Xyzal and Pregnancy: An Overview
Xyzal® (
levocetirizine dihydrochloride) is an antihistamine approved to treat
allergies and hives. It is available only with a prescription. Based on the results of animal studies, the drug appears to be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not yet known.
Xyzal and Pregnancy Category B
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but that do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. It is also given to medications that seem to cause problems in pregnant animals but that have been shown to be safe in human studies. Xyzal was given a pregnancy Category B classification because even in very high dosages, the drug did not cause any problems when given to pregnant animals.
It is important to note that although animal studies did not suggest problems with Xyzal, these studies could not completely rule out the possibility of problems. Therefore, a pregnancy Category B medicine should only be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
Xyzal and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Xyzal, let your healthcare provider know.
He or she will consider the benefits and risks of taking Xyzal during pregnancy before making a recommendation in your particular situation.
