How do I manage cough during pregnancy?

Q: I am a 30 years old female into my sixteenth week of pregnancy. I am troubled by sever cough but I am hesitant to take medication. I took Droxyl 500 for four days and the cough subsided moderately but again the cough has become severe. The physician is now recommending me to take Taxim 200. I am not sure whether or not to take it. Please advise.

A:You have to be careful when taking drugs during pregnancy. Get a throat swab test done to confirm if you have bacterial infection causing cough. Very often it may be an allergy or acid reflex due to growing foetus in the womb. Take antacids, raise head end of bed take, have dinner early, avoid spices, try sucking lozenges like alex cough lozenges which are safe. If no response, try older generation cough sedatives like Mitts cough syrup based on codeine or piritone CS syrup based on dexomethorphan. These can cause constipation, which may aggravate the constipation sometimes seen in pregnancy. Before taking any medicine consult your gynaecologist.