Allergy Meds While Pregnant

I've taken both Zyrtec and Sudafed in both my pregnancies and both kids are fine, so far:) They're 4 and 1.5. You might want to interview another OBGYN. Mine was fine with most prescriptions, especially catagory B. For alternative stuff, netti pot is good. You might also try Quercetin (natural antihistamine), and even acupuncture. Also..I've had a lifetime of asthma and hay fever. But since I stopped eating gluten, dairy, and eggs, my hay fever is much, much better. I used to take Zytrec every day for years. I'm off of it now. Good luck.

-K.
http://gratitude365.blogspot.com/

2 moms found this helpful

i have taken them and everything was fine health baby #3 was born dec 30 2008 i have hives during the time i was pregnant so i was not a fun person to be around had them for over 3 weeks took claritin and benadril as well then i got a cold during the last month or so and i was beck on the allergy meds for that as well good luck and happy baby #2

I took Claritin D my whole pregnancy. My son weighed 7lbs 4 oz, a bit smaller than my daughter, but still strong and healthy. My breast milk was a bit low, probably from the Claritin D.

I feel your pain!!! My allergies got worse with both my pregnancies! I tried stopping for a while with my first but couldn't breathe at all - it was awful! I asked if I could take my allergy meds and my OB said yes!! I took Allegra D through out the rest of that pregnancy and my complete 2nd one.

My friend, however, saw a family Dr for her pregnancy and was told she could not take her allergy meds at all - I believe she had Claritin. I really think this is one of those areas of meds where you are going to get different answers depending on the Dr you talk to.

Good luck!
J.

I take zyrtex and it works great. I never took it while pregnant though.

If you have to take something...I would try benadryl.

high levels of vitamin C help sinuses alot.I took about 3000 mg/day. those emergency drinks have about 1000 mg in them. I take 3 drinks through out the day.am, pm, and after dinner. Vitamin C is water soluble so if you have an excess you don't need you will urinate it out. If your taking way too much you will get diarrhea , so cut back. The C will help your overall immune system for the upcomming winter too.
Good luck.

I did take Zyrtec as needed with my son and have taken it a few times during this pregnancy. It was what the doc recommended at the time.

I took Zyrtec while pregnant.....no problems.

I don't have allergies, nor am I pregnant so my advice may or may not be of any help. I do know, however, that *some* allergy sufferers get a big help from simple saline spray used several times a day. Not decongestant, just saline. For some, it helps clear the allergens from your nose and sinuses before your body responds.

Good luck!

Hi R.,
I can totally relate to your situation. I am 11 weeks pregnant and having serious sinus issues right now too. Every year, starting in August, I get severe sinus pressure headaches. Two sudafed in the morning will usually help me get through the day. If I don't take the sudafed, I will get a headache so severe that it can lead to vomiting. I am currently taking the sudafed daily, though like you, I don't want to take meds while pregnant. I have two other kids I have to be there for and have been having horrible, horrible morning sickness, so I have made the decision to take the sudafed (considered pregnancy safe) so I can function. Also, when I was pregnant with my second, I had the same problem and I took Claritin D (Zyrtec too for a while) then. My daughter is now 2 and a half years old and very healthy so that helps me feel better about taking meds during this pregnancy. If you are absolutely miserable and the meds are considered safe, I say go for it. Hopefully your allergies will pass soon and you won't be on the meds for long.
Blessings
Rachael

R.,
If you eat local Honey that will help your body with allergies. I read an article about it you need to find someone in your area that sells Honey. Good Luck

K.

I have some info that I can email to you if you would like to email me at ____@____.com long and too much to type here.

I took Claritin while pregnant with both of my children and had no problems.

R.,

It sounds like your allergies are triggering your asthma and you will need to get that under control. I have been on allergy meds for many years and my allergist put me on Claritin when I was pregnant with my son, who is now 7 years old. The Claritin worked fine and actually worked better for me while I was pregnant than when I wasn't. =)

If you are suffering every year and the symptoms are endangering your health, you should schedule an appointment with an allergist and look into allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy (aka: SLIT). My allergist put me on the SLIT therapy and I take allergy drops every morning. Last year at this time I had to have the house closed up, the air conditioners running, a box fan with a whole house filter on it and a breathing mask to filter the particles out of the air. I have been taking the allergy drops for over a year and this August and my body is much less sensitive to everything in the air.

I hope you start to feel better soon and please schedule an appointment with an allergist to have your asthma symptoms looked at. You don't want your body to be weakened by your asthma and allergies while the swine flu moves through the population because the virus has been severely affecting people with respiratory related issues.

-C..

I had exactly the same problem! With my youngest (now 4 months), I had such severe sinus / allergy problems it was killing me, and sudafed wouldn't touch them. I also got so bad I had bronchitis once, and a severe upper resp infection. Once we got the infection down, I was told by my OB to buy Claritin D (OTC) and see how that did. It worked WONDERS! The nice thing about claritin is that it doesn't have any acetemetiphin in it at all - so it will deal with the stuffiness, and if you still have pain, it is still safe to take tylenol with it - PLUS it did not raise my blood pressure, which was very important, as I already have chronic HBP. If your OB is unwilling to help you, I would either see your family doctor, or consider another OB.

I had the same problem. I took everything you can think of. My daughter is now 5 and is /was just fine. I was most comfortable taking Benadryl at night - because it also helped me sleep and is didn't stay in your system as long so, it made me feel better about it not passing through to the baby. Try talking to your pharmasit - they can give you some suggestions.
Hope you feel better soon.

R. ~
As an OB nurse, our doctors often recommend sudafed for our patients, even early in the pregnancy. It's safe throughout.
D.

Considering everything you've said and what I know, your immune system needs a boost, but naturally.

Here is what I suggest: probiotic, vitamin C, vitamin E. If you are taking a prenatal vitamin, there is a test to determine if it is getting into your system.

If you would like to know what I use and about the test, call me at ###-###-####. I am here to help.

Many blessings,

M.

I took Zyrtec while I was pregnant with #2, all was well- I have been taking it daily for about 5 years so when things got even worse I took Sudefed or Tylenol sinus. Good luck!

Hey R.,

I took OTC brand Claritin with all 3 of my pregnancies ~ and as far as I can tell, they turned out all right! ;)

I also took Benadryl and Sudafed on occasion with a cold or worse allergies.

Unfortunately, pregnancy also induces stuffy nose, so I didn't get a ton of relief from any of those, but it might be worth asking your OB or finding another doc. If the symptoms are interfering with your life, then it's time to seek an alternative.

Good luck!

I used both Flonase and Claritan during 2 of my pregnancies and found it helped A LOT!! All of my kids were born happy and healthy. Good luck!