Can I take licorice tablets when I have a cough during breastfeeding?

Licorice tablets are a relatively common Chinese medicine and are quite effective in treating coughs. However, for new mothers who are breastfeeding, if they have symptoms such as coughs, try not to take licorice tablets, because this is very detrimental to breastfeeding children, as it contains some medicinal ingredients that affect the growth and development of children.

1. Can licorice tablets be taken during breastfeeding?

The first recommendation is that it is best not to eat some licorice tablets, because all medicines are poisonous. Licorice tablets must contain substances that have an impact on the baby's growth and development. After being inhaled by the mother, this substance is passed to the baby through breast milk, which is likely to affect the baby's growth and development, so it is recommended not to eat it.

The second is that in some special cases, if you must take licorice tablets to relieve cough, it is best to give your baby your own breast milk 10 to 12 hours later. By then, the medicinal properties of the medicine have been converted in our body, so the impact on the baby will not be too great.

The third is that it is recommended not to use licorice tablets to treat cough. It is best not to choose to use licorice tablets for treatment. In addition, for the use of drugs, it is best to follow the doctor's advice and not to use drugs blindly.

2. Harm of taking licorice tablets during lactation

The ingredients of compound licorice tablets include opium, a drug that can easily cause human dependence. Long-term use may cause addiction. Generally, the drug must be stopped after taking it for a maximum of five consecutive days.

Since this substance can cause physical dependence in infants through breastfeeding, pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to choose other cough suppressants. In addition, since compound licorice tablets can reduce urine excretion, they should not be taken by people with enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating.

Experts suggest that when using compound licorice tablets to relieve cough, you should find out the cause of the cough and take the medicine correctly under the guidance of a doctor. If the condition is caused by infection, antibacterial drugs can be added; if the condition is caused by allergies, anti-allergic drugs can be added.