I am pregnant and have seasonal allergies and headaches that seem to be due to congestion. What can I do?

Question

For additional information, I take tylenol for headaches, but it only works at a dose of 1000mg extra strength, is this suitable for pregnancy? To note, I don't take any allergy meds because I don't know what is safe. I am 13 1/2 weeks pregnant. Thank you

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, Seasonal allergies are a common condition in the population for both children and adults. Fortunately, there are a variety of agents available to relieve symptoms. Treatment is usually started with an oral antihistamine that will help control the overall symptoms. Claritin is commonly used and is safe in pregnancy. You can take 1 10 mg tablet once a day during the allergy period. For congestion, I also recommend using a saline solution such as Sinus Rinse. For headache, Tylenol is the agent of choice in your case given your pregnancy. It can be taken at the same dose as an adult, 500 to 1000 mg 4 times a day, not to exceed 4g per day. If you do not see improvement in your symptoms within 2 weeks with the use of Claritin, I would advise you to consult your family pharmacist who will make a treatment plan tailored to your situation. Don't hesitate to contact us with any other questions! Happy day, Kenza Rais, pharmacy intern Supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist