Panicking! - I’ve taken Cetirizine Hydrochloride for 1 week!

[Newmumtobe2025]

Hi 👋🏽 I’m new here, my first pregnancy. I’m 34 and I am now very worried. I took piriteze for the last 6 days. I then purchased the Morrisons version. Both have exact same ingredients. However after starting new box and taking one th is morning noticed it says “do not take if Pregnant or Breastfeeding”
I am 10 weeks 2 days, I am now worried and will be calling the midwife line to ask; but wanted to see if anyone knows of, has an experience with this. Thank you x

Please don't panic or worry, cetirizine is not know to be harmful in pregnancy. Most medicines will say not for use in pregnancy as a precaution.

I'm not a medical professional.

This is the BNF:

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/cetirizine-hydrochloride/#pregnancy

The BNF has the British national guidelines for medicines.

It says most manufacturers recommend you avoid it, but that there is no evidence that it causes harm (me rephrasing their wording of teratogenicity).

It's very difficult to do studies on pregnant women (because the risk if something does go wrong is higher) so often even common drugs haven't been tested on them. This can often be why they aren't recommended.

Obviously, in some cases things are contraindicated, but that doesn't appear to be the case here.

You may well still wish to stop them until you have spoken to a medical professional for your own peace of mind though.

No harm done but talk to your GP or midwife if you feel a need to talk to a health professional.

This is what the British National Formulary (the resource on medicines) says of cetirizine and pregnancy:

“Most manufacturers of antihistamines advise avoiding their use during pregnancy; however, there is no evidence of teratogenicity [ie causing problems with the baby].”

In simple terms, they’ve not formally tested cetirizine on pregnant women so they don’t know, hence manufacturers advice, but there’s no evidence of problems from women who’ve taken it when pregnant.

@DrLucyVanPelt thanks for replying! Okay good to know. I didn’t even think about it before taking it. Then just caught me this morning! Then thought it’s not just one it’s been like 7days!
Going to try and have a peaceful morning reassuring myself all is ok! 😌

Like most drugs, they haven’t been tested on pregnant people so the drug companies just say to not use so they’re covered. There’s no evidence of harm. You can’t change anything so just stop now

Highly recommend ‘Expecting better’ book

I took this all the way through pregnancy and breastfeeding (to 12 months) two DC due to severe allergies. Every day. They're both fine. This was under the supervision of my GP who agreed with the above - it's not known to be unsafe as such, it's just not "officially tested" so they have to label it with a warning

Congratulations on your pregnancy xx

@Ineffable23 @mrssquidinkthank you! After seeing the warning on the second packet I had a look online read this. This is why o then panicked.
if I shouldn’t take them i of course wouldn’t. I mean this hay-fever is terrible but I’d put up with it If it’s recommend not to.

@MumChp Thank you go closed today as Saturday but I am definitely calling my midwife line this Morning for sure x

It’s fine OP. I was actually prescribed cetririzine during pregnancy by my dr to deal with hayfever (not in Uk, but in Europe and only 5 yrs ago). They can’t do trials on pregnant women but there is data from women who were taking it before they were knew they were pregnant or who had severe enough issues that their drs thought the risk was outweighed by the medical need. And that data suggests it doesn’t cause harm to the baby.

Sympathies OP! I went to my GP when I was pregnant begging for something to help with my hayfever and he told me the same thing as others have said here, they don't recommend it as it's unethical to test medication on pregnant women BUT he told me if I really needed to I could take hayfever tablets. I took them on days when I really suffered and couldn't take anymore, DS is now nearly 3 and absolutely fine!

@GrandDesignsShame thansk for sharing your experience this is why I’d ask I knew someone else must of taken them! Delighted to hear all was well for you and that you could take them under go supervision!
Thanks, I was close to thinking Id maybe never get to be a mum after not meeting the right person to start a family with. I am delighted but at the same time feel nervous and want to make sure I am doing what I can the right way throughout the pregnancy x

Go and see your GP. Depending on the severity of your allegies they might recommend your still take it. They have to weigh up the risk of the drug (no known adverse effects on fetus but no proper clinical trials) with the risk of constant sneezing from hayfever. Midwives can’t prescribe antihistamines for allergies so it needs to be your gp.

I have to take x2 a day I have for years. Been ttc and pregnant and breastfeeding through using it and my drs all said it was absolutely fine

@Demelzatheredhaired thank you for sharing your experience, interesting to know you were prescribed it x

@YellowSunblueclouds 2 a day! You must suffer I feel for you! Nice to know that this has been discussed and docs have said all ok to take! Thanks for sharing x

@Demelzatheredhaired i will 100% go to gp for prescription but will call midwife for there advise as I had my first appointment a few weeks ago so guess they could check medical notes and advise to stop or if they recommend it would be ok for me personally to continue having x

You might also find the website BUMPS useful, OP. Was really helpful for me and recommended by my midwife. I think i ended up switching to another type of antihistamine during pregnancy.

https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antihistamines/

This says

Loratadine is usually recommended if you need to take an antihistamine in pregnancy. Loratadine or cetirizine are usually OK to take while breastfeeding

You could look into barrier type hay-fever treatments like balms or nasal sprays. That's what I used when pregnant as they are not ingested so can't be a risk to baby.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/hayfever-or-allergic-rhinitis-treatment-during-pregnancy/

Corticosteroid sprays seem to be ok too

I took cetirizine antihistamines throughout both pregnancies as I suffer with allergies and these take the edge off of the symptoms. Both babies were fine.

@2chocolateoranges thanks for sharing, this is reassuring to know x

@LauderSyme. Definitely going to look at these barrier methods as an alternative.
Thank you 😊 x