Anyone else been prescribed medication for nausea without vomiting?

[KateTheShrew]

Haven't posted on MN since I had my DS a couple of years ago. I'm now 7 weeks pregnant with no. 2 and have been having severe nausea (pretty much all day, every day without any let-up) since 5 weeks, but no vomiting as yet.

It's been so much worse than anything I had when pregnant with my DS that I saw my GP to ask if he could suggest anything in addition to the usual (ginger, eating little and often, blah blah blah) and he said if I'd tried all the lifestyle/dietary changes and they weren't helping, he would prescribe me cyclizine. I was pretty surprised as I've only heard of women with HG who can't keep anything down being prescribed medication, and that's definitely not the position I'm in. I filled the prescription and took a tablet to help me get through a work meeting, but I'm torn as to whether to take it more regularly.

On the one hand, it definitely worked and allowed me to function, whereas lately I've been feeling so sick that I can barely get off the sofa and DH has been doing basically all childcare and housework etc. On the other hand, I'm not dehydrated and I can keep food down if I force myself to eat, although I feel miserably nauseous and quite depressed about the thought of feeling like this for another month (it's so bad that I'm finding it very hard to leave the house).

Has anyone else been prescribed anti-sickness drugs in pregnancy for nausea alone? I have literally never heard of this before, and was a bit shocked at how easily the GP suggested it. Should I take them, since they've been prescribed and would help me function more normally or just grit my teeth and try to ride it out?

Disclaimer: I realise how lucky I am not to be vomiting (yet), but the nausea is like nothing I've ever experienced before, and I've been pregnant twice (one successful, one miscarriage).

[53rdAndBird]

If it helped you function, take it. It's safe.

FWIW I had bad nausea and vomiting (went through lots of different drugs, diagnosed with HG in second trimester, off work intermittently all the way through pregnancy, etc etc) and the nausea was FAR more misery-inducing than the vomiting. Don't assume that because it's 'just' nausea it doesn't count!

[KateTheShrew]

Thanks, 53rdAndBird - you've hit the nail on the head. I guess I do feel that 'just' nausea doesn't count and that I'm a bit of a fraud. Sorry to hear you had such a hard time with your pregnancy.

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

I have, I've got avomine. I'm almost off of it now at 13 weeks and feeling a lot better, but I had absolutely horrendous nausea at the start with weight loss and dehydration and a total inability to function, I could barely stand. It got a bit better anyway after about 3 weeks but I loved my drugs - they made the experience safe and pretty much bearable.

Your GP sounds very humane. There is no known risk to the first line anti nausea drugs so don't be afraid to take them. Most people find they have a kind of cummulative effect, so taking them regularly is much better than sporadically.

[KateTheShrew]

Thanks, AButterfly, it's so reassuring to hear that someone else has been prescribed these 'just' for nausea (hollow laugh at the word 'just') . I know, rationally, that the drugs are safe, but I think we're kind of indoctrinated with the idea that you never, ever take anything in pregnancy unless the baby is at risk if you don't, so I'm having a hard time getting my head round taking something that I fully admit is totally for my own benefit and comfort, but I feel better about taking them now if I feel I can't cope. Maybe just having the option there will help me get through this more easily -- I can tell myself to ride it out for the next hour/day etc knowing that there's something that will help if it gets unbearable.

[KateTheShrew]

Also, your use of the words 'safe and bearable' really struck a chord with me. I hadn't really verbalised it before, but there's something about feeling so relentlessly sick that does make you feel somehow 'unsafe', because there's no way of knowing how long it will go on for...

[iwillbemrsminty]

I have Phenergan (I think this is the same drug as Avomine) for relentless 24/7 nausea without vomiting. I honestly felt like I was dying, some days I couldn't get out of bed. It has been a godsend, though some days I do still feel quite sick and some days I feel fine. But it allows me to eat and more importantly drink, to prevent dehydration. I was desperately close to being admitted for IV fluids and had I not had the tablets prescribed, I would have been. I'm now in week 11 and the nausea is still there but I can cope with it. Starting to panic slightly as I only have about 7 tablets left! Wondering if I should start weaning myself off them, perhaps having half a tablet at once instead of a full one...

[KateTheShrew]

Thanks mrsminty! Glad the tablets are working for you and that you're feeling a bit better now. I suppose you could try cutting your dose down and see how you go, but If you finish the tablets and you feel you can't cope without them yet presumably your Dr would prescribe you more?

[Amy700]

Sorry you're feeling so awful! I had bad nausea and frequent vomiting in my first pregnancy. I waited until 14 weeks to accept the drugs, and once I started I wished I had taken them sooner. I ended up on them for most of my pregnancy. Although I was vomiting, the nausea was by far the worst symptom. Don't feel guilty. I'm not a doctor but they must be safe or your doctor wouldn't have prescribed them. I think 'morning sickness' is severely misunderstood and under-researched. We are expected to just 'get on with it' but it can ruin your quality of life. It made me feel depressed and affected my ability to function mentally. Don't suffer if you don't need to! Hope you feel better soon!

[WellErrr]

Yes, I had promethazine (Phenergan) as I was very nauseous and have a phobia of vomiting so I was getting very stressed. Only took them as I needed but they really, REALLY helped.

[dramalamma]

I did - had a few episodes of vomiting but it was the nausea that was preventing me from eating and drinking enough. I took them until about 20 weeks and they really helped. If you need them - take them

[iwillbemrsminty]

Wellerr I'm emetophobic too. The fear of coming off them is making me panic a bit now, as they've helped me such a lot. I've just taken half a tablet tonight so I'll see how I go tomorrow. The pharmacist told me when collecting my prescription that phenergan can only be taken in the first trimester... Presumably then the doc could prescribe another one (cyclizine?) If necessary? It's definitely not 'just' morning sickness. I have never felt so ill and I know I aren't alone in that! I think the previous poster is right, it is misunderstood. At one point if one more person told me to eat ginger biscuits id quite happily have rammed the whole packet down their throat!!

[WellErrr]

I took it first and second but now I'm in third I won't take it. I only took one a day when I needed it, two on rare occasions. I worry that if I take something too much it will stop working.

It works so fast though, so you could wean off but you know that if you feel ill it's still there in the cupboard?

[WellErrr]

Ps you can buy it not on prescription, it's a really common travel sickness/antihistamine medication. Not that you should if you're pregnant but I had to buy some once when I forgot mine.

[53rdAndBird]

The pharmacist told me when collecting my prescription that phenergan can only be taken in the first trimester... Presumably then the doc could prescribe another one (cyclizine?) If necessary?

Yes they could. Haven't heard that about phenergan before, but there are definitely other drugs you can take throughout pregnancy. I had cyclizine and ondansetron right up until giving birth (literally - had an ondansetron drip in labour!) and doctors were fine with that.

[iwillbemrsminty]

Thanks ladies. Very helpful and I think I'll get some more, even just as a safety net so I know I have them in the cupboard if I need them

[Only1scoop]

Take the Cyclizine if it helps

Never refer to it as 'just nausea' I had that 'just nausea' and sickness for the whole of my pregnancy.

for you

It's grim

[KateTheShrew]

Sounds like a sensible plan, mrsminty, and thanks everyone for your stories and your advice. I've taken a tablet this morning, which will hopefully help me get through my booking in appointment later, and I'll discuss the nausea with the midwife.

Also, I'm another emetophobe (although it doesn't usually affect my day to day life). I think this jhas made me concerned that the anxiety is making my nausea worse, and if I could just get a grip I wouldn't need the tablets. But actually I don't think that's the case because I had nausea in my two previous pregnancies and it didn't affect me like this or cause me to seek medical help.

[iwillbemrsminty]

How did your midwife appointment go Kate and how are you feeling now after starting the tablets?

[KateTheShrew]

Hi mrsminty, thanks for checking up on me The midwife appointment went fine, and she was totally unfazed by the cyclizine prescription - reiterated that they prescribe it all the time and that it was safe, so that's a relief.

I've been taking one tablet a day since then - usually mid-afternoon as I find i'm worst in the late afternoon/evening. I think it's helping, but I still feel grim a lot of the time and it's a real struggle to get food down (although I do, because I know I'll feel worse if I don't). So not a miracle cure, by any means. I guess I'm struggling most with just not being able to do very much. my DS has got totally used to daddy doing most things for him, and it makes me a bit sad (although I realise how lucky I am that DH is on hand at the moment to do the childcare and housework -- long story involving mid-thirties career change!). Everyday I tell myself I'm going to push past the nausea and generally exhaustion and behave normally, but after a very short time on my feet I just feel so grim I have to sit or lie down again. I am not used to being inactive and I'm not very patient with it!! I'm just so FRUSTRATED with myself for feeling like this and the days are so long.

Oh well, I'm nearly 8 weeks now, so maybe I'll feel better in 4 weeks??

Wow. Sorry for the mega-rant I've bored even myself now with all the self-pity

[LynseyH5]

Kate I saw that you've had plenty of good advice but couldn't just read and run. How you describe your feeling is exactly how I've felt since week 5. It truly is miserable. I lasted week 5-7ish I think before begging the doctor for help and was prescribed one drug that didn't help, then cyclizine which helped with the nausea but leaves me feeling foggy headed and shattered a lot.

I just want to point out that I didn't feel much difference til after a week of taking it either, but a tip I read and then stuck with myself, take the tablet whilst still in bed, then have a couple of biscuits too. Leave it half hour before moving around. I only took that one a day as having two would leave me just about crawling to bed. Definitely not the miracle cure we all want! I'm now at 11 weeks and I decided today to try without it so fingers crossed.
The nausea really is awful and I hope you find something that works for you. Remember we're all different so what works for one may not for the other and vice versa x

[KateTheShrew]

Thanks, LynseyH5, that's really useful to know. In fact just nice to have another opinion that you can still feel truly dire without actually puking! Did you find after a week or so of taking the cyclizine that you were able to function a bit more normally? I think I'm probably expecting too much .

Good luck with your tablet-free day! Do post back here and let us know how you get on. What prompted you to try without it - have you been feeling a bit better lately? Fingers crossed you're nearly out of the woods at 11 weeks!

[LynseyH5]

To be totally honest, I still had days where I just didn't want to do a thing but I did have good days too and I made the most of them, catching up on cleaning and keeping my garden in check! I do have 3 children aswel so the knackered feeling was always going to get me!!
I do feel a bit better, yes. I find that not letting myself get too hungry helps and tiredness makes things much worse.
So far today, so good. I decided that at 11 wks, I'd just give it a go without as it still makes me drowsy and now the school holidays have started, I can't be asleep on my feet. This time last week, I was in bed whilst kids were at nursery/school! It will pass... this should be our mantra!!

[iwillbemrsminty]

I know how you feel Kate. It does get better though, I promise. I had to keep reminding myself what I would have at the end of it and how very worth the suffering was. I have a doppler too so have drawn a lot of comfort from hearing the HB, when I have felt so poorly, I often (still laid in bed) got it out and had a listen to remind myself it will be worth it. This is my first so I didn't have any other DC to care for, I cant imagine how hard that is but I still work full time and have really struggled. Days seemed endless and every lunch time I went to my car and slept for half an hour. I'm now just over 11 weeks and still taking half a tablet every night but I have felt quite normal with maybe only a slight hint of nausea if I start to feel remotely hungry. I'm going to try and go without tonight and see how I get on tomorrow.

When is your EDD Lynsey? I'm due 14 February and I have my scan on Monday.

[KateTheShrew]

Thanks, both of you! You're both about 3 weeks ahead of me, so it's really encouraging to hear you're doing so well, hopefully I'll be the same at week 11. I really shouldn't moan so much - I'm actually in the perfect position to lie around doing very little be on mumsnet constantly because, as I say, DH is at home at the moment so is doing the bulk of childcare and I'm a lecturer and teaching has finished for the summer, so I can do most of what I need to do from home, except for the odd meeting.

It must be lovely to hear the heartbeat mrsminty - I'm amazed you've managed that so early, that's brilliant! I know sometimes midwives don't like to use dopplers too early in case they can't find the heartbeat and it causes worry. You must be so excited for your scan

Bloody hell Lynsey, running round after three children while feeling like this? You're superwoman

[LynseyH5]

Haha Kate thank you but certainly think superwoman is too much like hard work! Give me the night feeds any day over feeling nauseous!!
I'm so pleased you have the summer to get through this part. What a relief and good timing!

mrsminty by my own dates I should be 11+1 which gives me 18th February but I had a scan at 8+3 and they said baby was measuring 8+6... the early scan aren't as accurate as the 12 wk one so I'm waiting til my scan to settle on a EDD. My scan is Tuesday next wk! Nice to have someone so close to my dates! My eldest was born at 39+2, the other 2 were both 39+1 so I'm thinking this one may follow...well hoping so anyway! Right now I'll just be happy if all is ok, I've had two mc in the last yr so this is a bit of a scary time. That's why I'm trying g very hard not to moan as the symptoms being there is sort of a reassurance.