What to Take for Allergies When Breastfeeding

I used Zyrtec for my horrible allergies while pregnant and breastfeeding. I breast fed my first son until he was 21 months and my second until he was 15 months and had no problems. As of the first of this year it became over-the-counter. Costco has the best price.

I too have TERRIBLE allergies and am breastfeeding exclusively (2 month old)! I just okayed this with the doctor, so I know it's all okay to take...I take Zyrtec, which was only prescription but is now over the counter, and Flonase nasal spray (prescription only) and Padaday Eye Drops (prescription only.) I HATE taking any meds while pregnant or breastfeeding, but my allergies will knock me out of comission for weeks if I don't take these. The combination of the three is all I've found that works. Good Luck!

Zyrtec-its a class C medication. My doctor told me that would be the best medication to take during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

My mom has been one of the worse allergy sufferers for as long as I can remember, but five years ago she found a nutritional supplement that helped her with many of her health problems that nothing else had helped with, but she also found that when allergy season hit, she no longer suffered like she had in the past -- I think she told me the other day that she's only taken 7 antihistamines in the last 5 years (when she used to LIVE off of them during allergy seasons.)
After seeing her results, I started taking it as a healthy young person for prevention, but I used it as my prenatals twice, and breastfed my healthy babies exclusively for 1 year each -- so this may be something that you'd like to check into. Message me for more info if you're interested in saying bye-bye to the allergies :0)

Blessings!

If it were ME and I was suffering with allergies and breastfeeding, I would NEVER trust any medications, prescribed or otherwise. So many of these a new and they just do not know the long term effects on adults - let alone infants.

The most non-invasive thing you can do right now is to use a neti pot with saline solution. The first few times you try it, its going to be hard, but after that, it gets easier and easier. Then when you are done with the neti, follow up with a few sprays of xlear sinus spray. It is a saline based spray with xylitol.

neti pot http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm
xclear http://www.xlear.com/articles/nasal-spray.aspx

You will be amazed at how much better you feel if you do this regimen a couple times a day. I used to be the poster child for allergies and sinus infections. Not anymore.

Mix up a gallon of saline and keep in the bathroom. (4t sea salt, 4 t baking soda) Then you will be more apt to use this everyday.

Watch your dairy, white flour, white sugar and orange juice intake as these are all mucus makers.

Unfortunately you have to watch what you take for breastfeeding when it comes to allergies. Not because its dangerous, but most allergy medicines have a "drying affect" and it not only dries your sinuses, but it dries ALL the fluids in your body including breastmilk. I learned the hard way when it cut my supply in half. I would look into some natural herbal stuff as well as that sinus rinse that Dr. OZ recommened on Oprah.
Good luck... I know its miserable! It's a sacrafice to make for your little one!

I feel your pain "stuffiness". I had a similar problem through both of my kids breastfeeding times. The only thing that worked for me was plain old Sudafed. Not the allergy kind or cold stuff just the plain one. It was the only thing my doctor allowed me to take so I am so glad it worked.

You can also supplement with Robitusson (the plain one) as needed. The combination worked pretty well for me.

QUERCITIN is an herbal that I use for allergies and asthma...for me mostly bee stings, poison ivy, etc. HOWEVER.you need to do your homework to find out about the safety of it with breastfeeding. I don't know of any precautions off hand.

Hi,
You have lots of advice about various medications. What I have known to work for many is getting your immune system in the best working order, then supplementing with some things that are natural antihistamines (and also increase breast milk). If you want specifics, please contact me at ____@____.com. Allergies can also be passed on to the baby so eliminating them is better than masking them with medication if you so choose.

I take zyrtec. My doc said you can mix the allergy meds together to get the best effect, but he also said that right now it is just the time of the year and it is really bad this year and there isn't much you can do. But I know Zrytec is safe I took it while I was prego too. I would say don't take anything with the "D" in it, that goes into your milk and children under 2 are never supposed to have it. It is like speed, and can cause seizures among other bad side effects. That part you just have to suffer through until your done breastfeeding. LOl oh the burden we carry as mothers!!!

Don't take Claritin... it will dry up your milk supply. Sorry, I don't have any other advice as to what to take.

Good Luck!

You might want to consider Claritin-D. In general, Claritin or any allergy medicine without the D (decongestant) in it doesn't work for me. In fact, I used the CVS version called Loratadine D. I was cleared by the doctor to use this when I was attempting to breastfeed less than 2 years ago.

After I had my second son I developed indoor and outdoor alleries. I was on prescription Zyrtec and it worked great. This year Zyrtec was made over-the-counter, and you can buy it at your local pharmacy or Wal-mart, etc. It's in a small white bottle with a green label. I think a month's supply is about $20-$25. It helps get rid of the itchy red eyes, watery eyes, itchy and runny nose, stuffiness, sneezing.

If you have a lot of mucus in your throat, I would suggest looking for Zyrtec-D. It has a decongestant in it, which really helps clear up the throat.

-S.

My breathing salvation is plain, old saline. It is a surprising miracle...good luck:) A. B

Don't take Sudafed when pregnant! Yes, it's "safe" when breastfeeding. However, the main ingredient is KNOWN to dry up milk - fast. Many docs/midwives will tell new moms that don't plan on breastfeeding to take sudafed for a few days after baby is born to dry up their milk supply faster and get over engorgement faster!

I take Claritin and it works so-so. I've found that I need to take it daily for at least a week to see any results. And if I skip a day by accident then it's back to square one. :-(

Unfortunately, due to the way most allergy/cold/congestion meds work, they dry up the milk supply.

Hi S.. I am brest feeding and take Zyrtec (now over the counter) and occasionally sudafed. Check with your pediatrician about what is safe. My son is 9 months old and has had no side effects from either medication.

J.
Galloway OH

Hi S. - I have been taking Zyrtec daily for years (through two pregnancies and two breast-fed babies). I found it to work better than Claritin. One post-er was right, though, you do need to take it everyday for about a week to see the full results. It is now offered over the counter which is nice. I read the post about treating it with natural drugs and that sounds really interesting, I'm going to look into that too. Good luck!

S. regardless if you are breastfeeding or not the best results come from a good multi-vitamin and alfalfa. It works wonders and there are absolutely NO side effects. Good luck
S.

I don't know, but you could contact any La Leche LEague leader and they can guide you to the right place.

I know how you feel. I've felt the same with over the counter stuff...never worked and it seemed I always felt worse than before I took it!!! AAHH! Not to mention the breastfeeding being a concern. So, what I have found is that a natural remedy worked the best. Over the past two years of taking grapeseed extract (Proflavanol 90), a very powerful antioxidant by USANA Health Sciences, I've been able to control my allergies. How, do you ask? Because grapeseed extract is a natural anti-allergen, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial and...allergies are a sign of a depleted immune system... Great stuff that doctors don't want you to know about!:) You should check it out!

Hope you find what works!
D.

My dad is a pharmacist and told met that there's pretty much nothing I can take. Decongestants are like speed for babies!! I just have to tough it out until I'm done nursing. Having a cold was horrible without medicine!!

I would talk to either the pharmacist or your Primary Care Provider to see what they can come up with. My allergies are horrible and not much helps me either. But that's what i would do.

I have found a natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory that works well for me, my husband and several clients (I'm a massage therapist). It's called OPC-3 and is available through any Market America distributor. It's in powder form so just mix w/ water and down the hatch. Works within minutes and tastes like grape juice. If you'd like to try or want more info, email me at ____@____.com. I'll help you out as much as I can.