From the Guidelines
Claritin (loratadine) is generally considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it is often recommended as a first-choice antihistamine for pregnant women who need allergy relief. The standard adult dose is 10 mg once daily. Claritin is a second-generation antihistamine that causes less drowsiness than older antihistamines and doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier significantly.
Key Points to Consider
- While no medication can be guaranteed 100% safe during pregnancy, Claritin has been extensively studied and has not been associated with birth defects or adverse pregnancy outcomes, as supported by studies such as 1.
- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's still advisable to consult with your healthcare provider before taking any medication, including Claritin, especially for long-term use.
- They may recommend starting with non-drug approaches to manage allergies first, such as avoiding allergens, using saline nasal sprays, or air purifiers, before turning to medications.
Evidence-Based Recommendations
- According to the study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2008 1, second-generation antihistamines, including loratadine, have excellent safety records and do not show a significant increase in congenital malformations when used during the first trimester.
- Another study published in the same journal in 2005 1 also recommends loratadine as a second-generation antihistamine of choice for the treatment of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy.
- Although older studies, such as the one published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2007 1, recommend caution with antihistamines during pregnancy, more recent and higher-quality studies, such as 1, provide stronger evidence for the safety of loratadine during pregnancy.
From the FDA Drug Label
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Safety of Claritin
- Claritin, also known as loratadine, is a long-acting antihistamine agent that exhibits partial selectivity for peripheral histamine H1-receptors 2.
- It is well tolerated, with commonly reported adverse events including somnolence, fatigue, and headache at dosages of 10 mg daily 2.
- Loratadine has been shown to be associated with a lower incidence of sedation compared to other antihistamines such as azatadine, clemastine, chlorpheniramine, and mequitazine 2, 3.
Comparison to Other Antihistamines
- Loratadine has been found to be superior to placebo, faster acting than astemizole, and as effective as azatadine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, hydroxyzine, mequitazine, and terfenadine in patients with allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria 2, 3.
- Unlike first-generation antihistamines, loratadine does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, resulting in minimal effects on the central nervous system (CNS) 4.