Claritin

[BlueIrises]

Anyone taking CLaritin while PG? I am 15w and I am miserable with allergies right now...I have never had them this bad...actually with both my previous PG I felt great and didn't suffer at all...I feel like I am making up for it this time...I am swollen and itchy and teary and runny and congested...I am afraid to take it though...any thoughts?

I spoke with my pharmacists and said it was ok but it isn't tested...

[Qbear'smama]

I took Benadryl, apparently that is known to be safe, but I only had to take it very occasionally when I was around cats. I'm not sure what women who have brutal seasonal allergies take.

[Monkey Keeper]

I asked at my appointment last week, my OB told me Claritin is one of the safer allergy meds to take for maintenance. Sudafed (the kind behind the counter) and Benadryl are okay as well. I have been absolutely miserable too, so I feel your pain!

[Lyndzies]

I have very severe seasonal allergies and feel for you!

I'm about 15 weeks, too, and my midwife says plain Claritin is fine; however, she said no-no to the Sudafed of any brand of pseudoephedrine or decongestant (which means no Claratin-D or anything-D).

She also said Benadryl was fine.

[~Demeter~]

Get a neti pot. Then you don't have to worry about a safe medication. I have terrible seasonal allergies and love mine. I don't think I'd get through pollen season without it.

[Funny Face]

I use the neti pot and it really helps but also do claritin when it gets bad or benadryl when I'm really in pain.

[huggingmama]

I started taking Claritin late last week (midwife said that was fine, but as PP said, no Claritin-D). I was resisting it, but I should have started a week earlier. My allergy issues from the beginning of last week morphed into a full-blown sinus infection (even though I was using the neti pot). I'm still recovering after 3 days in bed... I hate to take medication but I need to take care of myself in addition to baby.

[ASusan]

Bioallers - we've had great luck with the tree pollen version in the past couple of weeks.

[HankyPanky]

Originally Posted by ASusan

Bioallers - we've had great luck with the tree pollen version in the past couple of weeks.

Big Fat Ditto! My midwife recommended this to me when I expressed concerns about having to take antihistamines. It's cut down my symptoms so much that I feel okay without having to take any meds. If tree pollen isn't what's causing your symptoms, I believe they have other formulas (mold, etc).

FWIW, she also said that claritan, benedryl, and tylenol products are all safe.

[emmalizz]

try zicam- it's awesome

[alexisfaye]

odd that this came up today

this morning I was complaining to my mother about my allergies. Her response, "Have you noticed how much worse they are when you're pregnant?" This is my third. I hadn't noticed, but she had!

And I took Claritin last time, and got a good nasal spray at some point, too...

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by huggingmama

I started taking Claritin late last week (midwife said that was fine, but as PP said, no Claritin-D). I was resisting it, but I should have started a week earlier. My allergy issues from the beginning of last week morphed into a full-blown sinus infection (even though I was using the neti pot). I'm still recovering after 3 days in bed... I hate to take medication but I need to take care of myself in addition to baby.

I think I am on my way to sinus infection too. After 2 weeks of snot but no real pressure, I woke up with a nasty, tight feeling in my face. I've been using antihistamines + the neti pot and getting relief, but I don't think it's enough.

I need to look into the Bioallers. I think tree pollen is my biggie.

I also just heard that is is supposed to be the worst spring pollen season in 6 years, at least here in the Midwest. Yippee.

[squibbylicious]

I'm taking a generic brand Benedryl, because the pharmacist went through the "drug book" with me.

I only take it once a week or less though, when I'm at my parents house with their cats.

[AmyKT]

My midwife told me Claritin-D was ok, and I took it once because I was miserable. Worst. night. I've. ever. had. I'm pretty sure it was the D part (pseudoephedrine), and I feel horrible that I put my baby through that. My heart raced and I sweated and I felt out of my mind. I've taken sudafed a few more times this pg because my sinuses have just been killer, and it didn't seem that bad, so I don't know if it's the combo of claritin and sudafed that is bad, or what.

I have taken some Benadryl, which I suppose is similar to Claritin, and it just zonks me out. I agree with a PP that my allergies have been much worse while pg (they are usually non-existent), so I've just given up on trying to treat my symptoms other than saline nasal spray.

[COgirl19]

I just took Claritin (NO D) because I have been miserable for two days. I took it when I was pregnant with DD1 too and it worked well, no side effects that I could tell. For some reason I am only allergic to pollen when I'm pregnant. The rest of the time I rarely have a problem.

[matey]

Originally Posted by Funny Face

I use the neti pot and it really helps but also do claritin when it gets bad or benadryl when I'm really in pain.

[Redheaded_Momma]

I have a netipot and use that occasionally but I have had to break down and take Claritin a few times. It's worked wonders!!

[Eresh]

I take loratadine (Claritin) every day and also took it most of my pregnancy with DS. Without it I'm completely miserable and barely functional as a human being. I'm also doing allergy shots every week.

One thing with Claritin is it's not very effective taking it on an as needed basis like you do with Benadryl. To be really effective you do need to take it every day.

[capmish]

I have allergies to just about everything around me... not kidding, ha! I have been taking claritin every single day for years now. I took it through my whole pregnancy last time and I am taking it thorugh this pregnancy as well, (I am 14 weeks now). I am really really into natural health... and do NOT like taking any drugs. But I honestly can not function without it. My midwife told me that the stress that my body goes into not taking it is actually worse for the baby.
If you need it, take it! It *is* one of the safer anithistamines you can take! Good luck!

[Lemoncello]

I tried taking it one day, and I felt so much worse afterwards that I decided to just suffer through allergy season on my own. I got a horribly upset stomach (not helpful since I was still dealing with all-day sickness anyway) and felt a bit of tightness in my chest. The neti pot idea sounds like a good one...never tried it myself, but I've heard they do wonders!