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Comparison · Pregnancy Smart

The throat lozenge options worth knowing about in pregnancy

Assigned clinical reviewerMichael Yuzefovich· MD, FACOGDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

How do the options compare?

Each option is weighed on how much evidence sits behind it for a cough or a raw throat, and then on whether the dose that produced that evidence fits inside a pregnancy-safe daily total.

OptionStudied pregnancy doseGuideline supportNotes
Honey, in warm tea or on its ownNo pregnancy dose set, and NCCIH's finding is that it may help decrease nighttime coughing in childrenThe kitchen option NCCIH describes with the most supportive cold dataNever for a child under 1 year, because of botulism risk. That caution is about the baby after birth, not about you.
High-dose zinc acetate lozengesThe pooled trials used 80 to 92 mg of zinc a dayThat analysis found a 42% reduction in total cold duration when lozenges started within 24 hours of symptoms80 to 92 mg is roughly double the 40 mg pregnancy ceiling for ages 19 and up, before your prenatal is counted.
Zinc at pregnancy-appropriate amounts11 mg a day at 19 and older and 12 mg for pregnant teens, with a ceiling of 40 mg and 34 mg respectivelyMotherToBaby: staying between the recommended amount and the upper limit is unlikely to increase the chance for birth defectsMotherToBaby also notes nobody has studied whether going above that upper limit changes the picture, which is the reason to stay under it.
Benzocaine numbing lozenges and spraysCommonly sold at 5%, 10%, and 20% strengthsExceeding the manufacturer's recommended dose is a documented risk factor for methemoglobinemiaBenzocaine accounts for 66% of local anesthetic-related methemoglobinemia cases in FDA adverse event data, and pulse oximetry can read falsely low while supplemental oxygen does not lift it.
  • Honey may help decrease nighttime coughing, making it the kitchen remedy with the most supportive data behind it for cold symptoms. 1
  • Across 10 randomized trials in children, honey matched common cough medicines on cough frequency and sleep quality, though reviewers graded the evidence low to very low and recorded nausea or vomiting in up to 14 percent of participants. 2
  • Zinc in pregnancy has a daily ceiling of 40 mg for ages 19 and older and 34 mg for ages 14 to 18, and staying between the recommended amount and that ceiling is unlikely to increase the chance for birth defects. 3
  • The zinc lozenge trials that shortened colds by about 42 percent used roughly 80 to 92 mg of zinc a day, which is double the pregnancy ceiling before your prenatal is even counted. 4
  • Benzocaine, the numbing agent sold in solutions, tablets, sprays, and gels for mouth and throat pain, can cause methemoglobinemia, a rapid-onset condition in which blood carries less oxygen and low readings do not improve with supplemental oxygen. 5

Which option makes sense?

Honey is the low-risk place to start, the zinc lozenge dose that shortened colds in trials runs about double the pregnancy ceiling, and benzocaine is the one to clear with your provider before you unwrap it.

Disclosure: Pregnancy Smart makes supplements in this category. The comparison above is written to inform, not to steer readers toward or away from our brand.

Frequently asked questions

What throat lozenges are safe during pregnancy?

There is no official pregnancy-safe list, which is why this question is harder than it looks. The practical approach is to start with the simplest thing that coats a raw throat, keep medicated lozenges occasional rather than routine, and ask your provider about any active ingredient you cannot identify.

Are menthol cough drops safe during pregnancy?

Menthol drops have not been studied specifically in pregnancy, so there is no data showing harm and none showing safety either. They work by cooling and stimulating saliva rather than by being absorbed in quantity. Check the label for added ingredients and ask your provider before using them heavily.

Can I use zinc lozenges for a cold while pregnant?

This is the one to clear first. The doses that shortened colds in trials run about 80 to 92 mg of zinc daily, roughly double the 40 mg pregnancy ceiling, and your prenatal already contributes. A shorter or lower-dose approach may be reasonable, but that is your provider's call.

Does honey work as well as cough medicine?

In children's trials, honey performed about as well as common cough medicines for reducing cough frequency and improving sleep, though the evidence quality was rated low. For an adult with a scratchy throat, honey in warm tea is a reasonable and low-risk first move.

Related in the library

References

  1. Colds, Flu, and Complementary Health Approaches: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH

    NIH · https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colds-flu-and-complementary-health-approaches

  2. Honey for acute cough in children, a systematic review (European Journal of Pediatrics, 2023)

    PubMed Central · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10570220/

  3. Zinc: MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/zinc/

  5. When Pain Relief Turns Perilous: Benzocaine-Induced Methemoglobinemia (Cureus, 2024)

    PubMed Central · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11426407/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.