Question:
I am a long-term allergy sufferer and my husband and I are ttc
starting next cycle. I've been avoiding all medications since last cycle
when I started to chart (ala TCOYF) and will be avoiding while ttc. But,
today is the first real day of allergy season and I need some serious
help. Last year I was on Nasocort daily and Allegra when needed, but I
don't know if those are okay to take or not! I can't call my allergist
during the day since I work in an open area and any talk of ttc would
spread like wildfire, so I'd have to make an appointment. So, any suggestions? What did you take while ttc and pg?
Answer:
Nasal steroids are also considered OK since the amount absorbed into
your system is next to nil. I know of one doctor prefers them to the
pill antihistamines because of that fact, but others may think
differently. this is also good news. I particularly like my NasoCort
and it was able to keep me mostly symptom-free last year. I have an
appointment with my allergist this afternoon and I'll share my ttc and
medication concerns with him as well. That's odd, I was told to stop using my nasal steroid when I found out I
was pregnant. I was also told to stop taking Zyrtec, though I've since read
here that others take it during pregnancy. BTW, it makes sense to me that you'd absorb a lot through your nasal
membranes...after all, cocaine and herion users often snort their drugs.
This is not based on any actual medical knowledge--it just sort of stands
to reason.
I did, among others. Zyrtec is Category B, which is about as safe as you
can get - same category as Tylenol, for example. I don't really
understand doctors who take women off all allergy meds. Taking meds
during pregnancy is not ideal - but a miserable, allergic mom-to-be with
trouble breathing and sleeping is much worse. This time I had a med-free first trimester (got pregnant in midwinter)
but I expect to have to start taking Zyrtec any time now. The pollen is
coming..
I was told Flonase (nasal steroid) was fine, and that Claritin was fine,
too. I tried going without anything for several months, but have gone back
on the Claritin. I haven't had my baby, yet, but everything indicates she's
doin' fine. I spoke with my allergist yesterday at my annual appointment, and he laid
it out like this:
1. stop taking the nasocort (already done)
2. stop taking the allegra (already done)
3. if you need it, take this (rhinocort) instead.
Turns out that there is a large-population study/poll being done in
Southern CA right now to check out the effect of allergy medications of
pregnancy, but... no results yet!
He gave me the prescription for RhinoCort instead of NasoCort because its
a bit gentler (won't give me any more headaches) and it's been around a
bit longer so any negatives would have shown up by now. Also, he said
that I should take it 1x/day instead of 2x/day and see if its just as
effective.
So, he's being cautious which is good. And I have allergy medicine, which
is also good!
