Antihistamine Use in Pregnancy

Safety and Efficacy

• The British Journal of Dermatology guidelines recommend using antihistamines with caution in patients with asthma due to anticholinergic effects 1
• The British Journal of Dermatology guidelines suggest avoiding all antihistamines in pregnancy when possible, especially in the first trimester, though none has been proven teratogenic in humans 1
• The British Journal of Dermatology guidelines indicate that when treatment is necessary, chlorphenamine is often chosen in the UK due to its long safety record, while loratadine and cetirizine are FDA Pregnancy Category B drugs 1