rash/allergy, HELP what can I take?

[honneybunny]

Hi! Went to GP this morning as I have suffered a bad allergic reaction on Saturday, leaving me with hives (rash), wheezing, and throat feeling constricted. Took one dose of 24h allergy relief on Saturday evening. This contained cetirizine antihistamine (benadryl plus) which it said in patient info not to use when breastfeeding, but on internet it said it was safe (gets into milk but at low doses). GP now prescibed prednisolone,a steriod.
I mentioned that I am breastfeeding, and he said that wasn't a problem, but I really don't like what I read about bf and steroids. Am not completely sure why he didn't want me to take antihistamines...
Am reluctant to take the steroids. Any advice? Maybe it's best to sit it out, and wait for the rash to clear up by itself, which may take a bit longer, but at least ds2 won't get any nasties in his milk.
I thought I would go to bf clinic and ask them tomorrow, and wiat taking my first dose, just in case they advise against it. Does this sound like a plan??

Ive had loads of trouble with serious rashes whilst pregnant and since birth...am also bf. Ive used piriton (the original type not the one-a-day formulation) GP said ok for bf although some will get into milk...i figured that as he'd already had it in the womb wasn't much different. I was also prescribed a steroid cream which i have used as sparingly as poss...also not on breast area. Not sure about oral steroids though. The ptriton did help the itching, i was also prescribed diprobase (emollient cream) which prob didnt help much but stopped skin drying out and blistering. Sorry to hear you've gpot this....drives you tatty!

ps my little man is disgustingly healthy so dont think he was affected...the piriton didnt even seem to make him sleepy (and i wouldnt have minded that!!)

honney - I have just checked on kellymom.com that has a list of meds. safe for bf.

The steroid you mention gets an "L2" rating which means it is "safer" (L1 would be the "safest", however, none of the steroids listed have L1 ratings).

The antihistamines which have the "safest" L1 rating are Claritin or Actidil/Actifed. Claritin is widely available in chemists, not sure what the other 2 are called in the UK.

Personally if I were you I would wait a few more days and then if necessary take the steroids. It is probably best to wait and see.

If you want to read the info. I have given you go to kellymom.com, then click "is this safe when breastfeeding" on the left of the page and you will find the list of meds. approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Why NHS GP's does not have a similar list for bf really pisses me off. I have been saved many a time by the AAP list as I am still bf my 22 month old toddler. My GP doesn't have a clue !!

Thanks hairybabysmum and koolkat!
I hadn't found the medication list on Kellymom yet... v.useful indeed! And I have some diprobase at home, which was actually prescibed for my ds2's rash, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind me stealing some of his cream . I have decided against taking the steroids... (without going to the bf clinic, as it was raining yesterday, and it is a 2 mi walk.) Also phoned the allergy clinic and they will get me an appointment, so hopefully we can get to the bottom of this: it would be nice to know what the cause is.
My own GP is brilliant, but unfortunately he is on leave at the moment. The replacement was awful, he actually said "i'd be quite tempted to give the steroids a go... such a shame you're still bf him, makes you so much more difficult to treat..." - he's only 4 months old! Such a shame i just weaned my ds1 (28 months), would have loved to see GP's reaction to that....

honey - makes two of us - went armed with my kellymom list to drop in clinic last week (I needed antibiotics) only to have a FEMALE GP say, "why are you STILL bf" ?

DS is 22 months

I don't think any GP or HV I have ever met has had anything encouraging or nice to say about my bf.

I should have said, well, the reason I AM always coming down with flu and DS is NEVER ill, is because he is STILL bf, and I am not

honneybunny - I have taken piriton when required since my DS was about 5 months. DS gets piriton himself so I asked my GP why I couldn't and he didn't have a reasonable answer .

I would avoid prednisolone for as long as possible. Not even from a breastfeeding point of view. I don't know if you've ever taken it before, but when i finish a course I feel like I've been run over and can't even bear for underwear to touch me which is apparently not an uncommon side effect.

I have found I am more sensitive to things since having DS (or perhaps breastfeeding don't know which). I have a few minor allergies which have become major - such as honey.

suzi - funny what you say about being more sensitive to some things now. I am the exact opposite. My heyfever has vanished since pregas. and nearly 2 years now since DS was born, NO heyfever at all. I suffered from it really badly most of my life, I guess I am lucky it has disappeared. The wonders of childbirth !

Honneybunny - try Eurax lotion for itching - you can slather on as much as you need and was fine in pregnancy so don't see why you couldn't use it while bf.

Koolkat - it's strange as my asthma, which was moderately severe (I've had it since I was 4) has almost completely cleared since being pregnant! Yet I'm more sensitive to things on ym skin or that I eat! very weird, but I'm not complaining