What to Take for Allergies When Breastfeeding

I would talk to either the pharmacist or your Primary Care Provider to see what they can come up with. My allergies are horrible and not much helps me either. But that's what i would do.

My dad is a pharmacist and told met that there's pretty much nothing I can take. Decongestants are like speed for babies!! I just have to tough it out until I'm done nursing. Having a cold was horrible without medicine!!

I know how you feel. I've felt the same with over the counter stuff...never worked and it seemed I always felt worse than before I took it!!! AAHH! Not to mention the breastfeeding being a concern. So, what I have found is that a natural remedy worked the best. Over the past two years of taking grapeseed extract (Proflavanol 90), a very powerful antioxidant by USANA Health Sciences, I've been able to control my allergies. How, do you ask? Because grapeseed extract is a natural anti-allergen, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial and...allergies are a sign of a depleted immune system... Great stuff that doctors don't want you to know about!:) You should check it out!

Hope you find what works!
D.

I don't know, but you could contact any La Leche LEague leader and they can guide you to the right place.

S. regardless if you are breastfeeding or not the best results come from a good multi-vitamin and alfalfa. It works wonders and there are absolutely NO side effects. Good luck
S.

Hi S. - I have been taking Zyrtec daily for years (through two pregnancies and two breast-fed babies). I found it to work better than Claritin. One post-er was right, though, you do need to take it everyday for about a week to see the full results. It is now offered over the counter which is nice. I read the post about treating it with natural drugs and that sounds really interesting, I'm going to look into that too. Good luck!

Hi S.. I am brest feeding and take Zyrtec (now over the counter) and occasionally sudafed. Check with your pediatrician about what is safe. My son is 9 months old and has had no side effects from either medication.

J.
Galloway OH

Don't take Sudafed when pregnant! Yes, it's "safe" when breastfeeding. However, the main ingredient is KNOWN to dry up milk - fast. Many docs/midwives will tell new moms that don't plan on breastfeeding to take sudafed for a few days after baby is born to dry up their milk supply faster and get over engorgement faster!

I take Claritin and it works so-so. I've found that I need to take it daily for at least a week to see any results. And if I skip a day by accident then it's back to square one. :-(

Unfortunately, due to the way most allergy/cold/congestion meds work, they dry up the milk supply.

My breathing salvation is plain, old saline. It is a surprising miracle...good luck:) A. B

After I had my second son I developed indoor and outdoor alleries. I was on prescription Zyrtec and it worked great. This year Zyrtec was made over-the-counter, and you can buy it at your local pharmacy or Wal-mart, etc. It's in a small white bottle with a green label. I think a month's supply is about $20-$25. It helps get rid of the itchy red eyes, watery eyes, itchy and runny nose, stuffiness, sneezing.

If you have a lot of mucus in your throat, I would suggest looking for Zyrtec-D. It has a decongestant in it, which really helps clear up the throat.

-S.

You might want to consider Claritin-D. In general, Claritin or any allergy medicine without the D (decongestant) in it doesn't work for me. In fact, I used the CVS version called Loratadine D. I was cleared by the doctor to use this when I was attempting to breastfeed less than 2 years ago.

I used Zyrtec for my horrible allergies while pregnant and breastfeeding. I breast fed my first son until he was 21 months and my second until he was 15 months and had no problems. As of the first of this year it became over-the-counter. Costco has the best price.

Don't take Claritin... it will dry up your milk supply. Sorry, I don't have any other advice as to what to take.

Good Luck!

I take zyrtec. My doc said you can mix the allergy meds together to get the best effect, but he also said that right now it is just the time of the year and it is really bad this year and there isn't much you can do. But I know Zrytec is safe I took it while I was prego too. I would say don't take anything with the "D" in it, that goes into your milk and children under 2 are never supposed to have it. It is like speed, and can cause seizures among other bad side effects. That part you just have to suffer through until your done breastfeeding. LOl oh the burden we carry as mothers!!!

Hi,
You have lots of advice about various medications. What I have known to work for many is getting your immune system in the best working order, then supplementing with some things that are natural antihistamines (and also increase breast milk). If you want specifics, please contact me at ____@____.com. Allergies can also be passed on to the baby so eliminating them is better than masking them with medication if you so choose.

QUERCITIN is an herbal that I use for allergies and asthma...for me mostly bee stings, poison ivy, etc. HOWEVER.you need to do your homework to find out about the safety of it with breastfeeding. I don't know of any precautions off hand.

I feel your pain "stuffiness". I had a similar problem through both of my kids breastfeeding times. The only thing that worked for me was plain old Sudafed. Not the allergy kind or cold stuff just the plain one. It was the only thing my doctor allowed me to take so I am so glad it worked.

You can also supplement with Robitusson (the plain one) as needed. The combination worked pretty well for me.

If it were ME and I was suffering with allergies and breastfeeding, I would NEVER trust any medications, prescribed or otherwise. So many of these a new and they just do not know the long term effects on adults - let alone infants.

The most non-invasive thing you can do right now is to use a neti pot with saline solution. The first few times you try it, its going to be hard, but after that, it gets easier and easier. Then when you are done with the neti, follow up with a few sprays of xlear sinus spray. It is a saline based spray with xylitol.

neti pot http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm
xclear http://www.xlear.com/articles/nasal-spray.aspx

You will be amazed at how much better you feel if you do this regimen a couple times a day. I used to be the poster child for allergies and sinus infections. Not anymore.

Mix up a gallon of saline and keep in the bathroom. (4t sea salt, 4 t baking soda) Then you will be more apt to use this everyday.

Watch your dairy, white flour, white sugar and orange juice intake as these are all mucus makers.

Zyrtec-its a class C medication. My doctor told me that would be the best medication to take during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

I too have TERRIBLE allergies and am breastfeeding exclusively (2 month old)! I just okayed this with the doctor, so I know it's all okay to take...I take Zyrtec, which was only prescription but is now over the counter, and Flonase nasal spray (prescription only) and Padaday Eye Drops (prescription only.) I HATE taking any meds while pregnant or breastfeeding, but my allergies will knock me out of comission for weeks if I don't take these. The combination of the three is all I've found that works. Good Luck!