinking about having a dose of Night Nurse. It says on the bottle that you should consult a doctor if you are pregnant and want to take it. I believe this is all to do with clinical trials etc.

What do you reckon - shall I go for it?!

Sally Try phoning NHS Direct or asking a pharmacist? I suspect they will say not to take it though. I took some honey, lemon and glycerin linctus from Boots recently for the same reason as was desperate but only took it as it didn't seem to have anything in it apart from sugar, glycerin, honey and lemon.

There was a study a while ago saying that cough medicine is no better than doing your own thing - ie honey, lemon & hot water.

For the cold alone you may be able to get something homeopathic (I did once but that was in South Africa). I would avoid the Night nurse myself however as that has some pretty strong stuff in it I think?

Don't take it. It contains decongestants which are not advisable during pregnancy. You can take paracetamol but not much else I'm afraid.

I took it

Just after Christmas I had worst flu thing ever and was desperate! I was 20 something weeks. My mums a doctor and she thought it would be ok. Didn't take many- I think I took one night nurse tablets on 2 or 3 nights.

thanks everyone.

Well, if I'm still awake at 2am tonight with this awful coughing who knows what I'll take!

Fluffyanimal is right. Decongestants are not advisable in pregnancy. Especially if you have blood pressure problems. They can raise your blood pressure and you wouldn't necessarily feel any the worse for it but it can be very dangerous. Paracetemol is the only thing that's safe to take without GP's/pharmacists advice in pregnancy. Plently of fluids, and inhaling olbas oil etc is fine. Try a warm bath as well and get the bathroom quite steamy first as this can help with sinuses. Hope you feel better soon. x

I totally agree with fluffyanimal and goingbonkers. dont take it as it contains decongestants. Paracetamol is OK on its own and you can take honey and lemon.

try sleeping propped upright and suck a mint or a boiled sweet if you are coughing. sounds strange but it sometimes helps