What Meds Can I Take While Breast Feeding?

Hi,
I am a pharmacist, an allergy sufferer and a breastfeeding mommy. I think that kellymom.com is a great source of information regarding medications that are safe while breastfeeding so you might want to check it out. My recommendations are:
1) use a nasal saline spray (like Ocean Spray)
2) If you need an antihistamine, Claritin is a good one. However, there is a very slight possibility that it might dry your milk supply somewhat. I personally think it does dry my milk a bit so I use it only when I really need it. My milk supply goes back to normal as soon as I stop it. Drink lots of water just in case.
3) If you have itchy eyes try Naphcon-A or Opcon-A, or the new over-the-counter medication called Zaditor (it is also available as a generic). I like Zaditor because it can be used on a regular basis without causing rebound red-eye and it is dosed every 12 hours (vs. every 4 hours with the others).
Beware that, although Sudafed is considered compatible with breastfeeding (no harm to baby), it can definitely dry your milk supply so use it very sparringly, if at all (I stay away from it when breastfeeding because I don't have much milk to begin with).
May you feel better soon!

3 moms found this helpful

Hi B.! NO!! Don't take any of that! You should not NEED to take medications for allergies! Even with these high winds we're having recently! I'm a Certified Nutrition Consultant, in Petaluma. I specialize in Nutritional Support For Health. AND i have a passion for the well-being of children! If you are getting adequate healthy uncooked fats (oils) in your diet, you should be able to eliminate allergic responses to most allergens (pollens, pets, etc.). As a member of MAMMASOURCE, If you contact me, (by phone or email at ____@____.com) I'll give you a no cost half hour phone consultation. Meantime, eat avocados (1/2 to 1 whole daily), Olive Oil (virgin/cold pressed, organic), take vitamin E Supplementation (400 IU's daily) and either eat plenty of fish (cooked at low temperatures - 'low and slow'), or take Omega 3 fish oil supplements. Flax seed, or flax oil supplements are a goodway to get the healthy oils too! Healthy fats and oils will help to cleanse away any cholesterol deposits from cooked fats and oils too! It should NOT be necessary to expose your baby to any of these medications or pharmaceuticals! What you need is ALL available through a healthy dietary approach, and you'll be SO much happier without the allergies! M. Clevenger, CCHT, CNC Office Phone: ###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful

My doctors have always known, I remind them regularly, that I take Mucinex, 24 Hr Sudafed & Claritin 365 days a year. I have never been told to stop taking them, and I nursed my son until he was 4, he is now 6. I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with our 2nd & they still haven't told me to stop taking them, even through fertility treatments.

1 mom found this helpful

I've heard that you can take all the medicines that you mentioned. I am also hesitant to take anything while breastfeeding...it's so hard! I love this product called OCEAN. It's a saline rinse that brings quick relief to a stuffy nose and sinus headache. You can buy it at any old drug store ... bought it at Longs. Hope that helps!

1 mom found this helpful

B.,

I swear by a natural remedy: saline sinus rinse. You can buy it almost anywhere: Walmart, Longs Drugs, Walgreens, etc. It will run about $10 and there are somewhere around 50 saline packets. Pick yourself up a bottle of distilled water to fill, rather than boil, the water. I recommend heating the water for about 30 seconds in the microwave as the warm water works better than the cold water. Some people don't like the feeling of the water up their nose, but about 90% of the people I've told love it! It will wash the allergens that get up your nose out so that you no longer are having reactions to them. It is 100% safe for a breastfeeding mom. I love the stuff! Good luck.
Jackie

1 mom found this helpful

Hi B..I use all natural NON TOXIC safe products for allergies.Will not effect your milk, the baby etc.
My # is ###-###-####, we can chat if youd like. I am a wellness consultant and would like to help, My grandchildren and my son and daughter in law use these items with wonderful results as they do not take any pharmicuticals or synthetics. K. S. :})

1 mom found this helpful

Some people (babies) are allergic to honey, so I'd do a tiny bit at a time to test it out at first, but supposedly eating local honey helps with allergies. Good luck! C.

1 mom found this helpful

I would check kellymom.com for a list of APA approved meds while breastfeeding. This is a great website that pulls together research done on breastfeeding.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi B.,

I asked my pharmacist the same thing, as I'm still breastfeeding my toddler and have severe pollen allergies. He stated that Claritin is safe for breastfeeding moms. You can double check with your doctor also. I've been taking Claritin, and it seems to be making a difference -- my eyes don't itch and I'm not sneezing as much. If you have sinus congestion, I think Sudafed is also safe while breastfeeding but check with your doctor. I know Sudafed was safe when I was pregnant. Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

For the most part, the meds you can take while pregnant are the same ones you can take while breast feeding. Call your doctor, though, and explain that you BF but are having terrible allergies. I nursed my daughter through 3 allergy seasons and found meds I could take.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi. I have heard that if you eat local honey that it will take care of any allergies you have. The reasoning is supposed to be that they carry all the pollen from local trees, plants, flowers, weeds and grasses so when you eat it your getting all of that and it's kind of like getting allergy shots. I haven't done it (but should but I hate honey) so I don't know if it works. But that is completely natural and safer than any medicine for you. Babies cannot have honey until they are 1 or 2 yrs old though. Also I'm not sure how much you need to eat or how long it takes to work. There is a Bee Keepers store on X street and 21st (?) Street near Broadway. I don't know of any other and I don't know the name. sorry, I hope this was a little helpful.

1 mom found this helpful

I have had two different doctor's reccomend Claritan while breastfeeding. One said that Claritan D was good too. That said both said the first time to take it first thing in the morning so you know if your baby has any reaction. I also had a doctor tell me the reason they don't give babies antihistamines is that they make them act like they are on speed. It speeds up thier hearts, thier breathing, and makes them jumpy and jittery. That is why he recommended not taking antihistamines and decongestants while pregnant and breastfeeding. We also have been taking local bees pollen to try and prevent allergy symptoms but it must be local and it takes awhile to have effect. You actually start with just a granule or two to watch for allergic reactions. We get ours at Whole Foods. We also have begun trying homeopathics for allergies. So far we have noticed no problems with homepathics and our current nursling.

H.

1 mom found this helpful