Can I take cetirizine while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about cetirizine.
In short
Pregnancy: You can take cetirizine in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding: Cetirizine is one of the best options if you're breastfeeding and need an antihistamine.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- There isn't much information about using it while pregnant, but nothing suggests that it will harm your baby.
Breastfeeding
- Some information shows that only very small amounts of cetirizine reach breast milk.
- It has been used widely by breastfeeding mothers for many years without causing side effects in babies.
- Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother takes are very rare, but it's important to keep an eye on your baby whenever you take a medicine while breastfeeding.
- Carry on breastfeeding as normal until you've had advice about your baby's symptoms.
When to get help
- Contact a healthcare professional or call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) as soon as you can if your baby is feeding less well than normal or seems unusually sleepy.
- For symptoms not mentioned here, or if you're worried about your baby, you can also speak to any healthcare professional or call 111.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Cetirizine in pregnancy
The NHS says
You can take cetirizine in pregnancy.
There isn't much information about using it while pregnant, but nothing suggests that it will harm your baby.
In our words, from the NHS page Cetirizine (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
If pregnant or breast-feeding: if breast-feeding: not recommended if pregnant: ask a health professional before use.
Drug Facts label: Allergy Relief (oral), LIDL US LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with cetirizine hydrochloride the active ingredient in QUZYTTIR. In animal reproduction studies, there was no evidence of fetal harm with administration of cetirizine hydrochloride by the oral route to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, during the period of organogenesis, at doses that were 45 times and higher than the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) in adults. In rats treated during late gestation and the lactation period, cetirizine hydrochloride had no effects on pup development at oral doses up to approximately 30 times the MRHD in adults. In mice treated during late gestation and the lactation period, cetirizine hydrochloride administered by the oral route to the dams had no effects on pup development at a dose that was approximately 10 times the MRHD in adults; however, lower pup weight gain during lactation was observed at a dose that was 45 times the MRHD in adults (See Data ). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes.
Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): QUZYTTIR (intravenous), ESTEVE PHARMACEUTICALS, S.A. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
This quote is from the intravenous formulation label.
Cetirizine while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Cetirizine is one of the best options if you're breastfeeding and need an antihistamine.
Some information shows that only very small amounts of cetirizine reach breast milk. It has been used widely by breastfeeding mothers for many years without causing side effects in babies.
Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother takes are very rare, but it's important to keep an eye on your baby whenever you take a medicine while breastfeeding.
Contact a healthcare professional or call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) as soon as you can if your baby is feeding less well than normal or seems unusually sleepy.
For symptoms not mentioned here, or if you're worried about your baby, you can also speak to any healthcare professional or call 111.
Carry on breastfeeding as normal until you've had advice about your baby's symptoms.
In our words, from the NHS page Cetirizine (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Small occasional doses of cetirizine are acceptable during breastfeeding. Larger doses or more prolonged use may cause drowsiness and other effects in the infant or decrease the milk supply, particularly in combination with a sympathomimetic such as pseudoephedrine or before lactation is well established. International guidelines recommend cetirizine as an acceptable choice if an antihistamine is required during breastfeeding.[1,2] Cetirizine has been used successfully in cases of persistent pain of the breast during breastfeeding.[3]
Ophthalmic use of cetirizine by the mother should pose little risk to the breastfed infant. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Cetirizine” (LM62), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Cetirizine while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Cetirizine hydrochloride has been reported to be present in human breast milk. In mice and beagle dogs, studies indicated that cetirizine hydrochloride was excreted in milk ( See Data ). When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely the drug will be present in human milk. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for QUZYTTIR and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from QUZYTTIR or from the underlying maternal condition.
Prescribing label, section “8.2 Lactation” (opening excerpt): QUZYTTIR (intravenous), ESTEVE PHARMACEUTICALS, S.A. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
This quote is from the intravenous formulation label.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Allacan, Benadryl Allergy, Piriteze Allergy, Zirtek Allergy.
Sources
- NHS, Cetirizine (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 18 February 2025. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: Allergy Relief (oral), LIDL US LLC, human otc drug, label effective 9 September 2026, set ID e5fd935d-5b60-7270-e053-2995a90a7141. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- US drug label: QUZYTTIR (intravenous), ESTEVE PHARMACEUTICALS, S.A., human prescription drug, label effective 13 August 2026, set ID 573770f6-b76e-f6ba-e063-6294a90aa54d. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Cetirizine” (LM62), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.