The drug "Arbidol" when breastfeeding - is it worth the risk

In the autumn-winter period there is an annual increase in the incidence of patients with influenza and ARVI, and there are categories of the population for whom these diseases are especially dangerous. Often the question arises - can I prescribe "Arbidol" when breastfeeding and during pregnancy, in what dosages and for how long. What is more preferable for treatment and prevention of viral infections in this case - highly effective drugs with proven immunomodulatory effect or proven by many centuries of use of traditional medicine?

How to prevent viral infections in pregnant and lactating women

For a long time it has been proved that during pregnancy and lactation the activity of the immune system of the female body changes - the tension of both cellular and humoral immunity decreases, the production of interferon and lysozyme decreases. All this becomes factors that increase the risk of the incidence of any infectious diseases, including viral. But the medicine "Arbidol" with breastfeeding for the prevention of any acute respiratory viral infection, despite its high effectiveness, should be prescribed only by a doctor if the risk of complications of the disease is many times higher than the possibility of developing side effects in a woman and her child.

That is why obstetrician-gynecologists, therapists and infectious disease doctors say that during this period of life, every woman should think not only about her own health condition, but also, with the continuation of natural feeding, about the effect of any medicine on the baby's body. At this time, doctors often advise their patients to use medicinal plants and methods of traditional medicine that stimulate the defenses of the body and do not prescribe Arbidol in lactation. It is recommended to normalize the mode of work and rest, balance nutrition and enrich it with an increased amount of vitamins, and consume a large amount of liquid. Naturally, during this period of life a woman should do her best to reduce the risk of infection - avoiding the accumulation of large numbers of people and contacts with people who are known to be ill.

Is it worth treating ARVI in nursing women "Arbidol"

Infection with viruses that cause symptoms of respiratory infections (including influenza) in women who have recently given birth to a child is often accompanied by severe intoxication - headache, fever, catarrhal symptoms. Often the woman becomes the source of infection of the baby, so she tries to recover as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the answer to the question - is it possible to "Arbidol" nursing mothers, almost unambiguous. Currently, in this clinical group, there have been practically no tests of the safety of this medication, as well as of other high-performance immunomodulators, and therefore should not be prescribed in uncomplicated cases.

"Arbidol" with breastfeeding should be prescribed only in cases where it is proved that the virus disease is caused by a really potentially dangerous pathogen. Such pathological processes include laboratory-confirmed cases of atypical pneumonia, chicken or swine influenza, highly virulent strains of influenza in general-those viral infections that most often have a severe course and pose a potential danger to the patient.

If you have to use Arbidol while breastfeeding, this medication should be administered only under constant medical supervision in a hospital setting, along with other medications for treatment. For the period of treatment, a woman should stop feeding her baby with her own milk and choose an effective adapted mixture in accordance with the baby's age and express milk to preserve and maintain lactation.