Can You Take Claritin During Pregnancy

Dealing with a runny nose, sneezing, or watery eyes thanks to allergies? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people in the U.S. have seasonal allergies every year. Luckily, there are plenty of allergy medications out there to help relieve those pesky symptoms.

But what if you’re pregnant? While you may need to avoid some allergy medications during pregnancy, there are quite a few that are safe to use. Claritin (loratadine) is one example of an allergy medication that’s safe to use during pregnancy.

Keep in mind: Everyone’s risks are different during pregnancy. And your risks may change from one pregnancy to the next. It’s always a good idea to check with your prenatal care team before starting any medication. They can let you know if it’s a safe choice for you.

What is Claritin?

Claritin is an oral antihistamine that’s available over the counter (OTC). More specifically, it’s a second-generation antihistamine. This means it’s less likely to cause drowsiness and other side effects than older, first-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

Sometimes when you come in contact with pollen, mold, or other typically harmless substances, your immune system mistakenly thinks they’re harmful substances. In response, your immune cells release histamine to help defend against these perceived threats.

The annoying symptoms of allergies — runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes — come from histamine’s effects throughout your body. Claritin works by blocking the effects of histamine.

Is Claritin safe to take during pregnancy?

Yes. Claritin is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy. Some older, first-generation antihistamines have been around longer and have more data backing up their use during pregnancy. These include chlorpheniramine and hydroxyzine (Vistaril). But, these first-generation antihistamines also tend to cause a lot of side effects, such as drowsiness.

Claritin is a safe option to take while expecting if you’re looking for a non-drowsy antihistamine. It’s been widely used during pregnancy and hasn’t been shown to increase the risk of birth defects or harm a developing fetus.

Good to know: While Claritin is safe, you should avoid Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) during pregnancy. Claritin-D contains the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine, which isn’t safe during all stages of pregnancy. Some studies have linked decongestants to a higher rate of birth defects.

What are the risks of taking Claritin during pregnancy?

While Claritin isn’t known to harm a developing fetus, you should still consider its possible side effects. Drowsiness and headaches are two notable issues that can happen for some people when they take Claritin.

Claritin may cause less drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines. But there’s still a chance it can make you feel more tired than usual. This can worsen the fatigue that’s common during pregnancy. If you find that Claritin does make you sleepy, try taking your dose in the evenings. And don’t drive or perform other tasks that require alertness until you know how it affects you.

Claritin can also cause headaches when you first start it. They may become less noticeable the longer you take it. But if they’re bothersome, discuss alternatives with your prenatal care team.

These aren’t the only possible side effects with Claritin. Your prenatal specialist or pharmacist can review more details of these risks and side effects with you.

What other allergy meds can you take during pregnancy instead of Claritin?

Other oral antihistamines are the most similar alternatives to Claritin. Although antihistamines in general aren’t linked to birth defects, it’s still best to talk to a healthcare professional before taking one during pregnancy. Each has its own pros and cons, and possible side effects can vary between medications.

Examples of other oral antihistamines include:

• Chlorpheniramine
• Benadryl
• Hydroxyzine
• Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Keep in mind that first-generation antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine, Benadryl, and hydroxyzine, are more likely to cause drowsiness than Claritin.

Many steroid nasal sprays are also safe to use during pregnancy, and several are available OTC. Examples of steroid nasal sprays that are safe to use during pregnancy include:

• Rhinocort allergy (budesonide) — recommended by some experts as the preferred steroid nasal spray during pregnancy
• Flonase (fluticasone propionate)
• Nasonex (mometasone)

One notable exception is Nasacort (triamcinolone). Some studies suggest using Nasacort during pregnancy may be linked to respiratory tract defects in developing fetuses.

Are there other tips for managing allergies during pregnancy?

If you’d rather avoid medication during your pregnancy, there are a few things you can try to help prevent and ease allergy symptoms.

Some medication-free tips include:

• Use a saline nasal rinse: Saline rinses (neti pots) can help clear out a stuffy nose and wash away allergens. Be sure to use distilled water when setting the rinse up. Using tap water raises your risk of infections.
• Use saline nasal sprays or drops: Saline nasal sprays or drops are available OTC. They can help soothe nasal irritation and dryness. And you can use them as often as needed.
• Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke: Not only is smoking harmful to a developing fetus, it also worsens allergy symptoms.

For outdoor allergies, consider the following tips:

• Stay inside as much as possible, especially when pollen counts are high in your area.
• Keep your windows closed to help keep allergens out of your house.
• When you go outside, wear a hat, wrap-around sunglasses, and a well-fitted mask. This can help keep allergens off of your hair and out of your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Change your clothes and shoes as soon as possible after returning home to limit allergen spread around your house.
• Take a shower and wash your hair before bed to help wash allergens off your body.

For indoor or pet allergies, these strategies may be helpful:

• Clean your house often, especially areas that gather dust.
• Use a wet mop and a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to prevent dust, pet dander, and other allergens from spreading.
• Keep one room in your house pet-free, so you have a space you can go to if your allergy symptoms worsen.