Listen to pharmacist or OBGYN?

fall2008bride

I've gotten conflicting advice on whether Claritin D is safe to use while breastfeeding.  My OBGYN says not to take it and my pharmacist says it's safe.  I've tried the regular Claritin which my OBGYN says is safe but it's not helping with my allergies at all.  I'm miserable and the only thing in the past that has helped is Claritin D.  Has anyone taken this while breastfeeding?  Most info online also says it's considered safe while breastfeeding but may decrease my supply.  Help!

atc282

I have heard that it tanks supply. I typically follow the pharmacist's advice since the dr. isn't an expert on drug interactions vs. the pharmacist whose job is to know the ins and outs of prescription meds.

 

DiademChi

I suffer a lot from allergies.  I at least know that the sinus rinses (Netipot, etc.) are 100% safe to use and very effective for congestion relief and nasal drainage. 

aliciaroset

DiademChi:

I suffer a lot from allergies.  I at least know that the sinus rinses (Netipot, etc.) are 100% safe to use and very effective for congestion relief and nasal drainage. 

This, and also consider eating some local honey.   

e_delo

I took it while I was pregnant, it was a class c, meaning it hasn't been tested on people yet. But the active ingredients are the same in claritin D as they are in sudefed and regular claritin, which are ok to take while pregnant. I wouldn't think that it would be much different while BFing. But honestly, i just listen to whoever is telling me what i want to hear

shihtzu51

Your ob probably told you not to take it because it'll decrease your supply - the pharmacist is probably only looking at the safety of it. I took flonase when I breast DS when my allergies were bad and it didn't affect my supply at all.

CurbsideProphet

have you asked your pedi?

Jelliebean1982

It says that it *may* decrease supply because it will decrease supply.  It's safe, but it may wreck your supply.  I'd listen to your OB. 

mrssmith1309

As a pharmacist, what you found online is the correct information. If you are EBF, try to limit the amount of Sudafed (the decongestant - D - part) as it can decrease your supply. Depending on your symptoms, there may be another alternative - or if you're trying to get the decongestant effect - try using Afrin nasal spray twice daily for up to 3 days (no longer as it can cause rebound congestion), nasal saline,  or a neti pot, and a humidifier in your room during the night time. If these options don't work you can talk to your doctor about adding a steroid nasal spray like Flonase which is safe while breastfeeding.

FYI - the best (most thorough) resource available online for drug safety during lactation (breast feeding) is called LactMed - put out by the national institute of health.

Here's there info on Sudafed:

Summary of Use during Lactation:
Although the small amounts of pseudoephedrine in breastmilk are unlikely to harm the nursing infant, it may cause occasional irritability. A single dose of pseudoephedrine decreases milk production acutely and repeated use seems to interfere with lactation. Mothers with newborns whose lactation is not yet well established or mothers who are having difficulties producing sufficient milk should not receive pseudoephedrine.

 Possible Effects on Lactation:
After a single dose of pseudoephedrine 60 mg orally in 8 nursing mothers, there was a mean 24% decrease in milk production.

The amount of Sudafed in Claritin-D 12 hour is 120mg and Claritin-D 24 hour is 240mg so the 24% would be markedly increased.

Hope this helps!

Geekchick921

Last time I took a drug recommendation from the pharmacist the doctor told me not to use it again when I finally got an appointment, so I'm inclined to say listen to the ob/gyn.  

BTW, LactMed (I'm going to make a separate post for that site) says the active ingredient in Claritin is safe, but it may affect your supply, especially combined with pseudoephedrine, which is in Claritin D.  

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~aCReIV:1