CA
A 35-year-old member asked:
Would it be possible that a pregnant woman take benadryl/antihistamine to treat an allergic reaction or help allergy induced asthma?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

Dr. Gary Stevenanswered
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 31 years experience
Yes: Antihistamines are generally safe in pregnancy; allowing an allergic reaction to progress can cause more harm to the baby than the antihistamines can.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Steven Machtingeranswered
Allergy and Immunology 45 years experience
Yes & No: Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is considered safe in pregnancy & may be used to treat allergic conditions like allergic rhinitis or hives. Antihistamines like Benadryl are not effective for itching not associated with a rash. This can be due to pregnancy-related liver problems. Talk to your OB about that. Benadryl is also not effective for asthma. There are safe asthma drugs to use while pregnant.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 7, 2015
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