Medication for hay fever whilst breastfeeding? Feeling rotten.

[missdeelite]

I suffer from hay fever every year in early Spring (tree pollen I think), and it is miserable!!! Last year was pg and couldn't take anything, and felt dreadful for a month at least. It has started again this year, it is particularly bad during the night and so ruining the few precious hours sleep I snatch between night feeds and early mornings for school run. I am ebf my feeding my 3 month old. Pharmacist said they can't give me anything, I wondered if there is anything available on prescription that anyone has had?

Hi I will have not tried anything myself as I'm currently 28wks pg and my hay fever starts in April and lasts until aug/sept. I have found this info and will be looking into this for myself! Best of luck xx www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/pregnancyandchildbirth/205467.html

This is the BfN's factsheet on anti-histamines and other treatments for hayfever/allergies for bfing mothers.

HTH.

Rachy go to your gp for a prescription.
you can use low-dose steroid sprays (beconase and the likes) for hayfever in pregnancy and breastfeeding, don't be fobbed of (or send your dp/dh to buy them)

I hate hate hate it when pharmacists are so ill-informed

Thanks mousymouse :-)

Thanks will try gp! Didn't think I'd be the only one!

I was given ceterazine (sp?) and a nasobec thingy to squirt up my nose, as well as eye drops.

Don't forget if your maternity exemption certificate is still valid you can get stuff on prescripion rather than OTC.

I was also advised that I could use Benadryl still if I wanted, and the fact that it was untested didn't mean it was unsafe. Didn't mean it was safe either though!

hi i have hayfever and last yr i was pg and used some homeopathic stuff from the local pharmacy that was safe in pregnancy
i also used hay max - its like a little tub of vaseline stuff that you rub around your nostrils. it traps pollen and also the scents like lavender etc reduce symptoms...comes in diff "flavours"..you can get from amazon or from the chemist
you can try the doc for steriods - he gave me nasonex a steriod spray when my lo was 4 weeks and i was breast feeding - for an allergy cough that i had.
other things i use for hayfever - olbas oil and vicks vaporub, a packet of halls soothers will help your throat, and a spoonful of local honey every day. shower twice a day to wash pollen from your face hands and hair.

yes but some pharmacists are useless..a friend went to one and asked if he had anything for hayfever that you can use in pregnancy..he said "tissues!"

Citirizine works great for me and you can take it in moderation while pregnant and bf. Not worth suffering, honestly!

I am taking Loratadine and breast feeding. Got it on prescription from my GP.

X

I took Loratadine while pregnant and breastfeeding. Took a bit of arguing with Dr before he let me have it while preg but I was having an allergic reaction to Pregnancy (seriously!!!) and it had reached the point that I couldn't do anything apart from cry from the insane-itchy-pain; and I couldn't STOP crying! So it might not be dispensed willy-nilly (I don't say that word often!) but it can be taken.

OK that all sounds promising going to see what I can get as feel really crap on top of sleep deprivation its almost enough to question bf! But sounds like I can get some help. Thank for your help :)

Hi again, my doc just prescribed Piriton, but from literature I've read linked on this post I thought non-drowsy ones were preferable? Not sure she really knew what she was talking about as she was looking it up in her book on a phone appointment and then said 'oh I think we prescribe Piriton to pg women so that should be fine' . Anyone else used this type of antihistamine whilst bf?

I took a Loratadine I had i cupboard last night out of desperation and feel a million times better!!!!!

As much as I can understand the frustration here I felt I had to explain the reason pharmacists are so unwilling to recommend medication for hayfever to nursing mothers. Many of the drugs available don't seem to cause any problems but the drug companies will say that they're not recommended. If the pharmacist goes against this advice they take the legal responsibility for giving the product and any harm it may cause.

I'm a pharmacist myself, and I hate sending people to the doctors only for them to be given an item that's available for sale, but I also value my job!