Can I Take Mucinex While Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is good for you and the baby. But nursing mothers don't have the time or energy to deal with a stuffy nose, sore throat, and headache that comes with a cold. Looking for your relief, you may want to know if you can take Mucinex while breastfeeding.

Read on to find out more about Mucinex, if you can take it while breastfeeding, and other cold remedy options.

What is Mucinex?

Mucinex is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that helps relieve cold and flu symptoms, including cough, stuffy nose, and nasal congestion. The main ingredient is guaifenesin, an expectorant that thins and breaks up mucus to relieve chest congestion.

You can find Mucinex in many forms, including tablets, gel capsules, and liquid. It also comes in different formulations with other ingredients like acetaminophen to reduce fevers, phenylephrine to relieve a stuffy nose, dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, or diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that eases sneezing and itchy eyes.

The over-the-counter medications are available at pharmacies, supermarkets, and big box stores.

Mucinex D is a maximum-strength cold medicine with guifenesin and pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant. The FDA limits the amount of pseudoephedrine you can purchase in a month as a way of combatting the methamphetamine epidemic. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant made from items like pseudoephedrine. Unlike other Mucinex products, Mucinex D is only available behind the counter.

Can I take Mucinex while breastfeeding?

There is currently no conclusive data regarding Mucinex safety during breastfeeding. Though it's unlikely to harm a nursing infant, it's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before use to assess risks and benefits.

How medications affect breast milk

Not too long ago, breastfeeding individuals were told to avoid certain drugs or to stop nursing when taking certain drugs. However, at the time, there was very little data about medication and breastfeeding, and the medical advice was based on little scientific evidence. With advances in research and data, doctors take multiple factors into consideration when prescribing or recommending medication use while breastfeeding, such as how much the mother needs the drug, how the drug affects milk production, and potential risks to the baby.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that most medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. While any medication that gets in the blood may pass to breast milk, usually the amount is minimal and has little to no effect on milk supply or infant well-being. Healthcare providers use the lactation database LactMed as a resource for medication recommendations.

Precautions and considerations

When looking for over-the-counter medications like Mucinex to get relief from your stuffy nose, chest congestion, and sore throat, you need to take a close look at the active ingredients. As mentioned above, different types of Mucinex have different ingredients.

According to LactMed, only small amounts of dextromethorphan and acetaminophen pass into the breast milk and are not expected to affect a nursing infant. Small, occasional doses of diphenhydramine are also likely safe for the baby but may affect milk supply if taken in large doses or for a prolonged period. Researchers haven't evaluated guaifenesin content in breast milk but theorize the amount that passes through is minimal and unlikely to cause harm to nursing infants two months and older.

There is concern about pseudoephedrine found in Mucinex D. Though only small amounts pass to the infant from breast milk, it may make the baby irritable and can decrease milk production with long-term use. Talk to your doctor or your baby's pediatrician to find out what cold medicine makes the best choice for you.

How to manage cold and flu symptoms while breastfeeding

Non-pharmacological remedies are a safe way to manage cold and flu symptoms while nursing, such as drinking enough fluids and getting plenty of rest. Breastfeeding parents can also use a humidifier to relieve nasal congestion and coughing.

Honey by itself or in hot tea may also provide some symptom relief and is typically used as a cough remedy, especially in children. According to a 2022 systematic review study published in Cureus, honey was as effective as cough medicine in reducing symptoms, especially when started within the first three days of having symptoms. A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ found that honey eases symptoms caused by upper respiratory infections and is widely available and a cheap option.

It's safe for breastfeeding individuals to consume honey, but you should never give honey to an infant due to the risk of botulism, a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system.

Safe alternatives to Mucinex

Consult with your pharmacist or healthcare provider when looking for safe alternatives to Mucinex to get relief from your cold and flu symptoms. Other over-the-counter medications like saline nasal sprays or drops may be used in moderation while breastfeeding.

Though likely safe for short-term use, nursing parents should talk to a healthcare professional about OTC cold medications that contain ingredients that may affect breast milk supply, such as diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine, before using.

Final word

Whether you can take Mucinex while breastfeeding depends on many factors and is something you should discuss with a healthcare professional before using. In general, with appropriate medical supervision, most medications are safe to take while nursing. However, it is important to be aware that some ingredients in cold and flu medications may affect milk supply. Consider trying non-pharmacological remedies like fluids, rest, and honey first.