Is it possible to "Diphenhydramine" during pregnancy?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnant women in general often face advice and prohibitions from the townsfolk. And as for how it is being treated, and even more so, it is worth confronting them with an ailment and then they hear from others that a friend of a friend took this and that and quickly came to her senses. But is it he althy to rely on such dubious advice while pregnant?

Allergic reactions

This is not an ordinary disease, but rather a condition of the body. An allergy is a malfunction in the immune system, when completely safe substances are perceived as a threat to it. At the next contact with such a substance, an uncontrolled release of antibodies by the body begins to break down potentially dangerous substances - reagins (allergic antibodies). Their number can be both minimal and potentially very dangerous for humans. At the first contact, nothing outwardly happens, but the more reagins are released during it, the stronger the reaction will be upon repeated contact. And these will be the well-known symptoms of allergies:

• edema;
• inflammatory processes;
• runny nose;
• cough;
• eczema;
• atopic dermatitis.

The mechanism of allergy itself is known to medicine, but what exactly triggers it has not yet been proven. There are several theories. One of them says that the matter is in an unfavorable environmental situation, which causes a failure in maintaining the body's normal level of hormones. And it is also known that this condition can be both hereditary and acquired. And pregnancy, as you know, is that period in a woman's life when the level of hormones jumps indescribably. Therefore, girls often meet with allergies during this wonderful period.

Allergy treatment

Despite the fact that many people underestimate the danger of allergies, its symptoms can get worse. And if at first it is a slight runny nose, then later it can develop into asthma and even Quincke's edema. And in the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock can occur, which is characterized by loss of consciousness.

It is impossible to cure allergies once and for all. If it manifested itself once, then with a high probability it will bother you all your life, at least occasionally. But you should not worry about such strong manifestations of asthma as only 2% of the world's population has asthma. But it is quite possible to stop its symptoms, which will avert the danger. The surest way to avert this danger is drugs and the complete elimination of the allergen from life, if possible, by taking antihistamines.

Antihistamines

There are three generations:

1. Drugs of the first generation were invented at the beginning of the 20th century. One of them is"Dimedrol". They are the roughest in action and create a rather serious load on the cardiovascular system. They simply block histamine receptors, causing a host of side effects along the way, such as drowsiness, nausea, and feeling unwell. They act instantly, but it lasts no more than 8 hours.
2. The second generation is gentler on the cardiovascular system. These drugs act on serotonin receptors and m-cholinergic receptors. Their action will already last about 24 hours and therefore they need to be taken less often, which minimizes the impact on the body. Examples of second-generation drugs are Loratadine and Cetirizine.
3. Third-generation drugs work, though not instantly, but quickly enough, within 1-2 hours. And they act at the same time for at least 48 hours, do not cause drowsiness and do not negatively affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems. These are Kestin, Zirtek, Erius and preparations with the active ingredient fenspiride.

If it were not for the need to wait at least an hour for the effect, then the third generation drugs are almost ideal. Scientists are actively working on the development of fourth-generation drugs that will have an immediate effect, act for at least 48 hours and have no contraindications.

"Suprastin" and "Dimedrol" during pregnancy

First generation drugs, such as Dimedrol and Suprastin, act almost instantly, this is their huge plus. And everything would be fine, but is Dimedrol and Suprastin possible during pregnancy?The main thing here is to know the gestational age. Because if this is the first three months of pregnancy, then the reception is strictly prohibited. "Dimedrol" in the early stages of pregnancy is so dangerous that, if taken ineptly, it can lead to the death of the fetus.

But the irony is that doctors, when allergy symptoms are frightening, most often prescribe it. Since they have such a notion that the benefits may outweigh the risks. And when taking this drug, allergy symptoms will be removed as if by hand - instantly. It is possible to make such an appointment and the injection of "Dimedrol" during pregnancy strictly under medical supervision and in a hospital. And if something goes wrong, emergency medical attention will be required.

But during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, Dimedrol and Suprastin can be used, but only as a last resort, since these drugs can cause premature birth, which is undesirable at any time.

Injection of "Analgin" and "Dimedrol"

But surely many will have acquaintances who will tell how they were given an injection of "Analgin" and "Dimedrol" during pregnancy at any of the terms. How come?

The fact is that such an injection is done at a very high temperature. And it is much worse for pregnant women than these drugs. So in this case, the doctor may decide that this injection carries less risk than the temperature. But such a decision is very responsible, and it is extremely dangerous to make it on your own. Any detail can be important: both the dosage and somecontraindications. Only a doctor with experience can weigh all this. Therefore, "Analgin" and "Dimedrol" are prohibited during pregnancy, which is what they write about in the instructions for the drugs. This ban is for laymen, not doctors.

Indications

The indication for prescribing any antihistamine is to prevent serious consequences. And this can only be determined by an allergist. Therefore, do not be surprised if, even if you have allergy symptoms, your doctor will tell you not to do anything. Thus, he wants to eliminate the risk of possible negative consequences for the pregnant woman for no apparent reason.

The most significant indication is usually the rapid development and worsening of symptoms. This is when, after contact with the allergen, they appeared literally in minutes. In this case, it is important to remain calm and call an ambulance. It may even save the patient's life.

Pregnancy itself is already a contraindication to the use of antihistamines. But if the doctor made such a decision, then it was worth it.

Why is Dimedrol dangerous?

As practice shows, a single injection of a cocktail of "Analgin" and "Dimedrol" is not dangerous. But long-term use of "Analgin" is fraught with malformations of the cardiovascular system. Such a probability exists mainly only in the first trimester, when its active formation takes place. In subsequent trimesters, taking Dimedrol and Analgin is almost not dangerous. But starting from the 34th week, "Dimedrol" is dangerous again, as it can causenarrowing and closure of the ductus arteriosus and oligohydramnios.

What to replace?

In general, during pregnancy, a woman's body produces an increased amount of a hormone such as cortisol. And he, in turn, reduces the risk of allergic reactions, and makes existing ones less pronounced. And what would normally lead the body to asthma, during pregnancy can lead to a slight runny nose.

But still there are cases in which medication is indispensable. And if there is no risk of rapid development of edema, then the doctor prescribes less radical drugs.

One of these is Diazolin. Unlike Dimedrol, this drug is not the first, but the second generation. That is, it causes fewer side effects. But it is also recommended to take it only in the last trimester. In general, you need to be aware that no antiallergic drug is 100% safe for the fetus.

Why is it not prescribed to all pregnant women? Because second-generation drugs, although they have fewer side effects, act slowly. Yes, this affects the duration of the effect, but in serious cases, this speed of action may simply not be enough.