Is Delsym safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about Delsym during pregnancy?

1. Dextromethorphan used as directed for cough is not expected to increase the chance of birth defects. 1
2. A study following 184 women who took dextromethorphan at any point in pregnancy found no increased chance of stillbirth or low birthweight. 1
3. Some over-the-counter liquid products containing dextromethorphan also contain alcohol, so reviewing every ingredient on the label matters before using one in pregnancy. 1
4. Delsym's original formula is labeled alcohol-free and delivers dextromethorphan polistirex equal to 30 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide per 5 mL, dosed as 10 mL every 12 hours and capped at 20 mL a day for adults. 2
5. The label directs you to ask a doctor before use for a cough that brings up too much phlegm or a chronic cough such as one from asthma, and not to use it alongside a prescription MAOI or within two weeks of stopping one. 2

Is Delsym safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Dextromethorphan itself has reassuring early-pregnancy data behind it, but an early cough is usually worth handling with fluids, honey, and a humidifier before any syrup comes out. If you do reach for Delsym, the original 12-hour formula keeps the exposure to a single active ingredient, which is the cleaner choice this early on.
• Second trimester. The 12-hour schedule is the real draw here: two doses a day instead of six. Nothing about the middle trimester shifts the underlying safety picture. It is worth checking whether your cough is actually a cough, though, since pregnancy rhinitis and postnasal drip send plenty of people to the cough aisle when a saline rinse would serve them better.
• Third trimester. A cough that arrives late and refuses to settle deserves a phone call more than another dose. Delsym's own label already says to ask a doctor if the cough brings up a lot of phlegm or runs past seven days, and holding yourself to that threshold is a good instinct this close to your due date.