Can you take allergy medicine while pregnant?

In general, it is not recommended to take over-the-counter drugs while pregnant, as no drug is considered 100 percent safe during pregnancy, according to WebMD. However, some safe medications to take for allergies include Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, and Claritin.

While these over-the-counter drugs have no known harmful effects, they may cause problems at different points during pregnancy, according to WebMD. Therefore, it is important to discuss over-the-counter medicines with a doctor or health care provider prior to taking them. Alternative therapies are also available that have been found to be effective and safe for use by women during pregnancy.