Dr. Hale,
I am nursing a 26 month old daughter, 22 lbs, nurses rather frequently, about
10x per 24 hrs (this includes several night nursings).  For some reason, I
have broken out head to toe in hives.  Dermatologist prescribed Claritin 20
mg bid and Zantac (ranitidine HCl) 150 mg tid for the antihistamine effect.
These probably will be needed on a short term basis, couple days I think.
Are these drugs and doses safe for nursing the toddler?  The doc didn't know,
but we discussed that they were both available in pediatric syrup form, and
with the age of my child, they were probably OK.  Also the Claritin is
usually 10 mg qd, but he says a colleague presented at a conference that some
docs now use up to 60 mg per day, with no toxic effects.
Thank you so much,
Laurie Wheeler, rnc, mn, ibclc
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Violet LA