Anti-histamine during pregnancy?

[Mrsi2020]

Has anyone been prescribed or told by chemist they can use anti histamine when preg? Thinking cetrizine or loratidine ?

My gp practice is chocka so I was told to go to chemist minor ailment scheme. It was manic so I thought I’ll go back when it’s quieter. But I’m not gonna queue if i can’t use while preg? Hoping someone will know if I can so it’s worth my while queuing ? Xx

Pharmacist will be unlikely to sell it to you without a prescription. Loratidine and cetirizine can be bought in supermarkets though

My FIL is a pharmacist and no antihistamines until after week 12. My consultant told me the same thing when I asked!
I had my first trimester beginning of the year so my hayfever was brutal until March! 😬

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/can-i-take-hay-fever-medicine-during-pregnancy/

Thanks so much!

@lockdownpregnancy do you know what your fil would recommend? I’m coming up week 14 , the gp seemed to think I’d get it no prob from chemist which is what made me think it should be ok: but then what I have in house says not for preg and online it says loratidine is first choice. I may make an actual appt with gp at this rate (our practice is avoiding appts due to covid ) . Long story short, I was put on them before preg for mucus (we have a new build and I have so much mucus ) I came off them when I got preg, but now I need them again 😩 sorry if tmi and thanks for your replies xx

This is a good website for assessing risk
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Loratadine/
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Cetirizine/

This is on nhs website!

@Mrsi2020 I used over the counter cetirizine from week 12 all the way through my pregnancy and DS came out fine 🥰
My consultant and FIL told me over the counter is perfectly fine x

I took telfast on prescription for my last pregnancy.

I was given an anti histamine due to a severe allergic reaction that landed me in hospital at 30 weeks. It did stop baby moving so it does go through the placenta. So much so my child was nearly induced 9 weeks early.

You can buy it off the shelf in supermarkets/discount chemists. You just need a prescription if buying from a pharmacist

@arewethere

I was given an anti histamine due to a severe allergic reaction that landed me in hospital at 30 weeks. It did stop baby moving so it does go through the placenta. So much so my child was nearly induced 9 weeks early.

It will depend on the antihistamine and the dose you were given. Loratidine and cetirizine are non sedating antihistamines

Many antihistamines are used to treat morning sickness in the early stages of of. Can you get a telephone consultation with your GP?

My midwife said it was fine to take one to bring down hives at 18 weeks.

I took fexofenadine throughout all three of my pregnancies.
My consultants (immunologist and obstetrician) said they would never test on pregnant women and therefore could not say it was totally safe, but in their experience it would be fine.

I was told I wasn't allowed them while pregnant or breastfeeding (which was really inconvenient as I really struggle with hay fever). I was told if my symptoms were intolerable I could try a nasal spray or eye drops but not tablets.

Hi everyone, so I spoke to the GP today who said loratidine was fine for pregnancy. She did say I could also try things like honey lemon and hot water as a drink to help symptoms too xxx

I was prescribed promethazine for urticaria. I took it for morning sickness in the first trimester anyway but it made me feel lousy so actually haven’t taken it since, but the GP was quite happy to prescribe it.