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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Hayfever remedies in pregnancy

24 replies

Annie456 · 30/03/2011 17:33

Afternoon ladies,
I'm itchy eyes and runny nose ahoy here...am I right in thinking I can't take my usual anti-histamine tablets during pregnancy?

If so, does anyone know of any homeopathic hayfever remedies that are safe during pregnancy?

Much appreciated!

OP posts:

nannyl · 30/03/2011 17:44

you can put vaseline in your nostrils to catch the pollen

New Era make a homeopathic hayfever remedy.

i dont know if you can use eye drops / nasal sprays when pregnant? if not cold black tea in an eye bath soothes eyes! honest, i have done it!
also wearing glasses can help the spores not reach the eyes

thefurryone · 30/03/2011 17:45

I think you may be able to take piriton but you would need to confirm that with your doctor, there may also be others that are safe for pregnancy, and I think that they may also be able to give you eye drops.

There is also a balm that you can get for the inside of your nose that will prevent the pollen from irritating it, no need for a perscription for that you can get it from the chemist and it's not a drug so should be fine for pregnancy.

Goldberry · 30/03/2011 17:47

Local honey sorted mine. I was very sceptical about it beforehand, but figured it was worth a go -what did I have to lose? Apparently it has to be as local as poss, and preferably unfiltered. It pretty much got rid of my hayfever altogether! You have to take 2 tsp every day, and it takes a while to work.

Original poster

Annie456 · 30/03/2011 20:36

I'm not sure if I'll be able to get local honey on London but I will give the balm a try to stop the pollen getting in. I assume that Piriton is a no but would be happy for anyone to tell me different!!!

OP posts:

LadyOfTheManor · 30/03/2011 20:41

I used the electric rods up the nose jobby from Lloyds Pharmacy. They work a TREAT but rather pricey (around £35).

Just got my BFP so I'll be pulling them out for this spring. Great.

LadyOfTheManor · 30/03/2011 20:42

You cannot take ANY anti-hstms or de-cngsts when expecting. I'll warn you now...

trixie123 · 30/03/2011 21:02

no HCP will SAY its ok for you to take piriton because they never can test the meds on pregnant people but it has been around forever and my SIL who is a hospital pharmacist said it was ok for me. I actually found that I didn't suffer with HF when I was pregnant last time bizrrely as I usually get it really badly and was dreading the summer.

nannyl · 30/03/2011 21:23

Lady of the manor you can take some

I have been taking cyclizine (for sickness) since i was 6 weeks pg (now 16 weeks)
According to the leaflet it is an antihistamine

LadyOfTheManor · 30/03/2011 21:40

I took cyclozine with my first pregnancy but my GP said there is NO hayfever tablets available. Lying arsehole. I'll get him this time around.

CitizenOscar · 30/03/2011 21:52

I found a hayfever tea last year which helped to calm down the itchiness. Don't know for sure if it's pregnancy safe but I'll probably give it a go if the hayfever kicks in. Otherwise I sometimes find camomile tea calms down itchiness (teabags also good for itchy eyes as cold eye mask thing)

NoWayNoHow · 30/03/2011 21:57

I had terrible hayfever throughout my pregnancy, and I was prescribed chlorphenamine as it's been around the longest and they have vast amounts of data going back 50 years or so showing it is safe during pregancy.

IIRC, it's the active ingredient in Piriton, but if you go to your local Boots/pharmacy, just have a look on the front of the different hayfever medications and look for ones that say "chlorphenamine" underneath the brand name.

nitnatnaboo · 31/03/2011 11:10

I normally take Piriton but GP gave me a nasal spray instead last pg. Seemed to work OK.

FluffyDonkey · 31/03/2011 14:28

My pharmacist said there is nothing I can use (including nose sprays) except for salt water sprays to clear out the nose.

Am not suffering too much yet so am not using anything - may change my mind soon!

NoWayNoHow · 31/03/2011 14:44

fluffy your pharmacist is wrong! Not only did my GP prescribe chlorphenamine, but I when I was admitted to the ante natal ward at 22 wks for a trapped nerve, the dr's and nurses there also gave it to me as I was suffering terribly.

PrettyCandles · 31/03/2011 14:54

My consultant (very senior, very experienced, very fantastic) obstetrician told me to take Clorpheniramine (aka Piriton), and that I could take it for as long as I needed while pregnant, but must change to Loratadine or Cetrizine once the baby was born and for as long as I was breastfeeding.

However, the pharmacist will not sell you any anti-histamines if they know you are pregnant. They will only give it to you on prescription. I just bought mine in the supermarket or asked dh to get it for me.

If you do choose to buy it yourself, make sure it is Clorpheniramine, not Piriteze, which is a different anti-histamine. The generic brands (usually on one of the bottom shelves) are vastly cheaper than the name brands.

GiddyPickle · 31/03/2011 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ladyface · 31/03/2011 16:31

I have tried local honey and so far this year not had any symptoms - I am in north west London. There are loads of bee keepers in and around London. Try Sales

Ladyface · 31/03/2011 16:33

Or www.thelondonhoneycompany.co.uk

LuluLozenge · 31/03/2011 16:51

There is no scientific evidence to suggest local honey works, unfortunately.

But I can sympathise - I had awful hayfever over Christmas (was overseas in a warm place). It turned me into a snivelling wreck - wish I'd seen this thread before.

apple99 · 31/03/2011 19:41

I took anti histamines all the way through my first pregnancy 5 years ago for chronic urticaria. My Dr agreed to me taking them and we settled on Loratadine tablets.

It is worth checking with your GP depending on how bad your symptoms are they may be able to prescribe something for you.

mousymouse · 31/03/2011 19:43

my gp prescribe me flixonase and advised me to take half the recommended dose. worked well for me in both pregnancies.

Original poster

Annie456 · 01/04/2011 16:10

Thanks all, I've found a shop near me that sells local honey from south east london so I'll give that a try this weekend and if I'm not better in a couple of weeks I'll see what my GP will prescribe. Reassuring to know that it's not a complete no-no everywhere!

OP posts:

spatchcock · 01/04/2011 16:29

The local honey thing is a myth unfortunately - but at best is at best a placebo!

I get hayfever really badly but it always tails off after two weeks, not sure why. I'm trying to just grin and bear it this time but some of the suggestions here have been interesting.

bobster64 · 13/02/2013 21:26

Hi Annie456,

When I was pregnant I used an allergy light which I got from www.allergylight.com for around £15 but that was a few years ago so price may have changed. It uses light therapy to help you stop the amount of histamine produced. It's medication free and now my other daughter uses it in the spring to help with hayfever. Hope this helps. X

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