Antihistamine or histamine antagonist is a medication for treating allergies such as itchy skin, allergic rashes, and hay fever. It can also be an ingredient to other medicines, including sleep aids, travel sickness treatments, as well as cold and cough remedies. Antihistamine functions by blocking the action of certain cells in a person’s body, thus reducing the effects of allergic reactions. Most of these drugs do not require a prescription, and it come in forms of capsules, tablets, and syrups.
The general rule during pregnancy is not to take any form of drug or medication, although this can be retracted if a physician prescribes or recommends it. Another exemption is, if a pregnant woman takes medication, which forms part of an ongoing medical treatment. This is particularly true on the first three months of pregnancy, when the development of the fetus is on its most critical stage.
According to one study, most antihistamine compounds sold in the market have not been associated with pregnancy or foetal problems. However, in another study, it shows that those antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine have significant implication with fetal defects. These particular medications were believed to be the cause of the increased cases of clef palate and lip.
Even though allergic-type symptoms are irritating and distressing, like those that cause hay fever, almost all available antihistamines are either inadvisable or has special precautions. However, if symptoms of allergic reactions are unbearable, a pregnant woman may seek medical advice from a physician. Local tropical treatments, including those used for skin irritations caused by allergies, are definitely safe. In the case of serious allergic reactions, physicians usually use adrenaline and different treatments.
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