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Loratidine (Claritin®) & Desloratidine (Aerius®)

Last Update: 20 Jun 2025

Welcome to our fact sheet on loratadine and desloratadine during pregnancy and breastfeeding/chestfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.

The HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB team is collaborating with MotherToBaby to share information on this topic. The original version is available here (November 2023).

Serene, our chatbot, can also answer your questions about medications during pregnancy.

Please note that this fact sheet is based on United States information and has been adapted for Canada, with a review by our Canadian experts. Minor differences may exist between the two countries. Always consult your healthcare professional for information tailored to your situation.

1. What is loratidine?

Loratadine is an over-the-counter antihistamine. It has been used to treat symptoms of allergic reactions and colds, such as sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat, and hives. Some brand names for loratadine are Claritin® and Alavert®. In the body, loratadine breaks down into another drug called desloratadine. Desloratadine is also sold as a prescription antihistamine under the brand name Clarinex® or AERIUS® in Canada. 

Sometimes when people find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy. 

2. What does research say about the risks during pregnancy?

I take loratadine. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

It is not known if loratadine can make it harder to get pregnant. One animal study did not report problems with fertility (ability to get pregnant). 

Does taking loratadine increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. A study of 161 women taking loratadine during the first trimester of pregnancy did not show an increased chance of miscarriage. 

Does taking loratadine increase the chance of birth defects?

Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Taking loratadine is not expected to increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. One early study raised concern about a possible link between loratadine use in pregnancy and hypospadias (a birth defect where the opening of the penis is shifted toward the underside rather than the tip). However, after later studies did not find the same link, the researchers decided that the cases of hypospadias in their original study were most likely due to chance or other factors instead of exposure to loratadine. 

Other studies of loratadine use during pregnancy have not found an increased chance of any kind of birth defect, including hypospadias. Also, studies have not found that infants with hypospadias were more often exposed to loratadine during pregnancy than infants without hypospadias. 

Does taking loratadine in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

Loratadine is not expected to increase the chance of pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). 

Does taking loratadine in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?

Studies have not been done to see if loratadine can cause behavior or learning issues for the child. 

3. Breastfeeding​/ chestfeeding​ while taking loratadine

Loratadine gets into human milk in small amounts. The amount of loratadine in human milk is too low to cause problems for most babies. Loratadine is one of the preferred antihistamines for use during breastfeeding or chestfeeding because it is less likely to cause drowsiness (sleepiness) for the person who is breastfeeding/ chestfeeding or the baby than some other antihistamines. If you suspect the baby has any symptoms (such as being too sleepy), contact the child’s healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding or chestfeeding questions. 

4. What about fathers and sperm donors?

If a male takes loratadine, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?

Studies have not been done to see if loratadine could affect a male’s fertility (ability to get a partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that fathers or sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures here.

Key points

  • Loratadine (Claritin®, Alavert®) and desloratadine (Aerius®) are over-the-counter antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, watery eyes, and hives. 
  • Available studies do not show an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects (including hypospadias), preterm birth, or low birth weight when loratadine is taken during pregnancy. 
  • There is not enough information to know whether loratadine affects a child’s future behavior or learning. 
  • Loratadine passes into human milk in small amounts. Most reports show no problems in nursing babies, and it is less likely to cause drowsiness than other antihistamines. It is considered a preferred option during breastfeeding or chestfeeding. 
  • Always talk to your healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and risks of this treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

References

Please click here for references. 

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Disclaimer

HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB provides a source of information validated by health professionals; however, this information is provided for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. Medical standards and practices evolve as new data becomes available, so it is imperative to consult your doctor or a qualified health professional for any questions or concerns regarding your health without delay or omission. It is the responsibility of your treating physician or any other health professional, based on their independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best way to evaluate and treat you.

HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB does not specifically recommend or endorse any test, practitioner, treatment, product, or opinion mentioned on our platform. HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB also does not replace the individual patient assessment based on the examination by the healthcare provider of each patient and the consideration of laboratory data and other patient-specific factors.

The use of the information available on our site is at your own risk. No person involved in the creation, production, promotion, or marketing of HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB guarantees or represents, expressly or implicitly, anything regarding the information available on the platform, which is provided “as it is”. All warranties are expressly excluded and disclaimed, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, as well as any warranties arising by law or otherwise in law or from trade or usage. Any statements or representations made by any other person or entity are void.

While consulting symptoms or other medical information on our platform may guide your discussions with your healthcare professional, this information should not be used to make a medical diagnosis or determine treatment. Before making changes to your supplement or medication regimen, please discuss with your medical team or contact 811 (Canada) to ensure the relevance of these changes to your individual situation.

Credits
MotherToBaby
Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS)
View source
Anne-Sophie Otis
Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Justine
Émy Roberge
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine

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