Can you eat Ludens cough drops when pregnant?
In this article, we are going to answer whether you can eat Ludens cough drops when pregnant, what Luden’s cough drops are, what is the risk of eating cough drops when pregnant, and what cough drops are safe to eat when pregnant.
Can you eat Ludens cough drops when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat Luden’s cough when pregnant in moderation. You need to ask your doctor first but there should be no problem with Luden’s cough drops ingredients. Menthol can be the main issue but there are no studies on pregnant women on how much menthol is safe.
The concentration of menthol in these products is low so the risk of malformations is believed to be low.
What are Ludens cough drops?
Luden’s cough drops are an American brand of cough drops that are sold by Prestige Consumer health. Luden’s cough drops are demulcents meaning they are a swelling or irritation reliever and mild anesthetic.
They contain pectin, which creates a coating on the throat to reduce irritation and swelling. The other ingredients they have is menthol and various flavors of honey, menthol is an oral anesthetic and irritant reliever.
Other ingredients they contain depending on the flavor are artificial colors are blue no 1, blue no 2, red 40, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, caramel color, corn syrup, flavor, soybean oil used as a processing aid, sucrose, and water.
Some of the flavors they sold are
- Blue raspberry
- Honey Lemon
- Honey Licorice
- Kiwi-Strawberry
- Orange
- Original Menthol
- Sugar-free Wild Cherry
- Watermelon
- Wild Berry
- Wild Cherry
- Wild honey
Luden’s throat drops are sold under the slogan ‘Trusted Luden’s Care- Everyone needs a little TLC’
What is the risk of eating Ludens cough when pregnant?
Over-the-counter medication for cough drops might be a safe treatment for pregnant women but like most medications and supplements there are no studies on pregnancy to know the risk.
Luden’s cough drops include ingredients that are not healthy for pregnant women and can be a risk such as artificial colors blue no 1, blue no 2, red 40, corn syrup, flavor, soybean oil, and sucrose.
Artificial Colors
There is a link that eating even small amounts of artificial colors can cause allergic reactions and hyperactivity in babies.
Corn syrup
There is a link between the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and metabolic issues in women pregnant or not. These can increase the risk of low birth weight, and the risk of future cardiometabolic disease, like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil is safe to eat during pregnancy when eaten in small amounts. High amounts of soybean oil cause inflammation.
Sucrose
Sucrose in high quantities can cause bloating, swelling of the face, arms, hands, and feet, headaches, and labored breathing.
Menthol
Menthol gives you a cooling sensation in your throat and nasal cavities which helps to numb the throat and relieve congestion. Menthol has been used during pregnancy but some experts disagree because there are no studies on pregnant women.
Menthol can be toxic in large quantities when pregnant. One typical Luden’s cough drop contains about 5 to 10 mg of menthol, pregnant women need higher quantities, about 5 to 10 bags of cough drops to reach toxic levels of menthol.
What cough drops can you eat when pregnant?
Cough drops can be eaten if they do not contain alcohol, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and benzocaine. Try to avoid this ingredient and look for these safe brands
- Ludens
- Halls
- Ricola
- Cepacol
- Chloraseptic
- Vicks menthol
What home remedies can you use for a sore throat when pregnant?
Some home remedies can diminish throat symptoms and are safe for pregnant women. Some of them are
- Do gargles with salt water: one-half teaspoon of salt into a cup of water. This might help to lose some mucus.
- Drink water or electrolyte water to stay hydrated.
- Drink honey and lemon, just make sure that is real honey and hot maple syrup or any other kind.
Follow this link for more home remedies for cough.
Conclusion
This article answered Can you eat Ludens cough drops when pregnant, what are Luden’s cough drops, what is the risk of eating cough drops when pregnant, and what cough drops are safe to eat when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.ludens.com/sore-throat-remedies
https://www.lovetoknowhealth.com/pregnancy/safely-using-cough-drops-while-pregnant
https://www.verywellfamily.com/can-i-take-cough-drops-while-pregnant-5201053
