“Oscillococcinum” during pregnancy: instructions for use

Numerous changes and a host of health-related issues accompany pregnancy. How to safely treat minor illnesses and discomforts is one common concern. During flu season or when experiencing cold symptoms, some expectant mothers take into consideration the well-known homeopathic remedy "Oscillococcinum."

The use of "Oscillococcinum" during pregnancy is examined in this article. We’ll go over everything you need to know about this treatment, including any potential side effects and safety measures to take. You can make more informed decisions about your health and wellbeing during this unique time by being aware of these factors.

Keep reading as we go into the details of "Oscillococcinum," offering precise instructions to assist you in using it throughout your pregnancy in a safe and efficient manner.

Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic remedy that is frequently used to treat flu-like symptoms, but due to a lack of scientific evidence, its safety and efficacy during pregnancy are still up for debate. Although some expectant mothers use it without any reported problems, it is important to see a doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy to make sure the mother and the unborn child are both healthy. Always pay close attention to the directions, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your physician.

Features

The product is produced in France by the well-known company "Boiron" and is granules that quickly dissolve as soon as they combine with saliva or any liquid. They are spherical in shape, white in color and have no smell, and taste sweet. The drug is packaged in portions in white plastic tubes, which are closed with a polyethylene stopper. Each such tube contains 1 gram of granules, which corresponds to one dose of "Oscillococcinum". Tubes are sold 3 pieces in one blister, and the package contains 6-30 tubes. At the same time, a doctor"s prescription is not needed to purchase the drug. It is permissible to store it at home in a sealed form (in the factory packaging) for 5 years from the date of manufacture. Storage temperature – no higher than +25 degrees.

An extract made from the organs of the Barbary (also known as Muscovy) duck serves as the medication’s active ingredient. This kind of duck’s liver and heart are used to make granules. For quick dissolution and a sweet taste, lactose and sucrose are added to the extract that has been diluted several times.

Although other acute respiratory viral infections can also be treated with the product, it is most commonly prescribed for the treatment of moderate or mild flu.

Why is it prescribed to pregnant women?

Most expectant mothers notice a decrease in immunity. This physiological reaction is required for normal gestation, but it inevitably increases the incidence of colds. Because of it, a woman is more susceptible to attack by viruses both in the early stages and in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters. At the same time, the main problem is the ban on many antiviral drugs. And even if the doctor prescribes medications permitted during pregnancy, taking them in the 1st trimester is not recommended so as not to disrupt the initial growth of the baby. However, you cannot ignore the symptoms of a cold during the period of waiting for a baby. A prolonged rise in temperature, a strong cough and other symptoms of acute respiratory infections can affect the fetus and even lead to termination of pregnancy or premature birth.

For instance, there is a much higher chance of neural system abnormalities in the unborn child if the expectant mother "catches" the flu during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Consequently, there is a high demand for the use of homeopathy.

Since homeopathic medicines, such as Oscillococcinum, are thought to be safe for expectant mothers, there are a lot of positive reviews regarding this type of treatment. They have low concentrations of active ingredients that don’t impair the uterus’s ability to contract and don’t cause developmental pathologies in the unborn child.

When used?

The use of “Oscillococcinum” during pregnancy happens both for the treatment of SARS, if the expectant mother has already become infected, and for the prevention of colds, which is especially important in the season of viral infections (winter-autumn period). The doctor can prescribe such a tool at high risk of influenza or other acute respiratory infections, for example, if someone is ill in a pregnant woman’s family or a woman is forced to be in places with a large crowd of people. Take "Oscillococcinum" for prophylactic purposes is possible at any stage of pregnancy. It is recommended to use the drug for treatment at the first symptoms of a cold, when a woman feels a sore throat, chills, headache, body aches and other signs of an incipient disease. The sooner you start taking the granules when you feel unwell, the higher the effectiveness of the drug and the faster it will work. In many cases, a quick start to use Oscillococcinum helps to stop the development of the disease at an early stage.

The active part of the granules will help to a milder course and prevent harmful complications if infection could not be avoided. It is recommended to take the medication for both advanced influenza and protracted ARVI. In these situations, it is a part of a treatment complex that also contains other medications.

In the reviews of expectant mothers who drank Oscillococcinum for ARVI, a decrease in the duration and severity of the infection was noted. According to them, taking such a drug helped to reduce the temperature and improve the general condition. However, sometimes there are complaints about the low effectiveness of the drug or the lack of any improvement after its use. Such negative reviews are usually associated with inflated expectations or individual characteristics (the drug did not suit a particular patient). You should not expect from homeopathy the same effective action that is noted in many anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs. They do not act as strongly, but they do not cause harm to the woman"s body. And in the case of pregnancy, the ability to at least slightly smooth out the symptoms of ARVI will be beneficial and preferable to treatment with more serious drugs. In any case, drinking "Oscillococcinum" during pregnancy should only be done as prescribed by a doctor. In this case, a specialist consultation is required not because of the possible negative effect of the drug on the fetus, but because of the high risk of various complications of acute respiratory infections in expectant mothers. Taking granules does not cause any side effects, and an overdose of such a drug has not previously occurred. In addition, "Oscillococcinum" does not interfere with the therapeutic effect of other drugs. However, due to the presence of milk sugar and sucrose in the composition, such a remedy is prohibited in case of lactose intolerance, lack of lactase in the body and some other pathologies associated with the absorption of carbohydrates.

How to use?

A single dosage of "Oscillococcinum" both in the first trimester and in the later stages will be the same. In addition, it is not affected by the age and weight of the patient. For one dose, take granules from one tube. It is recommended to take the drug 15 minutes before meals. If the expectant mother is going to drink such a remedy after eating, she should wait about 1 hour. The frequency of taking "Oscillococcinum" is determined depending on the symptoms and stage of the disease. If fever, chills, muscle pain and other signs of acute respiratory infections have just appeared, the drug is taken 2-3 times a day at intervals of 6 hours. If you start taking the drug at the height of the disease, then the granules are used twice a day. For the prevention of influenza, it is recommended to take 1 dose once a week. The duration of taking the granules also depends on the reason for the prescription and the course of the disease. In most cases, for ARVI, the drug is taken for only a few days. If "Oscillococcinum" is designed to protect against infection with influenza and other viruses, then the drug can be used for several months in a row – during the entire dangerous period. After pressing on the blister and taking out one tube, it is opened, and the contents are poured into the oral cavity. The granules are kept under the tongue until they dissolve under the action of saliva.

Adults administer them less frequently than infants, although it is still acceptable to dissolve them in water and drink the resulting solution.

When trying to relieve the symptoms of the cold and flu, many people turn to oscillococcinum. However, before taking any medication—including homeopathic ones like Oscillococcinum—during pregnancy, you must speak with your doctor.

Despite being promoted as natural and safe, there isn’t much scientific proof of its efficacy, particularly when pregnant. Every pregnancy is different, so what suits one woman might not suit another. Safety should always come first, and you should heed your doctor’s or midwife’s advice.

Consult a medical professional if you have any concerns about taking Oscillococcinum or any other medication while you are pregnant. In matters pertaining to your health and the health of your unborn child, it is always preferable to inquire and make well-informed decisions.

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