Allergy meds while bf'ing?

[JandBC]

What do you take? After suffering for 2 days, I caved and took a Claritin (not Claritin D) last night. I have a runny nose, sneezing, head congestion, itchiness at the back of my throat. Pretty sure it's an allergy. Just wondering what allergy meds are ok to take while bf'ing.

?

[DunkinGirl]

You can take a Claritin D if you want. The biggest problem with taking a decongestant while bfing is the possiblity that it might dry up your milk supply a bit, since that's a decongestant's job (to dry up fluids). So you just want to drink extra water. I've taken Claritin D and not had a problem.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold-remedy.html

[LouHoo]

You could also take an antihistamine without the decongestant, like plain Claritin instead of Claritin D. I'm pretty sure I took Zyrtec when I was nursing Z, but I'm not taking anything now.

[Aerodiver]

I called the lactation consultants at the hospital and they told me that claratin, benedryl, zyrtec and sudafed were all ok but to watch your supply. If you don't drink enough fluids you could more easliy dehydrate and that in turn affect your supply. I've been taking benedryl at night for about a month now to deal with a bad allergic reaction to something and it hasn't dried me up at all.