TY - JOUR T1 - Safety of antihistamines during pregnancy and lactation JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 427 LP - 429 VL - 56 IS - 5 AU - Miranda So AU - Pina Bozzo AU - Miho Inoue AU - Adrienne Einarson Y1 - 2010/05/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/56/5/427.abstract N2 - QUESTION Many of my pregnant and breastfeeding patients suffer from allergies and frequently ask me about the safety of antihistamines during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Should I advise them to use the older sedating medications? I have heard that they might be safer than the newer nonsedating class of drugs. Or have the newer ones been studied as well? ANSWER First-generation antihistamines are considered safe to use during pregnancy. There are relatively fewer data on the nonsedating second-generation antihistamines; however, published studies are reassuring. All antihistamines are considered safe to use during breastfeeding, as minimal amounts are excreted in the breast milk and would not cause any adverse effects on a breastfeeding infant. ER -