Can i take benadryl while breastfeeding

This means it is less likely to make moms feel tired or sedated. So, if you have to take something orally for allergies, that would be my recommendation. Still, both Hux and Hess agree that taking antihistamines on a consistent basis while breastfeeding may not be the best course of action unless absolutely necessary like when treating a severe allergic reaction. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you. Some healthcare providers and lactation consultants recommend saline nasal sprays as an option for treating allergy symptoms because they are safe and easy for nursing mothers to use.

Instead of taking a drug orally, the mother can treat her allergy symptoms topically. What's more, saline nasal sprays can be effective at rinsing pollens from the nose before they can cause allergy symptoms.

This is a much safer way to treat your allergy symptoms than taking an antihistamine. Typically, eye drops that are designed for cold- or allergy-symptom relief, are safe for nursing moms to use as well, says Hess. In fact, eye drops may work better than antihistamines when it comes to allergy-related eye symptoms.

Ultimately, eye drops can help with dryness, redness, itching, and even watering. And, like nasal sprays they allow you to treat your allergy symptoms without taking medication orally. When it comes to taking Benadryl while nursing, healthcare providers typically recommend that breastfeeding mothers not take Benadryl and instead use other options for addressing their allergies. Some options include Claritin, saline nasal sprays, and eye drops. That said, in an emergency situation involving a life-threatening allergic reaction, taking Benadryl may be needed.

If you do have known allergies to food or insects and have Benadryl on hand for emergencies, it is important to have a plan in place for how you will feed your baby if you have to use Benadryl. Talk to your healthcare provider to make a plan and determine what is right for you. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allergens and pollens. Updated August 21, Updated October 19, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Benadryl? Some people have chronic allergies to things like dust mite or cat fur. Steroid nasal sprays can be very effected with virtually no passage into milk as they only act locally. Jones Other products are designed to block the passage of pollen into the nose thus preventing the reaction e.

These will not pass into breastmilk. Most multiple pharmacies make their own brands of these drugs. Many are both available as paediatric syrups to be given to children over 2 years. Short courses of sedating antihistamines e.

Eye drops also act only locally and can be used during lactation e. Jones E. As there is less research it is the least favoured option in younger babies unless it is the only drug that the mother finds effective. In such a situation the baby should be observed for drowsiness.

Eye drops Eye drops also act only locally and can be used during lactation e. Excretion of loratadine in human breast milk. Your doctor also may recommend an alternative to Benadryl. The active ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is a first-generation antihistamine. That means it was one of the first kinds developed. There are more side effects from these drugs than from later generations of antihistamines.

Your doctor may suggest that you use low doses of products that contain a second-generation antihistamine, like cetirizine Zyrtec or loratadine Claritin , instead of Benadryl.

These drugs can still pass into your breast milk and make your baby sleepy, but not as much as Benadryl would.

Your doctor can tell you about any over-the-counter drugs that can help relieve your symptoms safely. They can also tell you about treatments other than drugs that may help, as well as ways to help prevent symptoms in the first place.

Antihistamines are drugs that can relieve allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and congestion. Many over-the-counter brand-name…. We let you know all the details…. Can you be immune to poison ivy's effects? We'll answer some FAQs about poison ivy sensitivity to set the record straight. Finding poison ivy is easy in the United States, where it grows virtually everywhere except for Alaska, Hawaii, and some desert areas of the Southwest.

Learn sleep disorder signs and when…. If your baby is smacking their lips, it's probably a sign that they're hungry, teething, or tired. If you want your baby to improve their self-soothing techniques, you may wonder how to get them to take a pacifier. Here are our top tips.