Anti-histamines?

[Lovethatjourneyforme]

Anyone been given any advice about taking Anti-histamines, specifically cetrizine, during late pregnancy? My midwife said it was okay but didn't sound entirely sure and there's conflicting opinions online.
From what I gather there's nothing to suggest it's harmful but it's been studied very little so noones really sure?

I've avoided it as much as poss but I'm currently VERY congested, and that plus insomnia and heartburn is just getting very tiring 😅

15 years ago my obstetrician told me I was fine to take Piriton whenever I needed during my pregnancy. She said that for ethical reasons there have been no studies of it on pregnant women. There were, however, decades of experience of its use by pregnant women without any concerning effects on these women or their babies. At the time there was not, in her opinion, enough of such experience with the more modern one-a-day antihistamines, so she could not recommend them. She doubted that there would be any problem if I did choose to use them.

I used Piriton and my baby was absolutely fine, and is now a tall, healthy, intelligent teenager.

Yes my midwife said piriton is fine too take

I had to take them for a pup rash pretty much most of the pregnancy, no issues as a result of them and I wouldn’t have managed without them. I was in a high risk category and my consultant said it was absolutely fine to take them.

Loratidine and cetirizine are considered ok as they are non sedating antihistamines. They are the first choice ahead of piriton as that is a sedating antihistamine

onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/allergy/hay-fever-medication-in-pregnancy

I am usually prescribed fexofenadine twice a day and my GP has switched me to loratadine once a day, not quite as effective but she said it's considered the most safe

2 years ago I was told no anti histemines!

Many of the treatments used to treat morning sickness are AHs so some of them must be considered safe. Ask your pharmacist.

I took them 9 years ago with my first but with my second and the one I'm carrying now I've been told no

I was told no tablet antihistamines but I could use a nasal spray, and to get the pharmacist to suggest one that was okay in pregnancy. That’s what I’ve done throughout.

I asked my GP and then my midwife; and both said tablets can dry up mucus and aren’t recommended. They did say I could take an “occasional” piriton for hives or allergic reactions if needed.

Weird how much the advice changes! I’m doing okay with the spray now so I’ll stick with it, but it’d have been nice to know if tablets are now okay, I had my regime down to a fine art!

I've read piriton is okay every now and then but there does seem to be conflicting advice. I suffer with hayfever quite badly and usually manage with saline spray for the nose and haymax. It's not amazing but it takes the edge off.

I was told last summer no anti histamines and nothing over the counter
I was prescribed eye drops and a nose spray at the drs and I’ll do the same this summer
My hay fever is horrendous and nothing seems to touch it anyway so it doesn’t bother me not taking a tablet

Nhs website says loratidine is ok. I'm sure it says cetirizine is fine too

My GP, a dermatologist and a pharmacist said cetirizine is ok. I have to take them daily all year round and took them while pregnant.

Thanks for your replies, think I'm going to ask a pharmacist as back up and maybe switch to the nasal spray instead.

Seems mental to me that anti histamines are probably one of the most commonly taken medications and there's no confirmed answer on it though. We all seem to be getting different info!

But nhs and the lloyds link says certain ones are ok. Pharmacist probably wouldn't give them without a prescription anyway.

Steroid nasal sprays and eye drops would be first choice ahead of tablets

I was prescribed the sedating ones in my pregnancy, told not to take the non sedating ones.
(But since having one of those Himalayan salt lamps in the bedroom, I’ve not needed to take an anti histamine since. Bit woo I know but that’s my honest experience!)

It's normally the other way round - take non sedating rather than sedating ones I.e. loratidine is considered first choice, then cetirizine and then piriton (piriton is the sedating one)

My doctor has prescribed me Loratidine