Is it safe to take medications that contain alcohol during pregnancy?

No: Alcohol is not safe in pregnancy and can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. There is no known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy. So once you know you are pregnant, you should stop all of it. This includes even the small amounts that are in some medicines.

No: While the small amounts of alcohol contained in medications are unlikely to cause major harm unless taken in large amounts, there is no reason to use these while pregnant. Virtually all liquid medicines have alcohol-free alternatives, as do mouthwashes etc. Talk to your pharmacist to recommend brands of cold medicines that are safer in pregnancy, and/or talk to your OB provider.