If the mother has bad allergies and really needs an antihistamine,
why does she have to use claritin (loratidine)?
If she has mainly hayfever with nasal symptoms, she could use a nose
spray, or eye drops for eye symptoms. Neither of these products would
have any effect on breastfeeding.
From reading the entry in Hale about this medication, it seems fairly
OK, (though I'm not a pharmacist)  and is not likely to sedate the
way other antihistamines do. There are other choices listed in Hale
on page 408 of the 1996 edition.
Hope this helps
Fiona


Fiona Coombes MBBS IBCLC               [log in to unmask]
Lactation Consultant, Family Physician
Perth Western Australia