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It’s that time of the year again and the sneezes, congestion, coughing, and watery eyes are starting. It’s allergy season. The worst part? You’re pregnant this year, which can make allergy symptoms worse.
So can you take Benedryl while pregnant?
The vast majority of women take over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medication during pregnancy. But you are doing the right thing by questioning any medication during pregnancy. Even OTC medications can have different side effects during pregnancy.
Generally speaking, Benedryl is considered safe for allergies during pregnancy. Your doctor is likely to agree. The FDA has approved it for use during pregnancy. However, please know that nothing is 100% safe during pregnancy and that is why you should still talk to your doctor before using Benedryl during pregnancy.
What is Benedryl Used For During Pregnancy?
Benedryl is the brand name for an anti-histamine drug compound called diphenhydramine. Some generic brands use this chemical name. As an anti-histamine, it holds your immune system back from overreacting to common allergens like dust, pollen, animal dander, etc.
Benedryl offers some relief from the symptoms of allergies such as-
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itchy nose and throat
- Congestion
- Itchy skin
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Rash
This medication can also help with motion sickness and the associated nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. One common side effect is drowsiness, so it is also used to help with sleeping.
Is Benedryl Safe During Pregnancy?
Current research has concluded that Benedryl is likely to be safe for you and your baby during pregnancy. It is part of a group of antihistamines called H1. Other H1 drugs include Claratin and Zyrtec. Many research studies have concluded that H1 drugs are safe during pregnancy.
However, another class of drugs called H2 may not be safe. These are anti-histamine OTC acid reducers like Pepcid, Zantac, and Tagamet. Less research has been done on them and so they should only be taken under the supervision of your doctor.
Is Benedryl Safe During First Trimester?
The first 12 weeks of a pregnancy are always the riskiest when it comes to medications and how they interact with your growing baby. Older studies had found that Benedryl may cause birth abnormalities. These abnormalities included cleft palate and cleft lip, along with other development problems of the mouth and nose.
Given that Benedryl was introduced in 1946, some of these studies are multiple decades old. The most recent research has concluded that the older studies came to incorrect conclusions and there is no link between Benedryl and birth abnormalities, neither the ones mentioned here or any others. Therefore, current research says it is safe to use at any point during pregnancy.
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