Lots of mucus with cold...what can I take?

[newmom22]

I am getting over a cold and I have tons of mucus that bothers me and keeps me up coughing all night, which in turn, bothers my baby. He is almost 6 months old and exclusively breastfeeding right now. What is safe for me to take to help the mucus? I have researched Mucinex (which is what I would usually take) but there seems to be mixed responses to it.

[cpride]

Dear newmom22,

The Mucinex itself (with only Guaifenesin to alleviate the mucus is probably ok to take with breastfeeding. Formulations with dextromethorphan are generally ok as well to alleviate the cough. We do not recommend the Mucinex D products as they contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine, which has been linked to a decrease in breast milk supply.

Areeba Anam, B.S., M.S.
LECOM School of Pharmacy
Class of 2013 Candidate