During pregnancy, certain allergy medications are considered safer than others, but always consult your healthcare provider before starting any medication.
Allergy Medicines Generally Safe in Pregnancy
- Antihistamines:
- First-generation antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are considered safe, though they may cause drowsiness
* Second-generation antihistamines like **loratadine (Claritin)** and **cetirizine (Zyrtec)** are also regarded as safe and typically cause less drowsiness
* These antihistamines are usually recommended after the first trimester, but some may be used earlier if needed
- Nasal corticosteroid sprays:
- Nasal steroid sprays such as budesonide (Rhinocort) , mometasone (Nasonex) , fluticasone (Flonase) , and triamcinolone (Nasacort) are generally safe throughout pregnancy and effective for moderate to severe allergy symptoms
- Allergy shots (immunotherapy):
- If you were already receiving allergy shots before pregnancy, you can continue them. However, starting allergy shots during pregnancy is not recommended
Allergy Medicines to Avoid or Use With Caution
- Oral decongestants:
- Avoid oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine , especially during the first trimester, due to a small risk of birth defects like abdominal wall defects
* Some nasal decongestant sprays may be safe for short-term use but can cause rebound congestion and are generally advised against during pregnancy
- Combination allergy medications:
- Avoid allergy medications that combine antihistamines with decongestants (often labeled with a "D," e.g., Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D) during early pregnancy
Non-Medication Strategies
- Consider non-drug approaches such as avoiding allergens, using saline nasal sprays, nasal irrigation, and allergy-proofing your environment to reduce symptoms
Summary
Medication Type| Examples| Pregnancy Safety Notes
---|---|---
First-generation antihistamines| Chlorpheniramine, Diphenhydramine| Safe, may
cause drowsiness
Second-generation antihistamines| Loratadine, Cetirizine| Safe, less
drowsiness, preferred after first trimester
Nasal corticosteroid sprays| Budesonide, Mometasone, Fluticasone| Safe
throughout pregnancy
Oral decongestants| Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine| Avoid especially first
trimester due to birth defect risk
Combination antihistamine + decongestant| Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D| Avoid during
first trimester
Allergy shots| Immunotherapy| Continue if started before pregnancy; do not
start during
Always consult your obstetrician or healthcare provider before taking any allergy medication during pregnancy to weigh benefits and risks specific to your situation
