Nytol. Is it safe in pregnancy?

[Momma22]

Hi! So I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant, I work shifts so getting to sleep can be a big issue for me, so from time to time I take nytol, usually the one a night version.

I took a tablet early hours this morning when I got in from work but before I did I did a quick google search on it. I remember having terrible hay fever whilst pregnant with DD a couple of years ago and being told I couldn't take antihistamines during pregnancy, and since Nytol is an antihistamine, I thought that would be a no no aswell, but to my surprise the baby center and what to expect website stated that it was safe to take, so I took one.

However after doing some more googling the net doctor website says it isn't safe? I'd check the leaflet that comes with it but I no longer have it and there's nothing on the nytol website about pregnancy either?

Obviously I'm not going to take anymore! Or at least not until I've had a chat with my doctor or midwife about it.

Anyone know a bit more about this? There's so much conflicting advice about this on google. I hope I haven't done any damage already. I just so desperately want to do everything 'right' in this pregnancy I had a MC in April, and I'm really anxious about having another.

From the SPC...
Pregnancy
Diphenhydramine crosses the placenta. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response and since there is inadequate experience with use of diphenhydramine in pregnant women, the potential risk for humans is unknown. Use of sedating antihistamines during the third trimester may result in reactions in the newborn or premature neonates. This drug is not recommended during pregnancy.
Consult a doctor before use.

I think the Americans use it for morning sickness.

Try not to take anymore. The general advice in Pregnancy is don't take anything at all unless absolutely essential and if possible nothing before 12 weeks when the spinal cord forms.

I definitely won't! I'm scared it might be too late though and the damage might already have been done. When I was pregnant with DD and suffering badly from hayfever I asked my midwife in pure desperation if there was anything at all I could take, even kids piriton? And she basically gave me the impression that any kind of antihistamine was absolutely the worst thing you could take in pregnancy and spoke of birth defects etc. Really regretting Having that nytol now, but I wouldn't have taken it were it not for baby center and what to expect stating that they are generally safe, and I do consider those websites to be fairly trustworthy sources, now im not so sure?

I wouldn’t risk it until you’ve had a chat with your midwife. Do you think you could look at changing to more predictable shifts to help your sleeping patterns? I remember when I used to work shifts I found it really wiped me out, and I wasn’t pregnant back then!

I'm ashamed to say I'm addicted to nytol. Have taken it every night for 12years and throughout my pregnancy
Child totally fine, I'm aware it is used as an antiemetic in other countries.

I will have a chat with my midwife about it. Unfortunately my boss is a complete arse, and I doubt he would accomodate me if I asked for more predictable shifts, he might put me on more predictable shifts once I've came out and told him I'm pregnant, and absolutely knackered! But I really don't want to tell anybody at work about this pregnancy in case I have another MC, my boss is the last person on earth I'd want to sit down and have a conversation about a MC with.

Several antihistamines are used in pregnancy for morning sickness and/or HG.
I for example, am on Promethazine.
Cyclizine is another 1st line treatment.

Took Promethazine throughout last pg and am likely to do the same this time. I'm 35 weeks now and last tried to come off it last week and the result was not good

So whilst you may decide to not take anything for your sleep, you really are very unlikely to have caused any harm at all to baby.

Will you work be reasonable about adjusting your shift patterns do you think?

This seems to say that the active ingredient in nytol is safe anyway

www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-medication-pregnant

Sorry your boss is an arse

Thanks for all of your replies ladies. Feeling much more reassured, but I'm not going to take anymore, just to be on the safe side.

My work are pretty unreasonable about everything! Not going to be able to work normal shifts anytime soon I don't think.

Dreading the next 8 months working there tbh, 9 hours on my feet until daft a clock in the morning running around like a blue arsed fly. Not good! Not to mention I also have a toddler to run around after when I'm not in work. DP is often working away so I'm often flying solo aswell. Bring on Mat leave!

Sorry, I'm tired as usual and I needed a good moan 🙈

Not only in the States but also Canada, Spain and a few others regularly prescribe doxylamine succinate for morning sickness. It is an antihistamine and has been in use for decades. My mum used it while pregnant with me and I have used it in both my pregnancies.
Unfortunately this isn’t the active ingredient in Nytol here. It’s in Unisom tabs in the States.
Not all antihistamines are bad, just do your research and speak to your midwife!

@Tilliebean I don't think they use it as early as five weeks though.

They definitely do use it that early. I started at 6 weeks both times. Advice is the sooner it is started the more effective it is. It is the first medication suggested for morning sickness by most GPs in the US.

Piriton is fine up until the last couple of weeks. It says so on the nhs website.

Don't worry, I used it for the first few weeks as I didn't know, I was actually taking double doses as 1 dose wasn't enough for me. Luckily when I realised I was pregnant the first trimester tiredness hit so I was able to ween myself off it! I'm now 30 weeks and baby is perfectly healthy 😊 try not to worry! Just stop taking it and try replacing it with other stuff - having an ovaltine, warm milk, lavender remedies etc!

Hope you figure it out xx

I also take nytol a lot Maby once a week though but my doctor told me it is safe to take during pregnancy.

I don’t think the placenta is even formed at 5 weeks so even if it’s a no no, a one off should be fine x