If you’re pregnant, you may wonder if it’s safe to useantihistamines.

Most antihistamines do not appear to be linked to birth defects in the limited studies that are available.

Non-sedating antihistamines, such asZyrtec(cetirizine) andClaritin(loratadine), may be OK for use.

A pregnant business woman blowing her nose

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Check with your obstetrician before taking any medication during pregnancy.

Is It Safe to Take Antihistamines During Pregnancy?

They also found new possible associations.

However, they add caution given the limited research data on Claritin and small-sample studies of Zyrtec.

Which Antihistamines Are Safe to Use in Pregnancy?

They found that the use of most types of antihistamines during pregnancy is not linked to birth defects.

The benefit of taking any medication needs to be weighed against the risk of not taking the medication.

Yet pregnant people may need to be more cautious about antihistamine use.

Decongestants should be avoided, too, and second-generation antihistamines may pose less risk.

Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss your options before taking an antihistamine while pregnant.

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