hayfever- whats safe to take????

[frangipan]

I'm 20/40 pregnant and have awful hayfever which is worse in the evenings and over night. All the over the counter remedies say 'do not take if you are pregnant...' etc etc....aaaarrrrgh. don't really want to bother our GP with it as it is only seasonal hayfever....any one know of anything you can take safely, ie nasal sprays?

Poor you, I know just how you feel. Mine was so miserable last year that I actually went to the GP, and he said that the nasal sprays were fine, since so little of it went into the bloodstream.

Hope this helps!

Thnx 2cats! I think a trip to lloyds or boots then. Might send DH though as i've found that if you try to buy OTC stuff when your pregnant they are reluctant to sell you anything.Is there a spray called Rhinolast or similar???

hiya frangipan

ah feel for you - im going through the same!! my nose is blocked constantly, my eyes stream, and i cant stop sneezing!

i asked my pharmacist and he said there was nothing and advised a visit to gp. went to gp and he said there is nothing he can prescribe that is 100% safe in pregnancy and i basically just have to put up with it. however i did get some eye drops.

good luck and i hope it clears up soon!

My pharmacist has just given me something called nazaleze to squirt up my nose, apparerently its 100% natural. Am just about to try it, so don't know how good it is. Am using optrex sore eyes, but finding them hopeless

i am using fodidic acid as i have conjunctivitis but thats doing bugger all, it makes the stinging even worse!

let me know if the nasal spray works for you, i have tried vic and olbas oil and all they do is block my nose when inhaling.

i have officially given up and i am sticking with my very attractive homemade nose plugs

The nose stuff has eased things a bit today-it's my eyes that are now the problem-the pharmacist would only let me have the optrex sore eyes, it relieves things for a little while, but doesn't stop it. What other eye drops can I use?

Go to the doctor make the most of free prescriptions

I'm using Nasofan Aqueous. The active ingredient in it is Fluticasone propionate. I've been taking it since April when my symptoms started and I haven't had a single bad day, normally I really really suffer. The doctor gave me some eye drops too (Sodium Cromoglicate) but I haven't had to use them yet, the nasal spray is taking care of everything.
I've just checked, and the over the counter version of what I'm using is called Flixonase.

Like you say Pharmacists are very reluctant to give you any hayfever medications when your pregnant because they're steroids and there is a very small chance steroids can affect growth, but it's mainly to do with the early stages of pregnancy and the risks are very low. (I had a long chat with my doctor about it.) Topical steriods like nasal sprays are considered fine.

I'm sure my doctor said Piriton was safe to take too, but that doesn't work for me.

I asked doctor about this when i saw her at 25wks now 28 weks and was told i could only have nasel sprays and i drops.

I have hayfever but it not so bad (touch wood), but i also have an allergy to cats which i realy need to take priton for if i need to see my dad (he is seriously ill).

I can not take nasel sprays as i have used so many when i was growing up (due to allergies) my nose if far to sensitive for them.

I would try and see your gp as there seems to be lots of different advice given.

I took piriton throughout my pregnancy for really bad itchy skin and it was fine

chloro-something, it's in one of the Piriton mixes. Ask a pharmacist to confirm. Makes you sleepy, though.

HONEY is appartently excellent for hayfever, and i think it is allowed in pg.

Try a thin bit of vaseline in your nose - it stops the pollen travelling down. Olbas oil as an inhalant is good if you get snotty !!

piriton...

thanks for all your advice.
Haven't been to bad today, went for a walk at a country park yesterday with DH and DS's, wore a bandana around my nose and mouth in a kinda cowboy in the dessert style, which helped, but I looked ridiculous

I eat honey which I get from our local farmers market, I'm assuming the honey is local and not just the market.

I have a beclamethasone(?) spray, but it doesn't really work, I'll defo try the vaseline, At work I have to shove a cotton wool roll up each nostril underneath my mask, otherwise, well......I would pity my poor patients!!!

dessert????

According to my obstetrician, Piriton is safe during pregnancy. I don't recall whether it has been formally tested for safety, but it has been around for many years and no problems have been reported with it.

My GP prescribed me eye drops when I was pg - think it was sodium cromate (sp)?
I thought honey was now on the 'no' list when pg because of risk of botulism?

'Allerclear' completely herbal, dr recommended it when I was pg. They do eye drops nasal spray and tablets.AND THEY REALLY WORK! Health food shops etc. but got mine Tesco pharmacy

Have a look at this site . Very reliable information. Click on Antihistamines.

thats a fab site prettycandles-thanx.