Cetirizine hydrochloride antihistamine when breastfeeding - yes or no?

[Saffra]

GP prescribed this for me last year but hayfever wasn't bad so didn't end up taking many.

Finished using the box this year, and bought more from supermarket yesterday as suddenly was really suffering. Thought I was buying the same thing, but wasn't sure. So, rang GPs this morning to double-check it was ok but ended up having conversation with receptionist who passed on a message from the GP, and then another receptionist called me back. They said they wouldn't recommend it as small amounts do pass through into the breastmilk... Even though I was prescribed this last year!

Not very helpful!

Is anyone else taking this antihistamine while BF?

BTW, my DD is 22 months old and is now only having 1 x BF during day but has multiple feeds at night as only way she can get back to sleep (yes, I know...!).

Also, I can't take piriton as it makes me ridiculously drowsy.

I took this when breast feeding x

This document is useful. I think nasal sprays are safer, but it sounds like Cetrizine is ok.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, nasal sprays aren't usually effective for me... certainly not if only taken alone.

I'll go ahead and take these tablets then - they're not brilliant, still get symptoms, but at least they're slightly alleviated.

Hi Saffra,

I was searching hay fever and breast feeding and found this thread.

I have the same problem. I found out that loratadine was safe.

May I ask you about breast feeding a toddler? My son is 15 months old now and he is still breast fed to sleep. This is the only way he goes to sleep. I'm a bit concerned that what will happen when he stops having milk from me. Have you stopped breast feeding? How did it go?

Start a new thread, BUTU. This one's dead as a very dead thing :)

I was going to say piriton as I am allowed it while bf, but I see it's no good.

If helps at all I've started taking piriton at night from point when ds has been sleeping through anyway - it will be gone by morning and if he gets any in last breast feed he doesn't need to wake up in night as wasn't doing it anyway.