Pregnancy is an exciting and daunting experience. While you are busy preparing for the arrival of your new bundle of joy, you may also have many questions regarding what is safe for you and your baby. A common question that pregnant women often ask is whether or not Flonase is safe to take during pregnancy. Flonase is a nasal spray prescribed by doctors for the treatment of allergies. It is important for pregnant women to know if this medication is safe to use given their increased susceptibility to the effects of medications. In this blog post, we will discuss whether or not Flonase is safe to use during pregnancy. We will break down the potential risks and discuss the best alternatives. Through doing research and consulting with medical professionals, this post will provide insight on whether or not Flonase is safe for pregnant women.
The Bad News About Allergies During Pregnancy
If you typically experience seasonal allergies, they could worsen while you are pregnant. All of the unpleasant symptoms, including sinus pressure, constant sneezing, congestion, and itchy noses, could seem worse than usual.
Before taking any medications you may have on hand, it is best to consult South Shore Women’s Health about what is safe if you start to experience allergic reactions.
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What Are the Symptoms of Allergies?
General symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
Sneezing or congested sinuses.
Itching in the nose, eyes, or roof of the mouth.
Watery, red, and swollen eyes (conjunctivitis).
Tingling in the mouth after eating or drinking a specific allergen.
Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat.
Hives or rash, in a specific location or all over the body.
Choking as the throat swells (anaphylaxis).
Swelling at the site of a bite, scrape, or sting (edema).
Itchy skin.
Wheezing due to inability to breathe.
Reddening, flaking, or peeling skin.
Symptoms from an allergic reaction can range from mild to deadly, and their severity can change over time. Typically, allergies get worse over the years, especially if you are consistently exposed to the allergen, like pollen, foods, or animal dander.
Although almost anything can cause an allergic reaction, the following substances are the most frequently associated with allergies:
Drugs: Allergic reactions to medications are rarer than to other substances, but they are common enough that doctors are sensitive to them during the prescribing process. This type of allergy may be called a drug allergy or a medicine allergy; however, the more accurate medical term for this condition is adverse reaction to drugs.If you are allergic to a prescription medication, you may experience stomach upset, breathing trouble, and hives or skin rashes. It is crucial that you report these adverse events to your prescribing doctor, so they can test for the presence of IgE in your body in response to the medication and switch the prescription you are taking.The most common drug people are allergic to is penicillin and other antibiotics derived from penicillin. This is because penicillin is synthesized from a specific type of bread mold, so often, the person may be allergic to mold more than they are allergic to medications.
Food:Allergic reactions to foods can cause harmful reactions, including stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, rashes and hives, headaches, mouth or lip tingling, and swelling in the throat, leading to anaphylactic shock. In the United States, the following are the most common foods that cause allergic reactions:
Milk and dairy products
Eggs
Peanuts (legumes)
Tree nuts
Soy
Wheat
Fish
Shellfish (crustaceans like shrimp)
Other body systems besides the immune system may also experience symptoms similar to an allergic reaction after consuming certain foods. Despite the fact that you may feel terrible, the food will not cause your immune system to produce IgE. Additionally, a person may experience both IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated food allergies simultaneously.
Some people’s food allergies are actually food intolerances because their symptoms are so mild. For instance, lactose intolerance is a common digestive issue linked to eating dairy, but it is not an allergy according to medical terminology.
Avoiding the allergen as much as you can is the best way to avoid having food allergies. This might necessitate following special diet plans, reading labels, and cooking for yourself more often than purchasing prepared food or dining out.
Biting insects like bedbugs, mosquitoes, and fleas.
Household pests like dust mites or cockroaches.
An allergic person who is stung or bitten by a bug will experience swelling at the site of the wound, rashes on their skin, and a sense that something terrible is about to happen. Anaphylactic shock symptoms, such as lightheadedness, shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue and throat, and wheezing or difficulty breathing, are more dangerous.
Household pests tend to cause mild symptoms because you might be more allergic to their shells or droppings than you are to the actual insect. Taking medications as necessary or prescribed, working with a doctor to avoid having any insects inside, and monitoring any changes in symptom severity are all important aspects of managing the problem because allergies to these pests can become severe.
Wear bug spray, light citronella candles outside, avoid outdoor activities when insects are active, and take other precautions to try to avoid being around insects that you are allergic to. You might think about carrying a shot of epinephrine with you if you have a severe allergy to insects like bees or wasps, which can sting you even if you are not paying attention.
Latex: This material comes from the sap of the rubber tree, and it may also be called natural rubber products. Items made from latex include balloons, rubber bands, gloves, rubber balls, bandages, household paint, and condoms, among many others.Skin or mucous membrane contact with latex can lead to rashes, irritation, skin problems, and intense itching, and it may cause anaphylaxis. It is possible to breathe latex particles from the air and suffer an allergic reaction too.Some people are sensitive to latex, which can cause skin or membrane irritation, but they are not at risk of needing hospitalization due to an immune system overreaction.Types of latex allergy include:
Type I IgE-mediated reactions, which involve an overreaction of the immune system and may be fatal
Cell-mediated contact dermatitis, or type IV, causes a red, itchy, or inflamed rash that lasts for 24 to 48 hours and may spread to other parts of the body. It involves a reaction to chemicals used to process latex, not to rubber itself, and is not life-threatening.
Irritant dermatitis, which appears similar to contact dermatitis. Although it is a sensitivity to rubber, it is not a true allergy and is not potentially fatal.
The majority of people discover that avoiding latex as much as possible is the best course of action for allergies to it. Avoid inflating balloons, switch to nitrile or other non-latex household or surgical gloves, find other condom materials that are safe, and carefully check labels on any other products that may contain latex.
Less than 1% of Americans have a latex allergy, but it is more prevalent in some populations, including children with spina bifida, people who frequently receive medical treatments and are exposed to latex gloves, and those who work in the healthcare sector and frequently use latex gloves.
People who are allergic to latex may also be allergic to certain foods, such as:
Mold: Many people are sensitive or allergic to mold spores and fungi. Mold and fungi can live everywhere; grow in walls, clothing, or bedding; and travel in the air.Both mold and mildew are types of fungus, and only a few varieties cause allergic reactions in people. The ones that do lead to allergies include indoor molds that grow in damp areas like the bathroom and outdoor molds that become inactive, but do not die, during the winter and send out spores in the spring.Symptoms of mold allergies are very similar to those associated with seasonal allergies or pollen, including watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, and congestion. You may also experience dry, scaly skin. Mold spores may reach into the lungs and trigger asthma reactions, a condition more likely to develop in people who suffer from allergic reactions to particles in the air. Lowering your indoor humidity to below 50 percent with dehumidifiers can help to kill mold spores. Lowering air moisture to below 35 percent is the best method. You can also use air cleaners and special filters in your heating and air conditioning to reduce the amount of spores in the air. You may need special cleaners for clothes and bedding. You may need to find a mattress and pillows that repel mold and dust, and you may need to clean many parts of your house more often or hire a special cleaning service. Cleaning your bathroom and basement will also help to reduce mold, along with keeping your kitchen clean, especially the refrigerator.
Pets or animals: Unlike some types of allergies, allergic reactions to pet fur or skin flakes are very common in the U.S. Three out of every 10 people have an allergy to cats, dogs, or both, especially if they suffer from other allergies and asthma.Animal fur builds up in furniture, on clothes, and around the house, so people who are allergic to pets may not be able to find a spot in a pet owner’s home where they do not suffer an allergic reaction. Symptoms of pet allergies are similar to those of pollen or mold allergies, including watery and red eyes, runny or stuffy nose, coughing, congestion, and trouble breathing. Breathing in pet fur and dander can lead to an asthma attack in people who have both allergies and asthma. The best treatment is to avoid contact with pets, including asking about pet ownership when invited to someone’s house. Mild allergies to pets may be treated with antihistamines or other OTC medications, but more severe allergies, especially paired with asthma, are not treated as easily. Even hypoallergenic pets, like furless cats, can produce some animal dander that can trigger an allergic reaction in people who are very sensitive to it. If you’re close enough, you can also ask a family member or friend to thoroughly clean their home if they invite you over. This may require steam cleaning or deep-cleaning carpets and furniture, adding filters to their heating and air conditioning systems, washing their pet to remove excess hair and flakes of skin, and cleaning their clothes. People who struggle with severe pet allergies and love animals may also opt for prescription medications or immunotherapy treatment to help them manage this problem.
Pollen: Allergies to trees and flowers are often called seasonal allergies because they are more likely to be triggered during the spring and summer, when plants are blooming and growing. Pollen is released at various times of year to help plants reproduce, and many people are very allergic to these particles.Seasonal allergies or seasonal allergic rhinitis is one of the most common forms of allergy in the U.S. The following are symptoms:
Sneezing
Coughing
Congestion
Itchy, watery, or red eyes
Runny or stuffed up nose
Swelling around the eyes
You might need to limit your outdoor activity, add filters to your air conditioning, run a humidifier or dehumidifier to remove particles, use special air cleaners, wear a hat and sunglasses, frequently change and wash your clothes, and dry your clothes and bedding in a dryer rather than outside during peak pollen season. Another popular method for treating pollen or seasonal allergies is with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription decongestants and antihistamines.
FAQ
What nasal sprays are safe during pregnancy?
Budesonide nasal spray is available with a prescription as generic budesonide or brand-names Rhinocort Aqua, Entocort, and Pulmicort. It’s also available over-the-counter as Rhinocort Allergy. Other options that are safe to use during pregnancy include mometasone (Nasonex) and fluticasone propionate (Flonase).
What pregnancy category is Flonase?
“Flonase is currently category C per the FDA for use in pregnancy,” says Neeta Ogden MD, an allergist and immunologist and a medical advisor for Curex. “This means the drug can be taken if there is a clinical need for it where the benefits outweigh the risks.”
Does Flonase help pregnancy rhinitis?
Your Ob/Gyn might also recommend a steroid nasal spray, such as Flonase or Rhinocort, for severe symptoms. If you were using a spray to manage chronic rhinitis prior to pregnancy, your Ob/Gyn might advise you to keep using it during pregnancy.
Can allergic rhinitis affect pregnancy? – Dr. Sreenivasa Murthy T M
