Allergy Medications To Avoid
While most antihistamines are safe to take during pregnancy, some other medications often used to treat allergy symptoms may not be. Expectant moms should be mindful of combination allergy formulas that include other ingredients unsafe for pregnant women, like aspirin or other NSAIDs, and some cough suppressants or expectorants.
You should also take care to avoid allergy medications with decongestants like pseudoephedrine , says Dr. Jones, unless your physician or midwife has approved it.
Although decongestants are unlikely to cause problems with the fetus, they can cause an increase in blood pressure in certain individuals, Dr. Jones explains.
There is some research suggesting a slightly higher risk of birth defects associated with pseudoephedrine, although so far, those possible risks have only been identified during the first trimester.
That means Sudafed may be a limited-use option for women in their second and third trimesters who do not have any previous hypertension issues .
Medications For Seasonal Allergies During Pregnancy
- diphenhydramine
There are always risks when taking any medication during pregnancy. Women should talk with their doctors before taking allergy medicines to make sure they arent potentially harmful. While doctors consider many oral over-the-counter medications safe for seasonal allergies, using both oral and nasal spray decongestants isnt as studied or well-known. Use of nasal sprays may be safer than oral decongestants. Thats because nasal sprays arent as likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream. An example is oxymetazoline, an ingredient in brands like Afrin and Neo-Synephrine. Women should exercise caution when using nasal sprays for more than three days. This is because using decongestants for longer can make allergy symptoms worse by causing nasal swelling. Some women also get allergy shots. These are compounds of allergens that are injected as a means to desensitize a person to an allergen. If a woman becomes pregnant while she is in the course of her allergy shots, she can usually keep getting them. Pregnancy isnt a good time to start getting allergy shots. Its possible they can cause strong allergic reactions. Without knowing a womans reaction, its best to delay starting allergy shots until after giving birth.
Common Nasal Problems During Pregnancy
Pregnant women are subject to the same types of nasal problems as the general population. These include allergic rhinitis and the common cold. Both conditions have been discussed in the pharmacy literature, but the problem of what the prudent pharmacist should recommend for the pregnant patient is a continual conundrum.
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How Pregnancy Affects Allergies And Asthma
Seasonal allergies occur when the bodys immune system overreacts to certain otherwise common environmental substances, such as pollen and dust. When people with allergies breathe in such a substance which for them is an allergen their bodies see it as a foreign invader and mounts an immune response. When this happens, the body produces multiple inflammatory chemicals which can cause classic allergic reactions, such as:
Inflammation and swelling of the sinuses
Itchy, watery eyes
Sore, itchy throat
Runny nose
Antihistamines and saline nasal spray can help can help control mild symptoms, while moderate to severe allergies require other therapies, such as nasal steroid sprays.
Asthma and seasonal allergy symptoms may worsen, improve, or remain unchanged during pregnancy. We cant predict exactly how a pregnant womans body and hormonal changes alter how the immune system reacts to foreign substances. For example, pregnancy induces swelling of the nasal mucosa, the inner lining of the nose. Inflammation can lead to pregnancy rhinitis, or nasal congestion and a runny nose during pregnancy. Although the cause of pregnancy rhinitis is related to hormone production and not allergens, this condition may make pre-existing seasonal allergy symptoms worse. Together, these symptoms can make someone pretty miserable and impact nutrition, stress, sleep, and general comfort.
Can You Get Allergies During Pregnancy
Yes, you can get allergies while you’re pregnant, sometimes for the first time and certainly if you have a history of them. Allergies are very common in pregnancy, and not all women who experience them are long-term allergy sufferers. Many women with no known prior allergies only complain of their symptoms during pregnancy.
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About Antihistamines And This Study
About antihistamines
Antihistamines include both prescription and over-the-counter medications. They typically are used to treat
- Asthma and/or allergies
About 10-15% of women report taking antihistamines during pregnancy.
About this study
Researchers reviewed more than 50 published scientific articles that looked at the link between antihistamine use during pregnancy and birth defects. They evaluated the articles based on certain criteria: how researchers selected their study populations, how researchers determined antihistamine use in pregnancy, and how researchers identified babies with birth defects.
Ways To Find Allergy Relief While Pregnant
Home » 5 Ways to Find Allergy Relief While Pregnant
Approximately a quarter of expectant mothers suffer from recurrent allergies or allergy symptoms while pregnant. If you find yourself a part of this group, dont worry!
There are plenty of ways you can find allergy relief that is safe for you and your child:
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Can You Get Allergy Shots During Pregnancy
Allergy shots are considered safe for pregnant women, but only for those who had been on the receiving end for a while before conceiving. Most allergists say it’s not a good idea to start allergy shots during pregnancy, because they trigger changes in your already-fluctuating immune system and may cause unexpected reactions.
During Labour And At Hospital
It is important to make sure the labour ward team are aware of your food allergy it should be on your medical notes, but it wont hurt to let the team dealing with you know verbally as well.
When your baby is born you should also tell those looking after you about your condition so that they can give you the correct food and avoid any problems. Alternatively, you may wish to take your own food into the hospital check with the maternity unit beforehand to find out their policy about food allergy sufferers.
Important
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How Do Allergies Affect A Baby
The impact of allergies on a baby in the womb varies along with the allergies themselves. Most symptoms have little or no effect on a baby. But symptoms like shortness of breath can have a major effect. Getting enough oxygen is vital to the babys life and health.1,2
Allergies may also have indirect and future effects on a pregnant person’s baby. Allergies can detract from their overall health, and this in turn can distress the baby. A pregnant person’s allergies also raise their babys chance of having allergies later in life.4,5
What a pregnant person does to treat their allergies also has a bearing on their baby. Certain drugs can harm a baby when the person takes them while pregnant or breastfeeding. But other drugs and non-drug treatments can boost their health, which in turn helps their baby.
Is Face Steaming Safe During Pregnancy
Steaming your face or wrapping just your face in a hot towel is okay, though. Another thing to consider once youre in your second trimester of pregnancy is that its best to avoid lying flat on your back for very long. The weight of your uterus could compress major blood vessels and interfere with blood flow.
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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.
What Pregnant Women Can Do
Pregnant women have many options for controlling allergy symptoms. The first step is to be proactive. Ideally, if a woman typically suffers from seasonal allergies, she should talk to her doctor about starting a medication before symptoms begin. If she notices seasonal allergy symptoms for the first time during pregnancy, she should visit her doctor to determine the cause and manage symptoms, which can reduce the risk of a sinus infection.
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Other Medications And Combinations
Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that keeps certain cells in the body called mast cells from releasing chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. It’s available without a prescription and helps a runny/itchy nose, sneezing, and congestion.
The prescription drug montelukast blocks substances called leukotrienes. They can cause the swelling linked to asthma and allergies.
Nasal ipratropium is a prescription nasal spray that can help if you have a runny nose because of your allergies.
Some products include more than one kind of drug. Allegra-D, Claritin-D, and Zyrtec-D have both an antihistamine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine.
Immunotherapy And Influenza Vaccine
Allergen immunotherapy is often effective for those patients in whom symptoms persist despite optimal environmental control and proper drug therapy. Allergen immunotherapy can be carefully continued during pregnancy in patients who are benefiting and not experiencing adverse reactions. Due to the greater risk of anaphylaxis with increasing doses of immunotherapy and a delay of several months before it becomes effective, it is generally recommended that this therapy not be started during pregnancy.
Patients receiving immunotherapy during pregnancy should be carefully evaluated. It may be appropriate to lower the dosage in order to further reduce the chance of an allergic reaction to the injections.
Influenza vaccine is recommended for all patients with moderate and severe asthma. There is no evidence of associated risk to the mother or fetus.
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What Home Remedies Can I Take For A Cold While Pregnant
breathing warm, humid air to help loosen congestion a facial steamer, hot-mist vaporizer, or even a hot shower can work. chicken soup , to help relieve inflammation and soothe congestion. adding honey or lemon to a warm cup of decaffeinated tea to relieve a sore throat. using hot and cold packs to alleviate sinus pain.
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What can you do to feel better if you get a cold during pregnancy?
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Common Causes Of Nasal Problems
The common cold is the number-one cause of both nasal congestion and runny nose, along with sore throat and cough. Allergic rhinitis is another major cause of both runny nose and nasal congestion, usually accompanied by nasal itching, sneezing, and watery eyes. A lesser known problem is pregnancy rhinitis, a similar condition that is not due to a cold or allergies, but is caused by the pregnancy itself.
Allergy Shots And Other Immunotherapy
You call them allergy shots. Your doctor calls it “immunotherapy.” By either name, the goal is the same: Retrain your immune system so it doesn’t go into allergy mode.
When you get allergy shots, your doctor gives you small, gradually increasing amounts of the pollens that are causing your symptoms. Over time, your body builds up a resistance to them. The shots are a long-term commitment, likely taking 3 to 5 years. After that, your doctor will see if you still need them.
Instead of getting shots at the doctorâs office, there are also under-the-tongue tablets that you can take at home. The FDA has approved three of these products: Grastek, Oralair, and Ragwitek. They work the same way as shots. The goal is to boost your tolerance of allergy triggers.
The tablets can cause an allergic reaction in some people, so you will need to take your first one at your doctorâs office to make sure itâs safe for you. Even if you donât have a reaction, you may feel itching or burning in your mouth or lips or have stomach troubles. These problems usually go away after a few days.
Show Sources
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology : âSLIT Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis Nothing to Sneeze About.â
FDA. “Itching for Allergy Relief?” News release.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital: “Allergens: Pollen.”
National Jewish Health: “Pollen Allergy.”
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: “Pollen.”
Sanofi-aventis U.S. News release.
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Choosing Therapy For Nasal Problems During Pregnancy
Physicians advise their colleagues on appropriate therapy of nasal problems during pregnancy in such journals as the American Journal of Rhinology. In one such article, an author placed medical interventions for allergic rhinitis during pregnancy into two tiers.7 Those on the first tier included intranasal cromolyn, intranasal corticosteroids, and first-generation antihistamines. Drugs relegated to the second tier included decongestants and second-generation antihistamines. It should be noted that no nonprescription product carries an indication for pregnancy rhinitis.
Mast Cell Stabilizer:Intranasal cromolyn is FDA Pregnancy Category B for pregnant patients.4 It may be recommended as a first-line agent by the physician for relief of rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching of allergic rhinitis.7
Intranasal Corticosteroids:The sole nonprescription intranasal corticosteroid is triamcinolone acetonide . As a Category C product in pregnancy, risk cannot be ruled out, and pregnant patients were never included in any of the studies on its efficacy and safety.1 While potential benefit may justify the potential risk to the fetus, this would be a decision best left to the obstetrician. The ingredient relieves nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal pruritus, and sneezing associated with hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies.
Can I Get Allergy Shots During Pregnancy
Pregnant women can continue with allergy shots they started before they were pregnant. They should stay at the current dose through pregnancy do not increase dosage. If theres any reactivity, the doctor may reduce the dosage of the shot.
Its not recommended to start allergy shots during pregnancy. This can trigger changes in an already-fluctuating immune system and may cause a systemic reaction.
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Is Ginger Good During Pregnancy
It helps in controlling nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and also aids digestion. So, it is especially helpful during the first trimester, if a pregnant woman shows significant symptoms. Ginger can also help in relieving pain in the body, like backache and leg cramps, which happen during pregnancy.
Allergy Shots During Pregnancy
Allergen immunotherapy help patients with symptoms not alleviated by other drugs and environmental controls. Allergy shots may be continued during pregnancy for women who are not having adverse reactions to the shots. Starting allergy shots during pregnancy is not recommended. If you have ever received allergy shots, one of the important questions to ask your gynecologist before getting pregnant is how allergy risks should be managed.
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Allergies Vs Nasal Congestion During Pregnancy
Expectant noses are, unfortunately, stuffy noses. Nasal congestion usually starts sometime in the second trimester, as high levels of estrogen and progesterone increase blood flow throughout your body including in your nose causing mucus membranes to swell and soften.
This can make you as stuffed up as if you had a cold or an allergy, resulting in nosebleeds during pregnancy and/or postnasal drip that may make you cough at night.
So how can you tell the difference between allergies and a bad case of pregnancy congestion? If you’re suffering from allergies, you’ll most likely experience the additional symptoms mentioned above along with the stuffiness and coughing. If noticeable itchiness and sneezing aren’t plaguing you, it could just be the hormone-related congestion of pregnancy. If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor.
The Womans Clinic Little Rock Ar
For more information about treating seasonal allergies during pregnancy and an abundance of other important pregnancy tips, or to make an appointment, contact The Womans Clinic by calling 664-4131. Our board certified gynecologists and obstetricians provide state-of-the-art Little Rock AR prenatal care for our patients in a comfortable, private setting.
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Treating Seasonal Allergies In Pregnancy
| Posted On May 27, 2015 | By: Atrius Health
Spring is in full bloomtime to stock up on tissues!
The sneezing, the stuffy, runny nose, the itchy watery eyes ugh! As if pregnancy isnt uncomfortable enough on its own, enjoying the outdoors and those beautiful blossoms come at a price for many women. To make matters worse, nasal congestion and difficulty breathing are already common in pregnancy due to increased blood volume and decreased lung capacity .
So where can you turn for some relief? Its important to know that we always recommend non-drug remedies as a first line of defense before trying medications, especially in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when the fetus is forming all the major organs, brain and spinal cord. These comfort measures include:
- Avoiding your allergy triggers. For more information about identifying and avoiding triggers, please check out What to do about Seasonal Allergies, a fantastic blog post written by Dr. Lynda Kabbash, an Atrius Health allergist.
- Using a neti pot or saline nasal spray for stuffy nose
- Applying adhesive nasal strips at night to help you breathe
- Gargling with warm salt water or drinking decaf black tea with honey or lemon for sore throat
- Using phenol throat spray or plain, non-herbal throat lozenges for sore throat
- Applying Vaseline® inside the nose for chapping
If comfort measures are not enough, here is a helpful list medications generally considered safe for use in pregnancy:
