Best Pregnancy Safe Cough Drops (Updated 2026 Guide)

Updated July 15, 2026

The Answer

Cough drops vary widely, so check the full ingredient list rather than assuming every variety is equally suitable during pregnancy. Of 95 products we reviewed, 15 earned an A, while most received B+ through C- grades and one received an F.

The main consideration is repeated oral exposure to added herbs, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic dyes not simply whether a product is called a cough drop. Ingredients such as sage, elder, aspartame, and several forms of Red 40 or Blue 1 raise caution because pregnancy evidence is limited or concerns come largely from animal or high dose research rather than typical occasional intake.

Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.

✓ What's Safe

  • • A short, clearly labeled ingredient list that you can evaluate ingredient by ingredient.
  • • An A grade option when available; 15 of the 95 cough drops we reviewed received an A.
  • • A formulation without synthetic red or blue dyes.
  • • A product without added herbal blends when the amounts and pregnancy safety are unclear.
  • • Directions that state the serving frequency and maximum daily amount.
  • • A lower sugar or sugar free option when medically appropriate, after checking which sweetener replaces the sugar.

✗ What to Avoid

  • • Red 40, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Red 40, or Red 40 Lake when a dye free option is available; concerns are based largely on high dose animal evidence.
  • • FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue 1, or Blue 1 when you can choose an undyed alternative; human pregnancy data are limited.
  • • Sage containing drops, especially concentrated herbal formulations, unless your prenatal clinician has reviewed the product and amount.
  • • Elder containing products when the plant part, processing, or dose is unclear; raw elder berries can contain toxic compounds.
  • • Aspartame if you prefer to minimize artificial sweeteners with limited and mixed pregnancy specific evidence.
  • • Products with long proprietary herbal blends that do not disclose the amount of each ingredient.

Most Common Ingredients in Cough Drops Products

We analyzed 95 cough drops products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:

menthol
38%
water
37%
eucalyptus oil
34%
soy lecithin
28%
citric acid
27%
sucrose
24%
glucose syrup
24%
flavors
22%
sugar
21%
beta carotene
20%
honey
19%
sucralose
19%

Ingredients to Watch Out For in Cough Drops

These are the most common flagged ingredients across 95 cough drops products we analyzed.

red 40

CAUTION

Red 40 is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses. Red 40 is a synthetic red food dye. Possible neurobehavioral development concerns come mainly from animal studies using high oral doses, so they do not establish harm from occasionally consuming a cough drop; a dye free option can minimize exposure.

Found in 12 of 95 products (13%)

fd c red no 40

CAUTION

Fd c red no 40 is synthetic dyes added to foods and beverages. May affect neurobehavioral development in offspring based on animal studies. FD&C Red No. 40 is another label name for a synthetic red food dye. Its caution rating reflects animal evidence suggesting possible offspring neurobehavioral effects, not established harm from the small oral amount in an occasional cough drop.

Found in 10 of 95 products (11%)

sage

CAUTION

Sage is a culinary herb used in cooking and teas. Contains thujone which may trigger uterine contractions and increase miscarriage risk. Sage is a culinary herb that may also appear in concentrated cough drop blends. Because thujone related pregnancy concerns are tied to dose and concentrated herbal exposure, ordinary food use should not be equated with frequent use of an undisclosed medicinal amount.

Found in 10 of 95 products (11%)

aspartame

CAUTION

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener commonly found in diet sodas, sugar free foods, and tabletop sweeteners. Has been linked in animal studies to placental dysfunction, reduced birth weight, and oxidative stress, with limited human data suggesting possible developmental concerns. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in some sugar free products. Animal studies have reported placental, birth weight, or oxidative stress findings, while human pregnancy data remain limited, so occasional cough drop exposure should not be described as proven harmful.

Found in 8 of 95 products (8%)

red 40 lake

CAUTION

Red 40 lake is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses. Red 40 Lake is a form of synthetic Red 40 coloring used in solid products. Its caution rating is based largely on high dose animal findings concerning neurobehavioral development, which cannot be directly extrapolated to occasional oral exposure from a cough drop.

Found in 8 of 95 products (8%)

fd c blue no 1

CAUTION

Fd c blue no 1 is synthetic dyes added to foods and beverages. May affect neurobehavioral development in offspring based on animal studies. FD&C Blue No. 1 is a synthetic blue food dye. Human pregnancy evidence is limited, and possible neurobehavioral concerns largely come from animal research, so choosing dye free drops is a precaution rather than a response to established harm at typical amounts.

Found in 7 of 95 products (7%)

fd c red 40

CAUTION

Fd c red 40 is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses. FD&C Red 40 is a synthetic red coloring and a naming variant of Red 40. Potential developmental concerns are based mainly on animal studies at higher oral doses, leaving the significance of occasional cough drop exposure uncertain.

Found in 7 of 95 products (7%)

elder

CAUTION

Elder is an herbal supplement for immune support. May interfere with pregnancy immune function and raw berries contain toxic compounds. Elder is an herbal ingredient used in immune support products, but pregnancy specific evidence is limited and the label may not identify the plant part or dose. Raw elder berries contain toxic compounds, although that fact does not by itself establish harm from a properly processed cough drop.

Found in 6 of 95 products (6%)

How Do Cough Drops Products Stack Up?

We graded 95 cough drops products for pregnancy safety. 15 received an A grade.

A
15 (16%)
B
16 (17%)
C
63 (66%)
D
0 (0%)
F
1 (1%)

Best Pregnancy Safe Cough Drops

We found 15 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.

Grade Product Brand
A Halls Relief Cherry Cough Drops 30 Drops Halls
A Ricola Menthol 50G Ricola
A Fisherman'S Friend Honey Lemon Menthol Cough 40 Fisherman'S Friend
A Walgreens Cough Drops Menthol Walgreens
A Halls Cherry Sticks 9'S Halls

Cough Drops to Avoid During Pregnancy

These popular products received low grades due to flagged ingredients.

Grade Product Brand
F Heart Drops Original Flavor Strauss

Your Questions Answered

Which cough drops can you take while pregnant?

Choose based on the complete ingredient list and grade rather than the brand or flavor alone. Among 95 products we reviewed, 15 earned an A, while most fell between B+ and C-. Favor simpler, dye free formulations without caution rated herbs or sweeteners, and follow the labeled amount. Ask your prenatal clinician or pharmacist to review a medicated or multi ingredient product if you are unsure.

How can you treat a cough when pregnant?

Fluids may help loosen secretions, and a simple cough drop can temporarily soothe throat irritation. Because cough medicines can contain several active ingredients, have a clinician or pharmacist check the exact formulation before combining products. Seek medical advice if the cough persists, worsens, or is accompanied by concerning symptoms.

Can you take cherry flavored cough drops while pregnant?

Cherry flavor alone does not determine pregnancy suitability. Check whether the drop contains Red 40, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Red 40, or Red 40 Lake, as well as any herbs or medicinal ingredients. If two options provide similar relief, a simpler dye free formulation reduces unnecessary oral exposure.

Are menthol cough drops safe during pregnancy?

Menthol appeared in 36 of the 95 cough drops we reviewed, but the overall grade also depends on the other ingredients. Check the label for dyes, herbs, artificial sweeteners, and additional active ingredients rather than evaluating menthol alone. Use only the labeled amount, and ask your clinician about frequent or prolonged use.

Are herbal cough drops better during pregnancy?

“Herbal” does not automatically mean better studied or safer during pregnancy. Some formulations contain sage or elder, and the concentration may be unclear or unlike ordinary culinary exposure. Prefer transparent labels with disclosed ingredients and amounts, and have concentrated herbal blends reviewed before use.

Are sugar free cough drops a safer choice?

Sugar free drops may be useful when limiting sugar, but they replace sugar with another sweetener. Some products contain aspartame, which raises caution because the evidence includes animal findings and limited human developmental data rather than proof of harm from occasional cough drop exposure. Compare the entire formulation instead of treating “sugar free” as a safety guarantee.

How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?

We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.

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References

  1. https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/red-40/
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24257113/
  3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00418-9
  4. https://medisearch.io/blog/red dye-40-and pregnancy
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2060889/