Quite typical is the situation when a breastfeeding mother has symptoms of ARVI , she starts feverishly to look for a safe medicine that can put her on her feet in a short time. However, when breastfeeding, self-medication even with known medicines is categorically contraindicated.
But the media is full of advertising, which assures us of the safety of another wonderful medicine. In particular, in the treatment of influenza and ARVI, it is recommended to use the drug Arbidol, which is positioned as a safe drug for all.
Arbidol with breastfeeding - pro and contra
The use of Arbidol during lactation raises a number of questions:
- At what diseases Arbidol is used according to the instructions, and what are the contraindications when it is taken?
- Have clinical trials been conducted to see if Arbidol is safe for lactation for a child's health?
- Is it appropriate to use Arbidol in breastfeeding?
To answer the first question, let's look at the instructions. According to this document, Arbidol is used in the treatment of:
- influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections;
- chronic bronchitis and pneumonia;
- recurrent herpes infection and the prevention of postoperative infectious complications.
Here everything is clear, and Arbidol is really used in the treatment of influenza and ARVI. However, in the column on the use of Arbidol in lactation, the instruction states that "data on the use of Arbidol in breastfeeding are not provided."
It must be said that most doctors give a negative answer to the question whether Arbidol can be prescribed to nursing women. The fact is that tests of medicines on pregnant women and women during lactation are prohibited. Therefore, to obtain objective data about whether it is possible to drink Arbidol to nursing mothers is not possible.
Considering all the above, the expediency of using Arbidol for lactating women raises doubts. In addition, the action of Arbidol is based not on treating the disease, but only on mitigating its severity and eliminating unpleasant symptoms. That is, such excruciating manifestations of the disease as fever, chills, aches in bones, are simply smoothed out by this drug, absolutely not having any effect on viruses. Consequently, Arbidol does not significantly affect the clinical prognosis of the disease. So is it worth it to risk using Arbidol during the lactation period, if its reception is nothing but a relief of the condition.
As we see, in the answers to the question, can Arbidol nursing mother have only negative aspects. After all, there are no good reasons for the appointment of Arbidol during lactation. And if the attending physician recommends a young mother for treatment with this drug, it is worth to discuss with him without any hesitation the issue of safety and appropriateness of taking this medication.
Traditional methods of treating colds for nursing mothers
Before applying Arbidol, nursing mothers should think about possible alternative methods of treating influenza and ARVI. Doctors distinguish the following effective methods of prevention and treatment of viral infections:
- washing the nose and rinsing the throat with saline three times a day is a good remedy for removing mucus and washing the nasopharynx;
- when the temperature rises, drink plenty of liquids, in particular, non-hot tea, Borzhomi without gas,
better in half with milk; - try to lie more, and in contact with the child wear a mask, but in any case do not stop breastfeeding, even at a high temperature in the nursing mother .
These are quite common general recommendations, however their effectiveness and harmlessness is tested not by one generation. Of course, the flu is a serious enough disease, dangerous with possible complications. But this does not mean that the nursing mother should immediately take Arbidol, or another well-known medicine. Ask your doctor, tell him about your fears, and a compromise and sensible decision is sure to be found.