Why is Benadryl not safe for breastfeeding?

Understanding the Risks of Benadryl During Breastfeeding
Benadryl, a popular over-the-counter medication primarily used to alleviate allergy symptoms, has raised concerns regarding its safety for breastfeeding mothers. The active ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is known to pass into breast milk, which can potentially affect nursing infants. This raises important questions about the implications of its use during lactation.
How Benadryl Affects Breastfeeding
While small, occasional doses of diphenhydramine are generally not expected to cause significant adverse effects in breastfed infants, caution is advised. The medication can lead to increased drowsiness in both the mother and the baby. Infants, particularly younger ones, may be more sensitive to these effects, which can manifest as irritability or excessive sleepiness.
Moreover, there are concerns that higher doses or prolonged use of Benadryl could not only affect the infant but also potentially decrease the mother’s milk supply. This is particularly relevant when combined with other medications, such as sympathomimetics like pseudoephedrine, which can further complicate the situation.
The Dangers of Drowsiness
One of the more immediate risks associated with Benadryl is the drowsiness it can induce. For breastfeeding mothers, this side effect poses a dual risk: it can impair their ability to care for their child safely. Drowsiness can lead to decreased coordination and alertness, increasing the risk of accidents while handling the baby.
Alternatives to Benadryl
Given these risks, healthcare professionals often recommend exploring alternative treatments for allergy relief that do not carry the same potential for adverse effects on breastfeeding infants. Options such as nasal sprays or eye drops can provide localized relief without the systemic effects associated with oral medications like Benadryl.
Conclusion
In summary, while Benadryl may be effective for treating allergy symptoms, its use during breastfeeding is fraught with potential risks. The medication’s ability to pass into breast milk and its associated side effects, particularly drowsiness, warrant careful consideration. Mothers are encouraged to consult with healthcare providers to discuss safer alternatives and ensure the well-being of both themselves and their infants.

Do histamines pass through breast milk?

Elevated levels of histamine have not been found in breast milk. During pregnancy, there is an increase in the production of the DAO enzyme in most placentas from week 12 of gestation to create a metabolic barrier and prevent excessive entry of histamine into the fetus.

What is the best sleep aid for breastfeeding moms?

However, the ‘z- drugs’ (zolpidem and zopiclone) are preferred for the short-term management of insomnia during breastfeeding, as they have shorter half-lives than the benzodiazepines and appear to pass into breast milk in small amounts. Melatonin can also be used in breastfeeding with caution.

Why is Zyrtec not recommended for breastfeeding?

However, caution is advised for cetirizine use while breastfeeding due to the theoretical risk of CNS depression based on limited human data and risk of decreased milk production.

Can Benadryl affect baby?

Potential harm to baby
As mentioned, some early studies reported that taking Benadryl and other medications with diphenhydramine could cause abnormalities at birth. These included cleft lip, cleft palate, and other problems with the development of the upper mouth and lower nose.

What happens if you take Benadryl while breastfeeding?

You should avoid taking Benadryl while breastfeeding as it can cause drowsiness and lack of coordination to the parent, which could pose a danger to the baby. Moreover, as with all medications, Benadryl can get into breast milk and be passed along to the baby and cause colic-type symptoms, irritability, and drowsiness.

What is the best natural antihistamine?

Top 8 natural antihistamines for allergies

• Vitamin C.
• Quercetin.
• Ceylon cinnamon.
• Butterbur.
• Probiotics.
• Black pepper extract.
• Berberine.
• Spirulina.

What is the most safe antihistamine while breastfeeding?

Zyrtec (cetirizine) is the preferred antihistamine when breastfeeding. Other second-generation antihistamines are also considered safe, but do not have as much research to support their use. These include Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratidine), and Xyzal (levocetirizine).

Can too much Benadryl hurt a baby?

Because Benadryl is an antihistamine, it can cause serious or even fatal side effects in infants. These side effects include rapid heartbeat and convulsions. If your child has allergies, then you should talk to the pediatrician about the proper medication to use during a reaction.

Does antihistamine dry up breast milk?

There is conflicting data on the effect of antihistamines and breast milk production, and the evidence is very limited. Antihistamines, used at normal therapeutic doses are unlikely to affect breast milk production, especially where lactation is established, i.e. after 6-8 weeks postpartum.

How long does Benadryl stay in your system baby?

How long does Benadryl stay in your system? For most adults, Benadryl can stay in your system for up to about 60 hours (2.5 days). For children, it doesn’t stick around quite as long. Children retain Benadryl in their bodies for up to about 35 hours (about 1.5 days).