Can allergy medicine be used for pregnant women?

If you're planning to get pregnant or you're already expecting, talk to your doctor about all the medications you take, including those that don't require a prescription. In fact, many allergy medications can work well if continued during pregnancy, but talk to your doctor so you can safely use them.

If you're planning to get pregnant or you're already expecting, talk to your doctor about all the medicines you take, including those over-the-counter including allergy medications. Many allergy medications can work well if continued during pregnancy, but talk to your doctor so you can safely use them. Oral antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin) are generally safe for pregnant women. So, now, cromolyn sodium (Nasalcrom) spray and nasal steroid spray (Rhinocort) are still prescribed for pregnant women, but to be on the safe side check with your doctor before use. One advantage of the spray is that the medicine is focused only on your nose, it doesn't travel throughout the body.
During the first trimester, you should limit all medications, including allergy medications. Medications, including allergy medications, can increase the risk of certain birth defects. Avoid antihistamines combined with decongestants. Because there is insufficient evidence for their safety, antihistamine nasal sprays should be avoided.

If your allergy symptoms are not too dangerous or affecting your health, your doctor may recommend other treatments. You can use anti-allergy medicine at home or use physiological saline to clean the nose. However, if allergy symptoms are a big problem, such as they make it hard for you to sleep, taking medication may be better for you and your baby's health.
If you have allergic asthma, you need to take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Uncontrolled asthma can cause many serious problems during pregnancy.
MORE: Note when using allergy medicine for pregnant women

You can continue to get allergy shots while you're pregnant. But you shouldn't start allergy shots during pregnancy. Accordingly, you should wait until you have finished giving birth, then you can start normal allergy shots.

If you are pregnant and considering taking an allergy medication, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. To manage mild allergy symptoms, your doctor may recommend an oral antihistamine such as loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
For moderate to severe symptoms, in addition to an oral antihistamine, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter corticosteroid spray at the lowest dose. Options include:
budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort) fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase) mometasone nasal spray (Nasonex). Most pregnant women can safely take over-the-counter allergy medications. Medicines that have been researched that have been shown to be safe for pregnant women to take include:
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Chlorpheniramine (ChlorTrimeton) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Loratadine (Claritin) However, there are always risks. risks of taking any medication during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women should talk to their doctor before taking allergy medications to make sure they are not likely to harm a pregnancy. While doctors consider many over-the-counter oral medications to be safe for seasonal allergies, the use of both oral and nasal decongestants has not been clearly studied.
Using nasal sprays may be safer than oral allergy medications, because nasal sprays are not highly absorbed into the bloodstream. For example, oxymetazoline is an ingredient in nasal sprays. Women should use caution when using the nasal spray for more than three days in a row. Because long-term use of decongestants can make allergy symptoms worse by causing nasal swelling.

In addition, in some cases, pregnant women are also recommended by doctors to get allergy shots. This is the most appropriate way to desensitize a person to an allergen. If a woman becomes pregnant while she is on an allergy shot, she can usually continue to get the vaccine. However, pregnancy is not a good time to start allergy shots. Because vaccines can cause strong allergic reactions. If you're not aware of possible side effects, it's best to delay allergy shots until after your baby is born.

Doctors have not extensively studied the safety of certain medications during pregnancy. This is because it is not ethically appropriate to perform the test on pregnant women. Therefore, most of the information about the drug is due to reports and knowledge about drug safety in general for pregnant women is limited.
During the first trimester, it is especially important to weigh the potential risks and benefits of using any medication, as that's when your baby is developing the most. Allergy medications that are not safe during pregnancy include:
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed): There are some studies that show pseudoephedrine is safe during pregnancy, but an increase in abdominal wall malformations has also been reported in women. infants of mothers using Pseudoephedrine during pregnancy. Phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine: These decongestants are less desirable by doctors than pseudoephedrine.

Allergy medications are sometimes recommended during pregnancy. Before you take your allergy medication, however, consider ways to reduce your allergy symptoms, including:
Avoiding allergens: limiting contact with anything that triggers your allergy symptoms. Saline nasal spray: Over-the-counter saline nasal spray can help ease allergy symptoms. Accordingly, you should only use the spray when necessary. Nasal irrigation: wash your nose once a day or, as needed, fill a bottle with over-the-counter physiological saline or specially formulated water. Then, tilt your head to the side over the sink and place the nasal wash bottle in your upper nostril, pour the saline into the upper nostril and it will drain through your lower nostril. Repeat on the other side of the nose. Nasal rinses must be distilled or sterile, previously boiled, cooled, or passed through a filter designed to remove potentially infectious organisms. Exercise helps reduce rhinitis. Nasal patches: Over-the-counter nasal patches can help keep your nasal passages clear. Elevate the head of the bed: Elevating the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees can help ease your allergy symptoms.

If you have allergies while pregnant, you can use some non-drug treatments or use some allergy medicine for pregnant women. However, any medicine has side effects, so you should consult your doctor before taking it, especially during the first trimester. The best way to avoid allergies during pregnancy is to get allergy shots before you decide to get pregnant.
Accordingly, in order to protect the health of pregnant women and babies during pregnancy, Vinmec International General Hospital now provides a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant mothers feel secure because of the companionship. of medical staff during pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The package pregnancy helps to facilitate Convenience for the birthing process Newborns receive comprehensive care To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online examination.

References: mayoclinic.org, webmd.com, healthline.com