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The Daily Insight

What pregnancy category is loratadine

Author

Samuel Coleman

Published Apr 17, 2026

MedicationDrug classPregnancy risk category*Cetirizine (Zyrtec)Second-generation (selective, nonsedating) antihistamineBLoratadine (Claritin)Second-generation (selective, nonsedating) antihistamineB

Is loratadine safe during pregnancy?

Many allergy medications really aren’t safe to take during pregnancy. But loratadine (found in Claritin®) and cetirizine (found in Zyrtec® and Alleroff®) are two over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine medications that doctors consider as being safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, Dr. Zanotti says.

What are Category B drugs in pregnancy?

Category B drugs include prenatal vitamins, acetaminophen and several other medications used routinely and safely during pregnancy. If there is a clinical need for a Category B drug, it is considered safe to use it.

Is loratadine a Category B?

FDA categorized Fexofenadine, Desloratadine as pregnancy category C, while Cetirizine, Loratadine and Levocetirizine as category B [15]. Based on the available pregnancy data Cetirizine is unlikely to increase the incidence of major or minor malformations in neonates.

Is loratadine safe in first trimester?

There is currently no concern that exposure to loratadine in early pregnancy is linked to birth defects in the baby. However, relatively small numbers of women taking loratadine have been studied and ongoing research is required to confirm this.

What is the safest antihistamine during pregnancy?

To conclude first generation antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine, hydroxyzine, and dexchlorpheniramine are the safest among antihistamines to be used in pregnancy.

What allergy pills are safe for pregnancy?

  • Allegra (fexofenadine)
  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • Claritin (loratadine)
  • Zyrtec (cetirizine)

What pregnancy category is pseudoephedrine?

Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are pregnancy category C in all three trimesters of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recommend using pseudoephedrine during pregnancy.

Is antihistamine safe for pregnant?

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.

What are Category C drugs in pregnancy?

Category C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

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What are Category D drugs in pregnancy?

Category D: Drugs in this class may be used in pregnancy if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risk to the fetus (i.e. a life threatening situation or a serious disease for which safer medication cannot be used or are not efficacious). Examples of medications in this class are phenytoin and valproic acid.

What is a Class C drug mean?

Class C. Class C drugs are considered by Parliament to be the least harmful of the controlled drugs. These include benzodiazepines, steroids and subutex (buprenorphine).

What are contraindications of loratadine?

Contraindications to loratadine include patients with documented hypersensitivity to the drug or components of the formulation, with strong contraindications in children under the age of 2 due to its antihistamine properties, which may cause CNS stimulation or seizures in young patients.

What can I do for allergies while pregnant?

  1. Try to avoid your allergy triggers.
  2. Use saline nose spray to ease your congestion.
  3. Keep animals out of your bedroom.
  4. Vacuum often. …
  5. Use the air conditioner to keep humidity low and irritants out of the house. …
  6. Shower and wash your hair after being outdoors if pollen sets off your allergies.

Can I take Reactine when pregnant?

Cetirizine is unlikely to cause other pregnancy complications. Studies on a small number of pregnancies did not find a higher chance for birth defects, preterm delivery (having the baby before 37 weeks), or low birth weight.

Can you take Benadryl allergy while pregnant?

Benadryl is considered to be safe during pregnancy. Doctors and nurses recommend this OTC medication to help relieve allergy symptoms, even while you’re pregnant. Recent studies have found Benadryl to be safe.

What is the pregnancy category of fexofenadine?

MedicationDrug classPregnancy risk category*Fexofenadine (Allegra)Second-generation (selective, nonsedating) antihistamineCPhenylephrineSympathomimetic decongestantCPseudoephedrineSympathomimetic decongestantCGuaifenesinExpectorantC

Can a pregnant woman take pseudoephedrine?

Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are available over the counter as Sudafed and are safe for many women to use during pregnancy. However, women who have high blood pressure should not take pseudoephedrine without first talking to a doctor. The drug can raise blood pressure and can cause jitters and racing heartbeats.

Can a pregnant woman take pseudoephedrine hydrochloride?

Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) 30-60 mg every 4-6 hours can be used in the second and third trimesters in women without gestational hypertension. Avoid use in the first trimester and with breastfeeding.

What is a Class D drug?

Marijuana, barbital, ethchlorvynol, and meprobamate are examples of Class D drugs. These are all available by prescription, but anyone who manufactures, cultivates, dispenses, or distributes them illegally may spend up to two years in jail and/or pay a fine of between $500 and $5,000.

What are the 5 pregnancy Risk Categories for drugs?

In 1979, the FDA established five letter risk categories – A, B, C, D or X – to indicate the potential of a drug to cause birth defects if used during pregnancy.

What is pregnancy risk category B?

Category B: “Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester (and …

Which pregnancy risk drug category indicates the greatest risk of fetal harm?

Category X: Studies in animals or human beings have demonstrated fetal abnormalities, or there is evidence of fetal risk based on human experience, or both, and the risk of the use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

What is a Class 3 drug?

Schedule III Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV.

Is diazepam a Class C?

Benzodiazepines (including diazepam, flunitrazepam and temazepam) Benzodiazepines are class C drugs. Some benzodiazepines belong to schedule 3 and some belong to schedule 4(1). Possession without a prescription, or supply or production without a licence, is illegal.

Is loratadine the same as Claritin?

Claritin (loratadine) is a common over-the-counter (OTC) drug that can help relieve allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Claritin can also be found as Claritin-D, a combination of loratadine and pseudoephedrine to help fight nasal congestion.

Is it safe to take loratadine every day?

However, Dr. Lin says antihistamines alone are “not bad for the heart in otherwise healthy people.” “The later generation non-sedating antihistamines, such as loratadine, fexofenadine, and cetirizine are safe to take daily,” says John Faraci, MD, assistant professor at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

What is loratadine generic for?

Claritin (loratadine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms. Claritin blocks the action of histamine, a substance in the body that initiates allergic symptoms like itching, sneezing, runny nose, and allergic skin rashes. Claritin is available as a generic drug.

Can allergies cause a miscarriage?

Allergic diseases cause a reduction in the quality of life due to chronic clinical signs, changing lifestyle, eating habits, and the use of drugs. They have been shown to affect fertility by means of delayed conception and an increased risk of miscarriage, or disturbed menstrual function [11].