What antihistamines can I take at 15 weeks?

[QueenOfFlamingEverything]

Every now and then I get days where my nose streams, eyes itch and water so I find t hard to see, and I have constant sneezing fits - as in sneezing 20 times in a row. Antihistamines stop it so presumably its an allergy of some sort but after 15 years of getting it I have never worked out what to!

Since being pg I have had this twice and both times have just spent the day asleep unitl it wore off. But today I have woken up sneezing, its getting worse and I am moving house in two days so cannot just go to bed!

What can I buy otc for it? Pharmacist never seems able to give straight answers and GP appt would not be until friday so not much use today.

Oh and have tried nasal sprays in the past and they make it worse not better!

I'm sorry but I don't think there is anything you can take - GP would not prescribe for my hayfever when I was pg, so just had to suffer through it (mind you it meant DH had to mow the lawn).

Noooooooo [sneeze]

I was given by a doctor the drug Dimethindene. This was in Portugal, so I'm not sure what it's called here. There it's called Fenistil.

The chemist wouldn't give it to me, as it doesn't specify on the leaflet that it is ok. But I spoke to 2 doctors who guaranteed it was fine. I was soooooooo desperate that didn't hesitate (I had rash / urticaria, not hayfever)

you can defintely have antihistamines; you need to see the doc. I had some prescribed to deal with insects bites when we went on holiday to the carribean early on in my pregnancy. I don;t recall the name, but the doc will know. They are defintely safe for use in pregnancy; the doctor checked whilst i was in his office, and the pharmasist also checked in her reference book too.

So got see your doc!

I read this with interest though I'm only 5/6 weeks as I get horrific hayfever which starts in a month or so, found this which has reassured me www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/935.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=129 and looks like I will be able to take the usual stuff (obv when time comes I shall talk to GP first!)

Sparklyrainbow I was having a look at that too and it says loratidine is the suggested antihistamine. Have asked DP to pick me some up.

If it was as simple as seeing the doctor I would - but it will be friday at the earliest before I get an appointment unless I demand an emergency one. Hardly an emergency really, plus the last place I want to go and sit while pg is a doctor's waiting area during flu season

I have had a lot of conversations with specialists about this (I have quite a problematic allergy and usually take antihisthamines every day) and they all say that although there have been no trials done on pregnant women, animal testing has shown that antihisthamines in pregnancy, particularly in the first 16-20 weeks, can cause neural defects. Also, Loratadine can cause heart murmurs. I have chosen not to risk it in pregnancy for this reason.

I was suffering like you a few months ago (am now 39 weeks) and so i asked my cousin (who is a pharmacist) if i could take anything. She said Clarityn would be ok (i think there are 2 different types of antihistimine and the one Clartiyn is the one she recomended). She also mentioned that if you walked into a chemist they would advise against taking any antihistimes as any extensive research on the effects is unethical, so they play it safe.

Clarityn is the same as Loratidine.

Interesting because the NHS site says loratidine is 'considered safe' and is the first choice antihistamine in pregnancy.

God you wish they'd make up their minds.

I also saw that on the NHS website and I know people who have taken antihisthamines in pregnancy and have had completely normal children. I wouldn't take it because I don't like the risk but for sure, people do take them and are fine.

That was a very unhelpful post, sorry.

you may also be interested to know that my doc told me that one of the regular drugs they give out for morning sickness is also an antihistamine. Two of my frineds were prescribed it for the exact same reason in their pregnancies, both by different GP's, so it seems they are routinely used

Piriton is reputed to be safe in pregnancy.

Ive taken piriton throughout my pregnancy, so 30 weeks of at least one tablet a day, and no problems so far! Im allergic to mould spores, dust mites etc which makes me constantly itch if i dont take an antihistamine and it is impossible to rid a house of dust or spores so i dont have much of a choice. My doctor and midwife both told me its fine to take it..although i was taking cetrizine hydrochloride before i became pregnant and they said that is definitely a no no!