Note when using allergy medicine for pregnant women

Certain pregnancy allergy medications are indicated to help relieve allergy symptoms during pregnancy. So are allergy medicine for pregnant women safe? Here are some notes when using allergy medicine for pregnant women to ensure the health of mother and fetus.

Frequent sneezing, runny nose, itching or hives... are common symptoms in pregnant women. However, there are pregnant women who have had allergic diseases before pregnancy such as sinusitis, rhinitis, asthma, ... Then, during pregnancy, the disease will have more severe manifestations, causing more discomfort. . In contrast, gestational rhinitis only occurs during pregnancy, in 20 - 30% of pregnant women Normally, when pregnant women have rhinitis, there is no need to use allergy medicine for pregnant women.
Although allergies do not directly affect the fetus, symptoms such as sneezing, itching, ... have a significant impact on the daily activities of pregnant women such as eating (due to seafood allergy) ), sleep.... Therefore, some pregnant women are prescribed allergy medicine to help relieve symptoms, mainly 2 types: antihistamines and drugs containing corticosteroids.

1.1 Antihistamines Antihistamines are popular drugs to treat allergies, including allergy treatment for pregnant women. Some antihistamines that are safe for pregnant women can be mentioned as: loratadine, cetirizine, terfenadine, mizolastine, acrivastin... These are second-generation antihistamines, causing fewer side effects than antihistamines. 1st generation. Pregnant women can safely use these drugs in the treatment of allergies because there have been studies on the safety of the drug on pregnant women.
1.2 Corticosteroid-containing drugs Allergic drugs containing corticosteroids are drugs that need to be prescribed by a doctor because the drug has the potential to cause side effects, especially allergy drugs for pregnant women need to be more concerned about safety for pregnant women. with the fetus.
Some allergy medicines contain oral or injectable corticosteroids that are highly effective in treating allergic diseases such as sinusitis, rhinitis, and bronchial asthma. However, the safety of the drug for the fetus is not well established, if used for a long time, it can affect the development of the fetus, or cause adrenal insufficiency in the newborn in a short period of time. few cases.

Some allergy drugs for pregnant women containing corticosteroids are used in the treatment of rhinitis in the form of nasal sprays and drops, such as budesonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone, propionate, triamcinolone acetonide... high efficiency. Research data on the drug shows no risk of birth defects in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Although the use of sprays or drops is not toxic, only a small amount of drug penetrates the capillaries, however the drug can cause some side effects such as local irritation, nosebleeds, pain headache, vomiting and nausea, itching, rash, swelling of the face, ...

To ensure that the use of allergy medicine for pregnant women is safe during pregnancy, pregnant women should note the following:
Absolutely do not buy and use drugs without a doctor's prescription . When you see symptoms of allergies during pregnancy, pregnant women need to see a doctor for advice to determine the cause and use the appropriate medicine. Thereafter, scheduled follow-up visits are required. Avoid using nasal sprays with antihistamines or containing corticosteroids because so far there is very limited research on their safety in pregnant women. When using nasal sprays containing corticosteroids to treat allergies in pregnant women, the lowest dose should be used. Avoid using drugs containing oral or injectable corticosteroids in the first 3 months of pregnancy, if you want to use them in the next months, you need to be prescribed by a doctor with a specific dose. In case of necessity or other measures are not effective, new drugs containing corticosteroids are used.

Pregnancy allergy injections are not recommended to be started during pregnancy, but can continue to be used during pregnancy, with the therapeutic dose being unchanged, or possibly decreasing.
Even so, allergy injections during pregnancy can increase the risk of drug hypersensitivity to dangerously affecting the fetus. In addition to the risk of hypersensitivity, there are currently no data on the effects of allergy injections on the fetus or neonate.
Thus, the use of allergy drugs for pregnant women should be noted, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy because of the potential to affect the fetus. If you have unusual symptoms, you should be examined and consulted with a specialist.