AIBU to be cross with this nurse?

[GimmeDaBoobehz]

I have ongoing gastro problems that are going to be looked at, but have a specialist appointment for 2 and a half months time and wanted to see if I could take anything or do anything in the meantime to help as it's pretty debilitating and I have a young baby to look after.

She was a very nice lady and chatted and then prescribed me Buscopan (sp?). I asked if it was OK to take when breastfeeding. She looked it up in a book and said a low dose should be fine.

I got home and got my prescription and it said not to take whilst breastfeeding so I phoned the pharmacy who phoned up a head doctor who right enough said it wasn't safe to take whilst breastfeeding.

AIBU to be pretty cross she prescribed me something that could've been harmful to my daughter?

I'm not a complainer, but I really would worry that if I wasn't someone who would check up online and ask around that I could've taken it without thinking.

well seems like she did look it up and I suppose she acted on what she read.

however I would definatly let her know as it could impact in someone else.

To be fair to the nurse, I've just looked it up in the BNF (clinicians bible) and it does state that it is safe to take during BF as, and I quote directly "amount too small to be harmful".

This is the online version as well, not an outdated hard copy.

Ooh I was all ready to come on here and say of course yabu, nurses are wonderful,, but she probably should have checked it out properly before giving you the prescription, when you've specifically asked her.

Quite often it's not that meds are unsafe, it's that it's almost impossible to trial due to the obvious - so docs will more often than not say its not recommended.

So - YABU a little bit but I can see why you might be annoyed if you don't know the above...

I wanted to check but the other doctor said no, definitely don't take it so it seems to have mixed messages in the clinical readings.

I'm cross but she was a nice lady so not going to lose my temper at her or anything like that, I just worried about how it could impact my daughter.

But yes she quoted what you said mrs but she said it didn't make much sense and it be best to take a small amount just in case, which obviously rung a bit of alarm bells for me. I would've checked up early anyway.

She prescribed something to help you with your 'debilitating' symptoms and absolutely correctly checked it's safety. You've second guessed her and taken advice from somebody who hasn't seen you and maybe didn't have your full history. And you think YOU have the right to be cross

So she looked it up, and told you a low dose was too small to be harmful? Not sure why you'd be cross about that - what did she do wrong?

Northern might have a point op.

Yep, what Northern said. Though I can understand new mum paranoia.

What Northern said.

YABU.

OP I think the pharmacy you spoke with may have confused Buscopan with Buccastem. The latter isn't advised when breastfeeding I believe.
The two are easily confused.
Like everything though you have to weigh up risk and reward. Ideally a breastfeeding mother won't be on meds - but you're not well so you have been prescribed something to help with that.

She didn't sound sure that was the thing. She looked it up and she said 'Hmmm this is interesting it says it's only got small amounts in it. To make sure, I'll diagnose you a smaller dose. But it doesn't do it in this dose, so you'll have to break it in half.' I thought OK that seems strange but OK. But I always look on the back of packets to check always. It said it's advised not to take whilst pregnant. Because she seemed fair enough I thought I better check it up, otherwise I would've just plain out not taken it but checked up with the pharmacy as obviously don't want to take anything that could be dangerous. I wasn't undermining her, doesn't everyone check on the back of the packaging? Just like whether you can drink on medication etc?

I am grateful though that she was trying to help me. I am just worried as it could've been taken and caused some damage. I've seen her before and she's a lovely lady and would never be horrible to her I just worry about how it could effect DD, I don't think that makes me being mean to her iyswim.

It's a tricky one I think whoever prescribes the medicine weighs up the possible risks and benefits.

I've was told by a GP that I shouldn't take any anti-depressant and breast feed but at the hospital a consultant reeled off a list that he deemed safe to take with breast feeding.

That was probably only because he spent more time chatting to me and decided it was better for me to have something rather than nothing in the circumstances.

The GP probably wasn't as aware of my concerns at the time she said not to take anything, but having seen her again she"s changed her mind :)

I'm confused - are you pregnant or breastfeeding or both?

Almost no medicine is going to say "safe to take while pregnant/breastfeeding" because they can't test it. The nurse acted quite reasonably in looking it up, giving you the information and prescribing a lower dose.

"Amount too small to be harmful" does not mean "is going to cause terrible damage", does it?

I would assume that the doctor you spoke to was playing it too safe, to be honest. As far as I know, there are actually very few drugs that you CANNOT take when BFing. Most are just untested. I once had Boots refuse to sell me cream for my "chub rub"... i.e. to put on my THIGHS... until they had triple-checked with the pharmacist, because I had the baby with me and they asked if I was BFing and I said yes. Sometimes they are just overcautious.

Breastfeeding Northern, sorry.

If you read the instructions on packets, nothing is safe for breastfeeding!

If you speak to a pharmacist in person, they have a big book which details all drugs in relation to BF and pregnancy and they can actually check the facts for you. When I needed something for hayfever, the pharmacy assistants in Tesco and Boots both refused to sell me anything, but the pharmacist at work (large hospital) checked for me and even gave me a photocopy of the pages informing me what was safe.

I think the nurse did the right thing here, she checked and then told you what it said.

Hope you feel better soon.

because of the lack of clinical trials in this area, most drug companies will advise not to take while pregnant/breastfeeding because they are covering their arses. it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem, just they don't have the clinical trials to categorically state it is 100% safe.
I,m assuming the nurse checked in the BNF (drug prescribing bible) and if it said there that its safe in small doses, she prescribed you a reduced dose (though whether a reduced dose would be effective is another matter). This was 100% correct procedure. The Dr the pharmacist spoke to may also have been covering his arse by saying dont take it as he hasnt seen you or knows your history, so would be wrong to prescribe you anything

hettie But the doctor the pharmacy phoned said definitely not to take, which made me worried - wouldn't it you?

what northern said