Antihistamines whilst pregnant?
Just wondered if anyone had any experience of taking antihistamines whilst pregnant?
I only found out this weekend that I am expecting, but had to go to the out of hours doctor today because I have come out in some bizarre allergy rash all over my face, neck, under arms and forearms.
He prescribed Cetirizine Hydrochloride which is apparently one of the few antihistamines that are not on the list of ones that you should not take under any circumstances. He said it was up to me whether I took it or not, but the reason they can't recommend them is that they have only been tested on pregnant animals, because seriously how many pregnant women are they going to find willing to have a drug trialled on them?
I just wondered if anyone has used this, or any other antihistamines whilst pregnant with no ill effect?
Thanks for any advice you can offer xx
I only found out this weekend that I am expecting, but had to go to the out of hours doctor today because I have come out in some bizarre allergy rash all over my face, neck, under arms and forearms.
He prescribed Cetirizine Hydrochloride which is apparently one of the few antihistamines that are not on the list of ones that you should not take under any circumstances. He said it was up to me whether I took it or not, but the reason they can't recommend them is that they have only been tested on pregnant animals, because seriously how many pregnant women are they going to find willing to have a drug trialled on them?
I just wondered if anyone has used this, or any other antihistamines whilst pregnant with no ill effect?
Thanks for any advice you can offer xx
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Replies
HTH. xx
I hope that you dont end up suffering too much whatever you decide x
I have very bad allergies and was on antihistamines the whole time I was pregnant / breastfeeding and they didn't cause any problems. At first I was taking cetirizine hydrochloride, then the doc changed me onto Loratidine because they were in the book as being OK, but there just hadn't been enough data collected on the cetirizine ones yet for them to be listed as safe.
I found the Loratidine weren't as good, but managed to stick with them until I had my daughter, then I switched back to cetirizine while breastfeeding.
It really depends on your circumstances, whether the effect of not taking them is going to be worse. with me my asthma gets really bad and the reduced oxygen to the baby was going to be worse than the minimal risk from the antihistamines.
hth
aileen xx
B xx
xxx
I took one a night for a couple of weeks and my little girl is fine! xx
my dr perscibed me with cetirizine hydrochloride this morning as i have got random rashes on my arm that i thought were gnat bites and i also get really bad hayfever more so these last few weeks. did anyone take these during pregnancy? i am 22 weeks btw.
Hi,
I was prescribed piriton to help me sleep as I had intrhepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP/OC).
I also had a rash which is not the norm and it took my rash down. Didn't help the itch but it did make me drowsy!
In fact I am not sure being a clumsy pregnant lady you need any extra drowsiness!
I think avoid it if you can but it is surely not good for baby if you are suffering unnecessarily.
my chemist said the only brand i can take is one called new era x
have been prescribed cetirizine hydrochloride today as I am sufferring badly from hayfever, which then aggrevates my already severe eczema. I am 4 weeks pregnant now. If you get a rash and are constantly itching and sneezing and crying, this is definitely not good for your baby. my doctor is saying these are least harmful and gave me a prescription for 60 days. If your body needs help - means your body needs help. No reason to sit and suffer too much there... After all, if you keep it untreated, your skin rash gets really bad, you itch even more and then get infection into your blood.... Definitely not good...
Hi, I found this thread useful as I have been on antihistamines for a long time (about 7 months) as I had bad skin allergies and have itchiness all the time.
I am now 7 weeks pregnant and tried to stop the antihistamines but itchiness comes back and it is very painful so taking one or two a week at the moment and that helps.
GP says that it is better to avoid them all together but i was not able stop completely but at least reduce it. I wanted to check what experiences others have, whether or not they have similar problem.