Allergy medications during pregnancy: Are they safe?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that drug labels indicate if a drug poses a risk of birth defects or any adverse effects on reproduction or pregnancy. Drugs also receive a letter classification — A, B, C, D and X.

The allergy medication loratadine (Claritin, others) is a category B drug. This indicates that animal studies haven't shown any risks to the fetus and there have been no reports of human reproductive problems. Category B drugs appear to be safe, but they haven't been adequately tested in human pregnancy to prove their safety.

Very few drugs have actually been proved safe in pregnancy. According to the FDA, drugs typically aren't studied in pregnant women because of the fear of exposing the woman to an experimental drug and harming the fetus. As a result, doctors must make judgments using the best available scientific evidence. It's best to exercise caution when considering the use of medications in pregnancy. You and your doctor must weigh the severity of your allergy symptoms against the possible risks to your fetus from taking Claritin or any other allergy drug.

If possible, limit your exposure to allergens that trigger your allergy symptoms. This may decrease your need for allergy medication. Also, keep in mind that nasal congestion often gets worse in pregnancy due to hormone changes. This occurs even in women who don't have allergies.

If you're trying to get pregnant or you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking any medication.