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
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.
Can Allergy Medications Safely Be Used During Pregnancy
Antihistamines may be useful during pregnancy to treat the nasal and eye symptoms of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, the itching of urticaria or eczema, and as an adjunct to the treatment of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis . With the exception of life-threatening anaphylaxis, the benefits from their use must be weighed against any risk to the fetus. Because symptoms may be of such severity to affect maternal eating, sleeping or emotional well-being, and because uncontrolled rhinitis may pre-dispose to sinusitis or may worsen asthma, antihistamines may provide definite benefit during pregnancy.
Chlorpheniramine , and diphenhydramine have been used for many years during pregnancy with reassuring animal studies. Generally, chlorpheniramine would be the preferred choice, but a major drawback of these medications is drowsiness and performance impairment in some patients.. Two of the newer less sedating antihistamines loratadine , and cetirizine have reassuring animal and human study data and are currently recommended when indicated for use during pregnancy.
When women with asthma and allergies get pregnant, one-third find their asthma and allergies improved, one-third find they worsen and one-third remain unchanged.
Allergist James Sublett, MD
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Can I Take Advil While Pregnant
Youre having a babysubscribe to our Todays Parent Pregnancy by Week newsletter!Ibuprofen is metabolized in the mothers and babys kidneys and we worry about the baby going into renal failure, MacQuarrie says. We also worry that ibuprofen can close the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel between the main pulmonary artery and the aorta thats only open in fetal circulation, and should only close after the baby is born.
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How To Take Antihistamines
Take your medicine as advised by the pharmacist or doctor, or as described in the leaflet that comes with it.
Before taking an antihistamine, you should know:
- how to take it including whether it needs to be taken with water or food, or how to use it correctly
- how much to take this can vary depending on things such as your age and weight
- when to take it including how many times a day you can take it and when to take it
- how long to take it for some types can be used for a long time, but some are only recommended for a few days
- what to do if you miss a dose or take too much
The advice varies depending on the exact medicine you’re taking. If you’re not sure how to take your medicine, ask a pharmacist.
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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Can You Take Benadryl While Pregnant What About Claitan Heres The Scoop On Whats Safe For Pregnancy So You Dont Have To Suffer From A Stuffy Nose And Itchy Eyes In Silence
While many women report that their allergies improve or disappear during pregnancy, some still experience symptoms. If youre among them, you should know that there plenty of ways to relieve symptoms both with and without medication.
Your best defense against allergy symptoms is to avoid the triggers that cause them. Of course, you cant control what happens outside, but you can reduce your exposure in your home by wearing a mask when you dust or vacuum, keeping pets out of your bedroom, and protecting your mattress and pillows with special covers to keep out dust mites. Using a dehumidifier to keep the air in your home under 50 percent humidity can also help fend off mites and mold.
Its always best to avoid taking any type of medication during pregnancy, if possible. That said, if allergies or nasal congestion due to upper-respiratory infection are keeping you from sleeping, eating, or participating fully in your life, your doctor is likely to consider Claritin to help you cope with your symptoms. Rest assured that after years of research on animals and humans, Claritin has been classified as safe to use during pregnancy. Antihistamines like Chlor-Trimeton and Benadryl are also deemed safe for pregnant women to take.
Try To Stay Away From Things That Could Set Off Your Allergies
Allergy symptoms are typically caused by environmental allergens, including pollen, mold, and animal dander. Additionally, they are the allergies that are the most challenging to avoid.
When pollen and pollution levels are high, staying indoors as much as possible is recommended. Reduce exposure by turning on the air conditioner or fan and closing the windows.
However, if youre experiencing issues with indoor air quality due to mold or pet dander, you might want to try opening your windows .
If you suffer from dust allergies, you should clean your home frequently or have someone else do it. Do not stir up dust by using a dry mop or a vacuum that does not have a HEPA filter. Using a wet microfiber cloth rather than a feather duster is preferable. Avoid places like basements, attics, and storage closets as much as possible.
If you have a pet allergy, let your friends with dogs and cats know ahead of time to make appropriate preparations. Making one room in the house pet-free can help if you develop an allergy to your own pet.
Speaking of allergies and pregnancy, its best to avoid being among smokers. Smoking may worsen the symptoms of those who suffer from allergies. Neither you nor your unborn child benefits from being around secondhand smoke during pregnancy.
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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.
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Will Taking Benadryl Cause Birth Defects
The U.S. FDA classifies Benadryl as a Category B medication during pregnancy. Category B medications are ones that are believed to pose no risk to humans during pregnancy, including the fetus. It is important to realize that no medication is ever 100 percent safe. Benadryl isnt a Category A medicine. Category A medicines are the ones that are considered the safest during pregnancy with no known adverse reactions. While its unlikely Benadryl would cause birth defects, always consult a physician first. There are some instances where the use of Benadryl or diphenhydramine in the first trimester has been linked to an increased risk of a baby being born with a cleft lip or palate, although this risk is very low. Along with trying to avoid Benadryl during the first trimester, its also best to use allergy medications as minimally as possible during pregnancy.
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Can You Take Azo While Breastfeeding
The safety of phenazopyridine is not established in infants or during breastfeeding. Because it can cause methemoglobinemia, sulfhemoglobinemia, and hemolytic anemia, it should be avoided while breastfeeding, especially with an infant under 1 month of age or with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Which Cold & Flu Medication Is Safe To Take During Pregnancy
You are pregnant and start feeling sick. Before you reach for that bottle of cold or flu medicine, are you certain it is safe for your baby?
When you are pregnant, your baby will be exposed to everything you are exposed to. This means that when you are sick with a cold or flu your baby will not only be exposed to the cold or flu virus, but also any medication you may take.
Typically, with most viruses, you must wait for your immune system to fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe your symptoms while you wait.
However, not all over-the-counter medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Certain medications may hurt the baby or cause problems for you, such as increasing your blood pressure.
Use this quick list of pregnancy-safe natural cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter medications as a starting point. Remember, read the directions on the package for any medication you might take. Its also a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife before taking a cold or flu medication.
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Treatments For Allergies While Pregnant
Allergy symptoms, such as a stuffy nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, are unpleasant at the best of times, let alone when pregnant. Certain precautions should be taken when seeking allergy relief when pregnant to ensure the health of the developing infant. After all, not all meds and treatment options that you might be used to and found effective are safe to take when expecting. If you have questions about allergies and pregnancy, dont hesitate to seek professional advice from an expert obstetrics specialist in Florida.
Allergy Medications To Avoid During Pregnancy
- Pseudoephedrine : While some studies found that pseudoephedrine is safe in pregnancy, there have been reports of an increase in abdominal wall defects in the babies of mothers who used the medication during pregnancy, according to the ACAAI.
- Phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine: These decongestants are considered less desirable than taking pseudoephedrine, according to the ACAAI.
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Skin Rashes Cuts Scrapes
Rashes and itchy skin can be treated with OTC hydrocortisone cream during pregnancy. But mention these symptoms to your doctor to rule out conditions like pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy . You doctor may prescribe steroidal creams for certain conditions.
For cuts and scrapes, clean the area well with soap and water. You may then apply an OTC antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin, for added protection.
What Is A Category C Drug When Pregnant
Category C: There are no controlled studies in women, there are no studies in women and animals, or there are no studies in women and animals that have shown harmful effects on the fetus. If the benefit to the mother outweighs the danger to the fetus, pregnant women may be administered medications from this class.
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You Might Get An Allergy
You might be allergic to perm lotion, and you would not know about it if you are perming your hair for the first time.
For instance, you might develop rashes, skin irritation, or a burning sensation. Or, you might build a cough or something as serious as a lung infection. Those are not ideal conditions you should put your body through when pregnant.
To keep things safe, run a patch test on a small section of your hair. Then, only if things go well and smoothly, go ahead, and perm your entire hair.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies
Depending on where you live, spring allergies can pop up around February and end in early summer. Fall allergies can take place in late summer and continue until late fall. Pregnancy can make seasonal allergies worse. Also, a condition called rhinitis of pregnancy can cause similar symptoms to seasonal allergies. This usually occurs in the last trimester. But the cause of rhinitis of pregnancy is extra hormones, not allergens.
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Jillian Stenzel
Jillian Stenzel
A Nevada-bred traveler & food nerd who dances & eats spinach, sometimes simultaneously. She writes from wherever her curiosity demands, and is passionate about spreading the wisdom of better health.
Ken Cosby M.D.
Ken Cosby M.D.
Dr. Ken Cosby received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completed his research post-doc work at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health including the National Heart Lung Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute.
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Can I Take Cough Syrup While Pregnant
For a hacking cough, MacQuarrie says that syrups containing dextromethorphan can be taken as directed on the package if needed. Our general advice is the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time, she says. But she suggests first trying a lot of honey and water to suppress the cough reflex, which has been shown to be surprisingly effective.
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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 .
Acetaminophen / Phenylephrine Pregnancy Warnings
This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.AU TGA pregnancy category: B2US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned:-There is no data on use in pregnant women to know this drugs risks, including the risk of fetal harm or reproductive effects.-Acetaminophen is commonly used during pregnancy and has been assumed safe recent data questions the safety, especially with routine use or varying genetics. -Routine use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is not advised.-Phenylephrine is a sympathomimetic used in emergencies to treat hypotension and alleviate eye and ear allergic symptoms.-Phenylephrine could cause constriction in uterine vessels , reducing uterine blood flow, potentially causing fetal hypoxia.-Phenylephrine may interact with oxytocic or ergot derivatives to cause persistent maternal hypertension cerebral vessel rupture is possible.-Sympathomimetic amines are teratogenic in some animal models, but are not suspected to cause human teratogenicity.-First trimester exposure to phenylephrine may be linked to fetal abnormalities.-Patients with a preeclampsia history should use phenylephrine with caution due to its vasoconstrictive properties.-Phenylephrine may reduce placental perfusion.
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Are Natural Or Alternative Remedies Safe To Use During Pregnancy
Just because a product is labeled “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe to take during pregnancy. Like any drug, some natural remedies are considered low risk in pregnancy and some aren’t.
The biggest challenge with determining the safety and effectiveness of natural or alternative remedies is that many haven’t yet been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women, so the risks are simply unknown. Also, many natural and homeopathic remedies aren’t well regulated, so it’s difficult to know exactly what’s in them.
Some nonmedicinal treatments, like prenatal massage, can be perfectly safe and helpful during pregnancy. Others, such as acupuncture, are probably safe, but no one knows for sure. Other treatments, like herbal teas, can be as potent and possibly dangerous as any prescription drug and have similar side effects.
For your safety and your baby’s always check with your healthcare provider before trying any alternative medicine or treatment.
Find Out More About Your Medicine
The leaflet that comes in the packet with your medicine will have detailed information about it, including how to take it and what side effects you might get.
If you no longer have the leaflet that came with your medicine, you can search for an online version of it using our medicines guide.
You may also find information on individual antihistamines on these websites:
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Common Causes Of Hay Fever
You may feel the symptoms of hay fever at specific times of the year, when certain triggers, or allergens, are in the air. This is known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. The allergens might include pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, fungi or moulds. If you experience year-round symptoms known as perennial allergic rhinitis your triggers might include common household allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, fungi or moulds.
