Can You Take Emergen-C While Pregnant? Safety Reviewed - GoodRx (2024)

Millions of people get a cold every year in the United States. In fact, the average adult gets a cold about two to three times a year. And, about 40% of missed workdays occur because an adult is out sick with a cold.

While getting a cold is never fun, it can feel even tougher when you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, the immune system can weaken, which makes it easier to get sick.

You may be wondering about natural remedies to treat a cold during pregnancy. Here, we’ll talk about Emergen-C — the popular vitamin C supplement. Can you take Emergen-C while pregnant? Do immunity support products help treat or prevent colds? Read on to find out.

What is Emergen-C?

Emergen-C is an over-the-counter (OTC) line of products that contain vitamin C as their main ingredient. The Emergen-C packets are a popular product that contain 1,000 mg of vitamin C. This is over 10 times the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The RDA refers to the amount of a nutrient that most people need to stay healthy.

The RDAs for vitamin C are:

• Nonpregnant adult females: 75 mg

• Pregnant and younger than 18 years old: 80 mg

• Pregnant and over 18 years old: 85 mg

• Adult males: 90 mg

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient found in some foods and drinks. It has many functions in the body, including:

• Lowering inflammation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that block or slow inflammation in the body.

• Building collagen. Vitamin C is required for the body to make collagen, which helps wounds heal.

• Helping to absorb iron. Vitamin C helps with the absorption of nonheme iron, which is a type of iron found in plant-based foods.

In addition to its main ingredient vitamin C, Emergen-C often contains several other vitamins and electrolytes, including: Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Pyridoxine is involved in many processes in the body, including supporting the immune system and metabolism. It also plays a role in brain development.

Cyanocobalamin plays a role in the production of healthy blood cells. It’s also involved in helping our brain and nervous system work normally.

Immunity support products like Emergen-C are a line (brand) of products — not one specific product. So vitamins and electrolytes can vary from product to product.

How do I take Emergen-C?

Immunity support products like Emergen-C usually come as a powder packet. You make a drink with the powder by emptying the packet into a cup and mixing it with 4 to 6 oz of water. If the flavor is too strong, you can add more water. Don’t take more than one packet a day.

Emergen-C also comes as a gummy. The recommended daily dose is no more than three gummies a day.

But other brands are also available. For instance, another popular vitamin C supplement brand — Airborne — comes as chewable tablets, dissolvable tablets, and gummies. Emergen-C and Airborne can be found at most pharmacies, grocery stores, and major retailers. Many other brands have vitamin C and other vitamins as well.

Is Emergen-C safe to take while I’m pregnant?

Yes, most likely. But most pregnant women in the U.S. don’t need to supplement with other forms of vitamin-C, like Emergen-C. They can get enough vitamin C from their prenatal vitamins and their diet.

There’s no strong evidence showing that vitamin C supplements prevent or treat colds (more on that later). Still, they’re generally safe to take if you’re pregnant. There aren’t many studies looking at the safety of vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy, but the available research hasn't shown benefits or harms.

However, dosing is something to think about. Above, we talked about the RDA for Vitamin C. The RDA is different from the maximum daily dose, known as the tolerable upper intake level (UL). Doses below the UL are unlikely to be harmful.

Each packet of Emergen-C contains 1 g (1,000 mg) of vitamin C. This is below the recommended UL of vitamin C — 2 g (2,000 mg) — for pregnant women. But keep in mind that your prenatal vitamin likely contains vitamin C too. Many immunity support products also contain other vitamins and electrolytes commonly found in most prenatal vitamins, including high doses of vitamin B6 and vitamin E.

So, before taking Emergen-C or any other immunity support product, check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can help you learn if your total daily dose of vitamin C, and other vitamins, is within safe limits. You should also never start a new medication or supplement during pregnancy without talking to a healthcare provider first.

If you have a condition called hemochromatosis — when your body stores too much iron — avoid taking Emergen-C. It can make your condition worse since vitamin C raises the absorption of iron.

Does Vitamin C actually prevent or treat colds?

Vitamin C is one vital part of a healthy immune system, especially during pregnancy. Chronically low levels of vitamin C can raise your risk of developing scurvy or infections. But, taking vitamin C supplements hasn’t been shown to prevent colds. Let’s dive into the research.

Preventing a cold

When you’re healthy and eating a balanced diet, taking a high dose of vitamin C doesn’t prevent you from getting a cold.

A 2013 review of more than 11,000 people studied people who take vitamin C daily. The doses studied varied greatly from less than 1 g per day to 8 g per day. Regardless of the dose, the researchers found that taking vitamin C on a regular basis didn’t prevent colds in most people. The exception to this was people practicing intense physical activity, like marathon runners or skiers. In this group of people, taking vitamin C regularly did lower the chance of getting a cold.

Another review including over 8,000 people found similar results. Taking a daily dose of vitamin C did not lower the likelihood of getting a cold. Vitamin C doses ranged from 1 g to 3 g per day.

Treating a cold

Studies on vitamin C supplements to treat colds are conflicting.

Some studies show vitamin C supplementation has no effect on how long a cold lasts or how intense the symptoms are. Other research, including a 2018 review of nine clinical trials found that people who regularly take vitamin C might benefit from taking extra doses when they start to feel cold symptoms. The analysis found that the extra doses shortened the duration of a cold by about half a day. It also relieved some symptoms like fever, chills, and chest pain.

This research shows that although taking vitamin C probably isn’t harmful, its effect on improving symptoms or shortening the duration of the cold are likely modest.

What can I take instead of Emergen-C while I’m pregnant?

Cold symptoms can last up to 10 days, which might seem like a long time while you’re pregnant. Colds often resolve on their own and don’t need treatment, but there are safe cold medication options in pregnancy. Head to our GoodRx guide on safe cold medications during pregnancy to learn more.

As a reminder, always talk to your healthcare provider before trying any new medication while pregnant, even if it’s an OTC supplement or medication.

What natural remedies can I use to treat a cold while I’m pregnant?

There are plenty of things you can do at home to help with cold symptoms when you’re pregnant.

Simply resting is one of the most important things you can do. People who get 8 hours or more of sleep per night tend to have fewer colds. It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids. When you’re pregnant, you should try to drink 8 to 12 cups of water every day, especially if you’re sick. And, make sure to eat foods that are full of nutrients, like fruits and vegetables. Eating nutrient-dense foods helps your body support your growing baby and yourself.

Other home remedies, like using a humidifier at night, elevating your head with pillows while you sleep, and gargling salt water for a sore throat, can be helpful as well.