A Guide To Allergy Medications During Pregnancy

If you are suffering from asthma with allergies, or have severe other allergies, it is important to manage the symptoms during pregnancy. Best option is to avoid taking any allergy medications during pregnancy, especially during first trimester, which is the time of formation of vital organs of the baby.

Type Of Allergy Medications

There are many types of allergy medications and all are not safe to be taken during pregnancy. It is hence important to talk to your midwife or doctor regarding allergy medications during pregnancy. A class medications are considered safe during pregnancy, B class medications indicate that these medicines have been proved to have not caused any harm to the baby, and C class medications indicate that there is no data available to support their use during pregnancy.

If you have been getting the shots of allergy prior to getting pregnant, it is safe to continue their usage post-pregnancy as well. But if you are not getting the allergy shots when you found out that you are pregnant, it is advisable to wait till delivery to start the shots in order to avoid any possible reaction.

But some allergy medications during pregnancy are considered safe. Judgement regarding any allergy medication is made using best available scientific evidence, as studies cannot be done on pregnant women due to possible side-effects to the foetus. It is however best to discuss the severity of your allergy with the doctor, and possible risks to the baby by taking any allergy medication. Just like any medication for adults, children allergy medicine works by blocking certain natural substance known as histamine that is produced by the body during allergic reactions.

If possible, limit the exposure of factors that trigger your allergies, as it will reduce the need of medication. Also, nasal congestion becomes worse during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.

During pregnancy, the mucous membranes are swollen, making women feel more stuffy and puffy, and they feel that their allergies have become worse. There are new allergy drugs such as Claritin, and they have not been shown to be harmful, but it has not even proven that they are safe. During second trimester, it is alright to take Chlortrimeton, actified or benadryl, if you have allergy symptoms like runny nose or sneezing.

But as per FDA, none of the allergy medications during pregnancy are considered absolutely safe. Before taking any medications during pregnancy, patient and doctor must have benefit/risk discussion, and the medication should be considered only if benefits outweigh the risks involved.