Allegra and pregnancy

Fexofenadine hydrochloride is commercially sold as Allegra. It is an FDA approved drug that has not been studied on women who are pregnant. However, this medication has been studied on pregnant animals and it shows that an unborn child can be harmed by its usage during pregnancy. When this medication was given once to pregnant animals, there were no birth defects.

But, when Allegra was given three times the recommended amounts, it did cause a slow fetal weight gain and some other birth defects. At this stage, it is important for you to know that animals respond to medications in a very different way than humans do.

Allegra and pregnancy category C

Allegra has been approved by the FDA and classified under pregnancy category C. This category is allotted to drugs under the following two conditions:

When the drug shows negative effects on the fetus or newborn when taken during pregnancy
The outcome of taking this during pregnancy is not known

This medication may still be prescribed to pregnant women if the doctor feels that the benefits of taking it are more than the risks associated with it. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about it. Again, if you are not comfortable taking this medication, switch to a medication that is a pregnancy Category B medication. Do not change the medication or change the dosage yourself as it can be dangerous and fatal. Always consult a doctor before taking any allergy relief medication.