Taken hayfever tablets that shouldn’t be taken when pregnant!

[DoeG1]

I’m really in a panic! I’ve just found out I’m pregnant. I must be around 5/6 weeks. Within the last couple of weeks I’ve taken hayfever tablets, definitely 2 possibly up to 4 but I can’t remember. The leaflet says not to be taken when pregnant. I’m now worried I could have harmed my baby from taking these hayfever tablets. Has anyone had any experience of taking hayfever tablets really early in pregnancy that they aren’t supposed too? Did they effect your baby at all? I took Cetirizine Hydrochloride

Cetirizine is considered ok in pregnancy as is loratidine

www.nhs.uk/medicines/cetirizine/

This seems to say loratidine would be the first choice

I was prescribed Cetirizine in pregnancy.

https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/bumps/monographs/USE-OF-CETIRIZINE-IN-PREGNANCY/

NHS says it's OK

www.nhs.uk/medicines/cetirizine/

Thanks for your comment. I checked the NHS website that had a link to how it can effect the baby. It said it doesn’t believe to increase the risk of birth defects but as there are less than 500 studies they cannot say for sure. It also said they could not comment on behavioural issues and using cetirizine when pregnant as it has never been studied. That’s why it’s made me worry

Could I ask please at what stage in the pregnancy was you prescribed this. Thank you

I took anti-nausea antihistamine from 5-13 weeks. You’ll be fine, and congrats!

Awww thank you. That has made me feel a lot better as I have taken these tablets around 4/5 weeks pregnant

cetirizine and loratadine are both fine in prsgnancy.
other medicines are available on prescription if those don't work for you.

It's fine. Check in with your GP, but when I checked with mine (this is years ago) she said yup, it's not only OK but one of things we prescribe for bad morning sickness.

I take cetirizine every day to control my asthma and have continued throughout both of my pregnancies on the advice of more than one obstetrician.

My eldest has no behavioural problems at all (youngest isn't born yet!).

I know it must feel horrible to think you've caused some damage to baby but try not to worry, you won't have done any harm

Thank you so much for this. It’s because the leaflet specifically states not to take when pregnant so I panicked. I don’t normally bother with hayfever tablets I just suffer so I was even more annoyed with myself!

Most leaflets just say that because the manufacturer is being overcautious but my GP said it was fine to take pregnancy. If your symptoms are mostly nasal I found petroleum jelly round the edge of the nostrils helpful and sterimar nasal spray (salt water) good for washing out the pollen.

I’ve been taking cetirizine hydrochloride throughout my pregnancy as I have year round allergies. I take one a day.

The nhs website says it’s fine so I’ve been taking it xx

I've been prescribed cetirizine. I was on fexofenadine and took it every day for about a week or 2 because I didn't know I was pregnant.

Called Dr once I found out and they changed it to cetirizine. They said this was best option because I need to take them every day.

Mines isn't hay-fever related, I take 4 a day.

@Cafeaulait27

I’ve been taking cetirizine hydrochloride throughout my pregnancy as I have year round allergies. I take one a day.

The nhs website says it’s fine so I’ve been taking it xx

Ditto

I took all the way through pregnancy, prescribed by Gp. All fine!

Thank you everyone. I am really grateful for all of you taking the time to put my mind at rest

I’m on cetirizine permanently due to allergies and was told ok to continue during this and my last pregnancy.