Halls cough drops are generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Most healthcare providers list menthol lozenges, including Halls, as an acceptable option for managing sore throats and coughs while pregnant. That said, the safety picture has a few nuances worth understanding before you reach for that bag.
What’s Actually in a Halls Drop
The active ingredient in Halls is menthol, typically at 7.5 mg per drop. Menthol works as a mild numbing agent that soothes throat irritation and temporarily suppresses the urge to cough. Beyond menthol, the inactive ingredients in a standard Halls Honey Lemon drop include eucalyptus oil, glucose syrup, sucrose, honey, soy lecithin, and flavoring.
Most of these ingredients are straightforward, but two are worth a closer look during pregnancy: menthol and eucalyptus oil.
Menthol Safety During Pregnancy
There is limited research specifically studying menthol’s effects during pregnancy. The InfantRisk Center, a leading resource on medication safety for pregnant and breastfeeding women, notes that because of this limited data, other options with stronger safety profiles may be preferred. Their guidance is that menthol should be used only when the benefits outweigh the potential risk.
In practice, though, the amount of menthol in a cough drop is very small. At 7.5 mg per lozenge, even several drops a day deliver far less menthol than you’d get from, say, applying a mentholated chest rub. Many hospital systems and OB-GYN practices include menthol drops like Halls on their “safe during pregnancy” medication lists. OU Health, for example, explicitly names Halls, Ricola, and Vicks menthol drops as safe choices for sore throat during pregnancy.
The key is moderation. Using a few Halls drops a day to get through a cold is very different from consuming an entire bag daily for weeks. Stick to the dosage on the package and use them only when you actually need symptom relief.
The Eucalyptus Oil Question
One ingredient that gets less attention is eucalyptus oil, listed among the inactive ingredients in Halls. Poison Control advises against using eucalyptus oil during pregnancy. However, this guidance is primarily aimed at concentrated eucalyptus oil products, not the trace amounts found in a cough drop. The quantity in a single lozenge is extremely small compared to pure eucalyptus oil supplements or aromatherapy products.
If the presence of eucalyptus oil concerns you, look for Halls varieties that don’t contain it, or choose a different brand of menthol-only lozenge.
Sugar Content and Gestational Diabetes
Each regular Halls drop contains about 10 calories and roughly 2.5 grams of sugar, sourced from glucose syrup and sucrose. If you’re managing gestational diabetes or watching your blood sugar, those grams can add up quickly when you’re popping drops throughout the day. Ten drops would add about 25 grams of sugar, comparable to a small candy bar.
Halls makes sugar-free varieties that use artificial sweeteners instead. The FDA has reviewed the safety of common sweeteners like sucralose (found in some Halls products), evaluating over 110 studies including those looking at reproductive effects. These sweeteners are considered safe for the general population at normal consumption levels. Sugar-free drops are a reasonable swap if blood sugar is a concern for you.
Alternatives Worth Trying First
Since menthol has limited pregnancy-specific research, you might prefer starting with remedies that have no safety questions at all. A warm saltwater gargle two to three times a day can reduce throat pain and help clear bacteria. Mix about half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water.
Honey is another simple option. A spoonful of honey coats the throat and has mild antimicrobial properties. You can stir it into warm water or herbal tea. Staying well hydrated, using a humidifier, and drinking warm broth or soup also help soothe irritated airways without any medication.
If these aren’t enough and you need something stronger, benzocaine lozenges (like Cepacol or Chloraseptic) are another category that many providers consider safe during pregnancy.
When a Sore Throat Needs More Attention
Most colds and sore throats during pregnancy are minor and resolve on their own. But a sore throat paired with a fever warrants a call to your provider, since fever during pregnancy can pose its own risks and may indicate a bacterial infection like strep that needs treatment. The same goes for a sore throat that lasts more than a few days without improving, comes with difficulty swallowing or breathing, or is accompanied by a rash.
A persistent or worsening cough, especially one that produces discolored mucus, is also worth mentioning at your next appointment or calling about sooner if it’s affecting your sleep or daily functioning.