Can i take antihistamines when i'm nursing?

Question

I feel pretty crappy and I know the antihistamine I'm used to taking will help but I'm nursing. Can I still take it?

I guess I'll just deal with it tonight and ask my doc in the morning, I just wanted to take some now haha

Answer 1

Selected List of Medications approved by the AAP for use in breastfeeding mothers (AAP list revised 8/04)
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html

Cold and Allergy Remedies Compatible with Breastfeeding
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold-remedy.html
Antihistamines

Mom's use of Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton are generally regarded to be compatible with breastfeeding, but always double-check the active ingredients. Monitor your infant for possible drowsiness if you use an antihistamine. The non-sedating antihistamines (below) are generally preferred and are less likely to sedate baby.

The ingredients of Claritin, Claritin-D, Allegra, Allegra-D, Actifed (the decongestant pseudoephedrine plus triprolidine) and Seldane have been approved by the AAP for use by nursing moms. Loratadine (Claritin) has been studied and the amount of loratadine that passes into breastmilk is extremely low. Claritin-D and Allegra-D have pseudoephedrine added (which is AAP approved, but see above about possible effect on milk supply). Dr. Hale has said that he prefers the nonsedating antihistamines (even though they are long-acting) over the sedating allergy medications.

Zyrtec is also generally considered to be compatible with breastfeeding. It is commonly used by nursing moms, although its levels in milk are not known. Hale rates Zyrtec in the lactation risk catagory L2 (safer).

Clarinex (desloratadine): Desloratadine is another name for descarboethoxyloratadine, which is the main metabolite (breakdown product) of Claritin (loratadine). Per one study (Hilbert J, Radwanski E, Affrime MB et al. Excretion of loratadine in human breast milk. J Clin Pharmacol.1988:28:234-9), 0.019% of the descarboethoxyloratadine was transferred into breastmilk. Since Claritin (and thus its active metabolites, too) is considered safe for nursing moms (it's AAP approved, in fact), Clarinex should not be a problem either.

Milk supply: A common concern is that antihistamines might lower milk supply but, per Dr. Thomas Hale, there is no current research supporting this belief. If you feel that your supply has decreased, it could simply be a byproduct of decreased nursing frequency or dehydration due to your illness.

If you feel that a medication is the cause of a sudden drop in milk supply, then stop taking (or decrease your use of) the medication - if the med is indeed the cause, then supply should increase again soon after you stop taking it. When using an antihistamine, it can be helpful to step up your fluid intake quite a bit. As with any medication, take it only as needed, and discontinue use as soon as you can.


Antihistamines
Name of medication

AAP approved?*

Lactation Risk Category**
Brompheniramine
not reviewed

L3 (moderately safe)
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
not reviewed

L3 (moderately safe)
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
not reviewed

L2 (safer)
Dexbrompheniramine maleate
with d-isoephedrine
yes

not reviewed
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
not reviewed

L2 (safer)
Doxylamine not reviewed L4 (possibly hazardous)
Fexofenadine (Allegra)
yes

L3 (moderately safe)
Loratadine (Claritin)
yes

L2 (safer)
Terfenadine (Seldane)

yes

not reviewed
Triprolidine (Actidil, Actifed)
yes

L1 (safest)

Answer 2

Breastfeeding And Antihistamines

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can i take antihistamines when i'm nursing?
I feel pretty crappy and I know the antihistamine I'm used to taking will help but I'm nursing. Can I still take it?

Answer 4

I needed one too a while back. However, the pharmacist and my doc said that antihistamines will dry my milk supply up a bit. So, I would say no but ask your doc. Good luck and I hope you feel better!

Answer 5

Check this site:

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold-remedy.html#antihistamines

Answer 6

If you need prescription strength you can take both Claritin and Allegra Fexofenadine Allegra Approved C L2 Loratadine Claritin Approved B L1

Answer 7

I was told by a pharmacist that only Tylenol is safe to take while nursing. Things like sudafed will speed up the baby's heart rate. I know it sucks, but hang in there :)

Answer 8

I know you can take benadryl.