I believe that cortenema would fall into the category of any other
topical steroid.  Even if there was more absorption from rectal
administration than from a skin cream or from an aerosol, we have to keep
in mind that when a mother takes prednisone even in doses of 80 mg/day,
there is insignificant absorption in the infant (per Dr. Hale's 4th
edition, less than 0.1% of dose).  So unless the cortenema supplies more
than that dose to the mother, it should not be of any concern.
As for claritin, Dr. Hale's fourth edition states that it (loratadine)
and its active metabolite pass easily into human milk and achieve levels
equivalent to maternal plasma level.  He states that following a single
40 mg dose, approx 0.03% of loratadine and its metabolite were
transferred into human milk.  The half-life in neonates is not known, but
it is long in the mother (8.4 for loratadine, 28 hours for its active
metabolite).  Dr. Hale draws no conclusions about the use of claritin,
but I would not recommend it in light of the long half-life.  Probably an
older, better known antihistamine such as benadryl or preferably topical
nasal steroids would be better.  Good luck, Alicia.  [log in to unmask]