Blocked Nose During Pregnancy
If you have a blocked nose during pregnancy, steam inhalations should provide some relief from nasal congestion. You could also try a saline nasal spray to clear away the mucus in the nose.
⢠Nasal or sinus decongestants
Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, xylometazoline and oxymetazoline should definitely be avoided during pregnancy. These have blood vessel constricting effects that could potentially restrict blood supply to the placenta, or cause problems for women with a history of pre-eclampsia.
⢠Lemsip when pregnant
Lemsip is not advised during pregnancy. Paracetamol is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, but the safety of pseudoephedrine has not been established and some studies have suggested that use of pseudoephedrine in the first trimester may be associated with birth defects, so Lemsip should be avoided.
⢠Strepsils in pregnancy
Strepsils are not generally thought to be harmful to take when youâre pregnant. However, as the safety of Strepsils in pregnancy has not been fully studied, you may prefer to try natural remedies first.
Should I Continue My Allergy Shots During Pregnancy
It is appropriate to continue allergy shots during pregnancy in women who are not having reactions to the shots, because they may lessen your allergic or asthma symptoms. There is no evidence that they have any influence on preventing allergies in the newborn. It is not generally recommended that allergy shots be started during pregnancy.
To summarize: It is extremely important to monitor closely any asthma or allergic problems during your pregnancy. In the vast majority of cases, you and your child can look forward to a good outcome, even if your asthma is severe, so long as you follow your doctors instructions carefully. At the very first signs of breathing difficulty, call your doctor.
Remember the danger of providing an inadequate supply of oxygen to your baby is a much greater risk than taking the commonly used asthma medications.
The best way to take control of your allergies and have a healthy pregnancy is to speak with an allergist.
This page was reviewed for accuracy 4/17/2018.
Is Benadryl Safe To Take While Pregnant
When youre pregnant, you may have questions about the safety of certain medications, including medications available over-the-counter. Many over-the-counter medications are considered safe during pregnancy, while others arent. One medicine commonly used is Benadryl. However, is Benadryl safe to take while pregnant? In general, can you take allergy medicine while pregnant? Benadryl is a brand-name allergy medication, and its classified as an antihistamine. The active ingredient in Benadryl is called diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine can help with symptoms of not only allergies but also a cold and hay fever. Some of the symptoms people might use Benadryl for can include itchy, watery eyes and nose, a cough and sneezing. In some cases, the active ingredient in Benadryl is also used to help people who struggle with nausea, vomiting and motion sickness. Benadryl and other similar allergy medicines are available as liquids, tablets or capsules.
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Things To Consider Before You Consume Otc Medications
Here are a few things to consider before going for a pill, especially when you are pregnant.
You may get to read a lot of conflicting information on the safety of medications. But this doesnt mean you need to be afraid of using any medicine. If your doctor has prescribed medication and you are not sure about its safety, talk to them to reaffirm about the drugs safety.
What medications have you been avoiding or avoided during pregnancy? Let us know in the comment section below.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for a doctors consultation. Do not use any medication without talking to your doctor.
References:
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Safe Medications And Natural Remedies
Apart from all the medications mentioned above, there are also many options in the form of natural home remedies. Sometimes the symptoms of discomfort that are present during pregnancy can be relieved just by changing daily habits. Even just by doing activities that are positive for your health.
If you adopt a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, then you wont have to resort to excessive use of drugs. Many of these jewels of guidance are present since ancient times and they do work in most cases. We dare you to try them.
Of course, its also essential that you follow a proper healthy diet and remain as active as you can. Staying healthy during pregnancy is essential as it diminishes the symptoms that lead you to the use of medications. Also, having a set schedule to sleep, relax and rest is vital to your health.
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Safety Of Benadryl During Pregnancy
Youre not alone in seeking allergy relief while pregnant. Up to 15 percent of women in the United States report taking antihistamines like Benadryl while they were pregnant. Medical research shows that Benadryl is most likely safe for your growing baby.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that Benadryl is in a group of antihistamine drugs called H. This group has been tested by many research studies and found to be safe during pregnancy.
Other brand-name allergy meds in this family of antihistamines include Claritin and Zyrtec. Doxylamine, another H antihistamine commonly used to help with sleeplessness in pregnancy, is considered safe. You may know it by its brand name, Unisom.
Another kind of allergy antihistamine drug is called H. This kind has been tested by fewer medical studies and may not be safe during pregnancy. OTC antihistamines in this group include Pepcid, Zantac, and Tagamet these should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
Which Drugs Are Safe Or Unsafe
Violetta Shamilova, PharmD, is a board-licensed pharmacist. She is an assistant professor at the Touro College School of Health Sciences, and has worked at CVS pharmacy for five years. She completed the certified APhA Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services course.
Many women must continue taking medically necessary prescription drugs throughout their pregnancies, as failing to do so would endanger both mother and baby. But it’s smart to be concerned about the effects of medication on a growing fetus.
Different medications carry different risks. The importance of maternal comfort is also an important consideration. Allergies can make some women miserable, and medication may be needed so that allergy symptoms are not taking over their lives.
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Can Severe Weather Changes Make Allergies Worseyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
Although allergies are normally associated with the spring and fall, it may feel like allergy season never left this winter. From cold fronts to rainy days and back to warmer days, an allergy expert at Baylor College of Medicine explains that it is not uncommon for frequent weather changes to worsen people’s allergy symptoms.
Medical Xpress
How To Safely Treat Allergies During Pregnancy
While it would be best to avoid allergens that bother you, thats not always a possibility. Many pregnant women and their providers prefer to start with a non-pharmaceutical treatment plan whenever possible. Dr. Janelle Luk, medical director and co-founder of Generation Next Fertility in New York City, suggests an over-the-counter saline nasal spray.
Dr. Luk also recommends physical activity to reduce nasal inflammation. In addition, she says patients with a stuffy nose might be able to sleep better if they elevate the head of the bed by 30 to 45 degrees during sleep.
However, sometimes those non-pharmaceutical options just dont do the trick, and you need something stronger to ease your misery. In that case, there are several options that are safe to try.
For moderate to severe allergies, your physician may recommend a nonprescription corticosteroid spray or an oral antihistamine, Dr. Luk says. Some nasal spray options include Rhinocort Allergy, Flonase, and Nasonex.
For oral antihistamines, Staunton says she recommends Claritin or Zyrtec because of their good safety history. Both are rated pregnancy category B by the FDA. This means that controlled studies in animals have shown no adverse effects to the developing fetus.
Benadryl is considered fairly safe during pregnancy, according to the CDC. However, Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion is not safe for pregnant women because it contains phenylephrine.
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What Will My Gp Recommend
If youve tried avoiding pollen and youre still suffering badly from hay fever, it might be worth visiting your pharmacist or GP. They may first suggest using nasal sprays and eye drops that contain medicines like sodium cromoglicate, corticosteroids, or antihistamines .
The medicine in nasal sprays and eye drops enters the blood stream in very small amounts. Hardly any will cross the placenta and so they are not expected to harm your unborn baby. These can also be bought over the counter, but it is best to consult your doctor first .
If these dont help, your GP then might prescribe antihistamine tablets. The antihistamines that cause drowsiness may not be suitable to use while pregnant. Your doctor will assess which is the best antihistamine for you .
Can I Take Cold And Flu Meds While Pregnant
Pregnant women need to be very careful with cold and flu medications because many contain pseudoephedrine: It can affect maternal blood flow, which can have an adverse effect on the baby, says MacQuarrie. Koren recommends treating symptoms topically with medicated nose drops. These have much lower concentrations of the chemicals that constrict the blood vessels in the nose, and thats much safer, he says. Very little of the medication is getting into your system, or the babys. Read the box or ask a pharmacist if youre not sure if a product contains pseudoephedrine.
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What Is The Best Allergy Medication For Kids
Nasonex and Veramist are approved for use in children over 2 years of age, and Flonase can be used in children over 4 years of age. Antihistamine nasal sprays are another option for children and include Pathanase for children older than 6 years and Astelin and Astepro for children 12 years and older.
If I Have Allergies During Pregnancy Will The Baby Have Allergies
Allergy symptoms during pregnancy are not believed to have any impact on whether your baby develops allergies. Genetics, however, are a major factor in the development of allergies in children. If a child has a parent or a sibling with allergies, then they are at increased risk of getting allergies, too.
An expectant mothers diet during pregnancy may be a factor in whether a child develops allergic rhinitis, food allergies, asthma or eczema. One study found that expectant moms who ate plenty of food-based vitamin D reduced their childs risk of getting allergic rhinitis. Foods with a lot of vitamin D include dairy products, cereals, fish, eggs and mushrooms. Learn more about the allergic march.
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Can I Prevent Allergies
While people with allergies cannot prevent the condition, they can try to avoid or reduce exposure to allergens or triggers. Pollen is a common allergen in Australia, and can be hard to avoid, but to minimise your exposure you could try to:
- stay indoors where possible during pollen season, on windy days, or after thunderstorms
- avoid activities that expose you to pollen, such as mowing grass
- shower as soon as you can after youve been exposed to pollen
- switch your car air-conditioning setting to use re-circulated air when pollen levels are high
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What If Nothing Works
The last line of defense for all allergy sufferers is allergen immunotherapy. This can be in the form of allergy shots or tablets that dissolve under the tongue. Immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in adults and older children, and particularly in preventing allergic asthma.7 While women may not start immunotherapy during pregnancy, you may be able to continue the treatment during pregnancy if your provider tells you it’s okay to do so. If you’ve tried other medications and they didn’t relieve your allergies, see your health care provider. They may refer you to a specialist for allergen immunotherapy.
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Can I Take Allergy Medicine While Pregnant
Antihistamines have, for the most part, been shown to be safe, says Koren. Benadryl is often recommended for pregnant women because there are many years of data associated with use, and Koren adds that theres also been a very large review of the use of non-drowsy antihistamines that did not show any problems.
What Is The Strongest Over The Counter Allergy Medicine For Adults
Claritin contains a second-generation antihistamine, loratadine, also known as pseudoephedrine. Thatâs why you have to look behind the counter of the pharmacy to find it. It is a powerful antihistamine that should relieve all of your usual allergy symptoms.
Best allergy medicationWhich over-the-counter allergy medication is best? Best over-the-counter medications for most symptoms: The first line of defense against constipation, runny nose, and sneezing is with one of the newer, less sedating antihistamines: cetirizine , fexofenadine , and loratadine . or Alavert.). ).What is the strongest allergy medicine?Allegra makes a drug that has a reputation as the best o
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What Are Some Reasons Why People Take Benadryl During Pregnancy
Benadryl is a brand name for the drug diphenhydramine . Its an antihistamine. This means that it helps calm down your immune system from overreacting to pollen, dust, cats, and other allergens.
Taking Benadryl can give you some relief from allergies, asthma, hay fever, and cold symptoms, like:
- itchy eyes, nose, or throat
- runny nose
- skin itching
- skin rash
This OTC medication is also used to stop or ease dizziness, nausea, and vomiting from being car or motion sick. Since it can make you drowsy, some women also use it to help with sleeplessness during pregnancy.
Choosing An Allergy Medication
Once you know which medications are safe to take, youll have to figure out which one will work the best for you. If your allergies are chronic or environmental , you may want to find an antihistamine you can take every day, such as Claritin or Zyrtec.
Seasonal allergies can also be treated this way, but if your symptoms are very infrequent, Benadryl is a good, super-safe choice.
Benadryl can make you excessively drowsy, so be careful of when you take it if youre not sure how it will affect you, dont take a dose before driving. If it makes you sleepy, save your dose for the evening hours, before bedtime.
If you suffer from sinus pain or pressure during allergies, one of the nasal steroid sprays can be a good option. Pregnant women often end up with excess nasal congestion anyway, thanks to an increase in fluid and blood volume a nasal steroid can help relieve some of these additional symptoms.
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What Allergy Medicines Can You Take While Pregnant
What allergy medicines can you take while pregnant
- Are allergy medicines safe to take while Im pregnant or breastfe?
- http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/allergies-key-qampa.html
- Pregnant women should always consult their doctor before using any type of allergy medication. While some allergy drugs are considered safe, others may pose a risk to the fetus. If you are trying to have a baby, you should talk to your doct
- What are acceptable allergy/cold medicines to take while pregnant?
- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080607193222AAIQuhe
- You should really ask your doctor this question for the most accurate information. Dont rely on web sites when it comes to taking medication while pregnant. You will find contradicting advice and some web sites that have wrong information
- Can I take any type of allergy medicine while pregnant??
- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090711073711AAtoh6Y
- For the time being, you can safely take Benadryl, which will help somewhat with the itching and things. But for a more long term solution your doctor will have to decide if they want to put you on Claritin or Zyrtec or something similar. Th
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Safety Of Antihistamines During Pregnancy
Although pruritus is not a life-threatening medical condition, it can be extremely troublesome for pregnant women. Because of potential effects on the fetus, the treatment of pruritus in pregnancy requires prudent consideration. At one point, the physician will have to use the antihistamines and weigh the benefits against the teratogenic effects of the antihistamines. Physicians must decide whether to select an older, better-studied antihistamine, thought to be relatively safe during pregnancy, or a newer agent that has less adverse effect on quality of life but has a potential teratogenic effect.
Various recommendations and studies favor the use of first generation antihistamines for use during pregnancy. They point out that these antihistamines were in use for a longer period of time and were more widely used during pregnancy. More data are available about the various effects of the first generation antihistamines in pregnancy. Moreover a few of the second generation agents have been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of certain congenital malformations.
In 1993, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Working Group on Asthma and Pregnancy recommended the first-generation agents chlorpheniramine and tripelennamine as the antihistamines of choice during pregnancy, based on duration of availability as well as reassuring animal and human data.
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