Safe Allergy Remedies During Pregnancy
- Oral antihistamines, like cetirizine , chlorpheniramine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , and loratadine seem to be safe. So does cromolyn sodium nasal spray and the steroid nasal spray Rhinocort, according to Web MD.
- Allergy shots: If you took allergy shots before pregnancy, your doctor might recommend you continue taking them. But do not start them while pregnant.
- Sudafed 30-60 mg every 4-6 hours can be used in the second and third trimesters in women without gestational hypertension. Avoid use in the first trimester and with breastfeeding. Sudafed PE should be avoided because of its uncertain efficacy and safety in pregnancy.
Allergy Medications to Avoid During Pregnancy
- Decongestants: During your first trimester, dont take decongestants by mouth, according to Web MD. Decongestants may make some birth defects more likely. Watch out for antihistamines combined with a decongestant. Because theres not enough evidence for their safety, avoid antihistamine nasal sprays.
- Mucinex, Mucinex D, Mucinex DM, and the extra-strength versions of each, because the six forms of Mucinex contain guaifenesin. Avoid taking any of these during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, they may be safe to use during later trimesters. Ask your doctor.
What Else Can You Do For Allergy During Pregnant
Although it is safe for you to take some allergy medicine while pregnant, you can do many things to prevent allergic reactions from happening too.
1. Avoid the Allergen
Consult with your physician and find out whether allergies or nasal congestion is causing your symptoms. If you are having an allergic reaction during pregnancy, then you can try the following tips to avoid certain allergen.
- For pollen allergy: Stay indoors where the air is conditioned and filtered. Wear wraparound sunglasses when going outdoors to keep your eyes safe from pollen. Thoroughly wash your face and hands when coming indoors.
- For dust allergy: Ask someone else to clean for you. To avoid dust, ask your helpers to use wet mop or a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
- For food allergies: Refrain from eating foods you are allergic to. Check the labels of food items carefully to ensure they do not contain ingredients you are allergic to.
- For pet allergies: Ask your pet-owning friends to make arrangements before you go to their homes. If you become allergic to your own pet, then try to keep your room pet-free.
- Other tips. Avoiding smokers can keep you safe from allergies and secondhand smoke, which is bad for both you and your baby. And you should stay away from household chemicals. For example, paint thinners can trigger allergic reaction.
2. Relieve Allergic Symptoms
Minor lifestyle changes can help you in avoiding the use of allergy medicine while pregnant and also keep your symptoms under check.
Afrin Severe Congestion Pump Nasal Mist
Whats the difference between this Afrin spray and the one above?
One thing is the no-drip formula. It shoots mist up your nostrils, but it wont run down your throat or out your nose.
If youre not confident you should try it, take into account that it comes with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
Youll need to spray it two or three times in each nostril, but then the effects last for 12 hours.
Even though its maximum strength, it wont cause drowsiness.
Interestingly, this spray also has camphor, eucalyptol, and menthol, similar to the Vicks product.
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Be Careful With Pseudoephedrine Allergy Shots And Herbal Remedies
You can continue allergy shots if you received them before pregnancy and felt they helped your symptoms. However, due to the uncertainty of your reaction, you shouldnt start allergy shots during your pregnancy.
In general, expectant mothers want to know if they can take decongestants or pseudoephedrine . Your doctor recommends avoiding it in your first trimester. You may take it during the second or third trimester if you dont have high blood pressure.
On the other hand, herbal remedies and aromatherapy effects on pregnant women are yet to undergo thorough studies. Therefore, avoid these allergy medicines while pregnant.
I Hate Using Nasal Sprays Do I Have Other Options For Allergies During Pregnancy
Antihistamine pills like loratadine and cetirizine are popular allergy medications, but theyre less effective compared to the nasal steroid sprays. If you choose to take these, know that they are generally safe for use during pregnancy.
You may also be familiar with the decongestant pseudoephedrine . If youre pregnant and in your first trimester, stay away from this. During your second and third trimester, it may be used if you dont have high blood pressure.
Always check with your OB/GYN before taking any new medications.
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Carefully Select Otc Allergy Medications
Healthcare providers do not recommend many allergy medicines during pregnancy.
However, the over-the-counter antihistamines loratadine and cetirizine are both considered safe to take while pregnant or nursing.
These antihistamine medications function by blocking histamine effects, which is a trigger for allergy symptoms.
In addition, they are first-line drugs for allergies in pregnant women.
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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Safe Medications During Pregnancy
Some over-the-counter and prescription medications are acceptable after the first trimester, but nothing is 100% safe.
These OTC meds are safe when taken as directed:
- Colds and flu: Robitussin, Vicks, saline nasal drops and spray, Flonase, Actifed, Nasocort, Sudafed , Tylenol and Tylenol cold. Do not use sustained action forms or multiple symptom forms of these drugs.
- Allergies: Zyrtec, Benadryl, Allegra, Tavist, Claritin, Afrin spray, Flonase, Nasacort, Neo Synephrine.
- Constipation: Citrucel, Colace, Metamucil, Senecot, Milk of Magnesia.
- Diarrhea: only after 12 weeks, Imodium. Kaopectate, Parepectolin
- First Aid: Bacitracin, Neosporin
- Heartburn: Gaviscon, Mylanta, Tums, Nasolox,
- Hemorrhoids: Preparation H, Anusol, Witch Hazel
Use Home Remedies To Treat Mild Symptoms
Many women often experience nasal congestion during pregnancy. Sometimes, home humidifiers can relieve this problem.
Although it will not eliminate allergens from the environment, home humidifiers will moisten the air. Hence, this can ease your irritated nasal passages.
In addition, you can use salt water or saline nasal spray to relieve your congestion.
Other home remedies you can use in place of allergy medications while pregnant are:
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Choosing Safe Nasal Sprays To Use During Pregnancy
There are various nasal sprays available for allergies. Therefore, choosing the right allergy medication to use during pregnancy can be a little stressful as a first-time mom. Weve compiled a list of safe nasal sprays, from sprays deemed safe as per the FDA Pregnancy Categories they reside in to over-the-counter sprays, that can be discussed with your doctor for potential use during pregnancy. Please be sure to consult with your doctor before taking steps to use any of the following.
How Can I Manage My Hay Fever While Pregnant
Its important you take special care with your medicines during pregnancy since some may affect your unborn baby.
One way to reduce your need for hay fever medicines, while keeping your baby safe, is to try to avoid any known triggers or allergens. This can be a challenge if you do not know what you are allergic to. Your doctor may refer you to an allergy clinic to help you find out whats causing your allergy symptoms.
There are allergy medicines that are safe for you to take while you are pregnant, including some but not all antihistamine tablets and syrups, eye drops and nasal sprays, including corticosteroids and decongestants.
Your pharmacist or doctor can advise you on what medicines you can take while pregnant to help with your hay fever symptoms while minimising the risk to your baby.
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How To Cope With Side Effects Of Mometasone Nasal Spray
What to do about:
- headaches â make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller and talk to your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
- unpleasant taste or smell â rinsing your mouth out with water or brushing your teeth after you use your nasal spray may help.
- sneezing â this will usually settle down as you get used to the medicine.
- nosebleeds or dry or sore nose or throat â stop using mometasone for a few days then start again. Speak to your doctor or a pharmacist if these side effects do not go away.
What Were The Basic Results
From the large number of comparisons made between certain medicine ingredients and specific birth defects, three statistically significant links were found:
- Mothers who used phenylephrine during the first trimester of pregnancy were eight times more likely to have given birth to an infant with endocardial cushion defect than mothers who hadnt used it 8.0, 95% confidence interval 2.5 to 25.3).
- Mothers using phenylpropanolamine during the first trimester of pregnancy were 7.8 times more likely to have given birth to an infant with ear defects than mothers not using it and 3.2 times more likely to have given birth to an infant with pyloric stenosis .
Both phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine are commonly used in decongestant medicines.
To give a sense of the scale of the risks, the study authors were quoted in the Mail Online article explaining how the risk of an endocardial cushion defect among babies whose mothers did not take decongestants is about 3 per 10,000 live births and that even the eight-fold increase in risk indicated by the study results, while it sounds large, would translate to a 2.7 in 1,000 chance the baby would have the defect.
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What Is The Best Allergy Medicine For Babies Under 2
Although nasal symptoms, such as a runny nose, may exist in babies under age 2, allergic rhinitis is uncommon in this group since they have not yet had repeated exposure to inhaled allergens. Before you look for an allergy medicine for a 1-year-old or a 2-year-old, call your childs health care provider. Young children should be evaluated for other causes of allergy-like symptoms before being treated with common allergy medicines.
Can Pregnancy Make Me More Sensitive To Hay Fever
Yes during pregnancy you may find that you are more sensitive to your allergy triggers and that they are more troublesome. While the exact reasons for this are not clear, it may be due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, and because during pregnancy your blood volume increases to support your growing baby.
If you do not have a history of allergy or hay fever and suddenly find you have symptoms, see your doctor to check for other conditions that may need to be treated.
Hay fever should not lead to serious breathing difficulties. If you feel you cant get enough air, your chest feels very tight, you are breathless, or you feel like youre being suffocated, seek medical advice immediately.
If you have unexplained breathing problems, especially if they are severe and come on quickly, call triple zero for an ambulance.
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Choosing An Allergy Nasal Spray
There are two main classes of these medications: nasal steroid sprays and antihistamine nose sprays. But you might have to figure out which nasal spray works best for you and your primary care doctor or allergist can guide you.
Dr. Aronica explains the differences between them, including how they work and where to get them.
Safe Cough And Sore Throat Remedies During Pregnancy
- Dextromethorphan or Dextromethorphan-guaifenesin, such as Robitussin and Robitussin DM. 120 mg in 24 hours
- Nasal drops or sprays
- Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, for aches, pains, sore throat and fever
- Salt water gargling
- Menthol rub on chest, temples and under the nose
- Chloraseptic spray
- Cough drops or lozenges containing benzocaine
- Expectorant during the day
Cough and Flu Medications to Avoid During Pregnancy
- Bactrim, an antibiotic
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Lifestyle Steps That Make A Difference
Since avoiding exposure to allergens is always better than trying to treat the symptoms they cause, follow these tips as much as possible:
Reduce exposure to allergens outdoors
When the pollen count is high, limit your time outdoors, especially on windy days. If youre used to exercising outdoors, try classes at a gym or follow one on your computer. Being outdoors in the afternoon is often less of a problem than in the morning, when pollen counts are higher. Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes and a pollen mask can shield your nose and mouth.
Reduce exposure to allergens indoors
Keep pollen out by keeping windows closed. Use air conditioning, not a window fan that draws pollen inside.
Clean in a way that traps and removes allergens. A vacuum with a HEPA filter will capture very tiny particles. Damp dusting and damp mopping traps dust rather than spreading it around.
Encase pillows and mattresses in zippered cases to protect them from dust mites and other allergens. Wash the coverings in hot water 130 degrees or higher every week, along with sheets and pillowcases. Never hang linens and clothes outside to dry, where they could be a magnet for pollen traveling in a breeze.
If pet dander is a problem, be sure to keep your pets out of the bedroom. Close the air vents in your bedroom if you have forced-air or central heating or cooling so that particles cant travel through your house into your bedroom.
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 About Supplements
Some nutritional or herbal supplements may help ease allergy symptoms. But don’t assume they’re safe just because they’re natural. Plenty of natural products can harm you and your baby. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting supplements.
Also, do what you can to limit contact with allergens:
- Use dust-proof covers on bedding
- Wash bedding frequently
- Shower after spending time outside
- Keep damp areas of the home clean and well aired
It’s a bad idea to let your allergy symptoms go unchecked. If these methods don’t work, safeguard your health by knowing what you can take when symptoms crop up.
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 its okay to do so. If youve tried other medications and they didnt relieve your allergies, see your health care provider. They may refer you to a specialist for allergen immunotherapy.
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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 doctorâs 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.
