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General health

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Original poster

Ranitidine in Pregnancy daily??

20 replies

Angeliz · 03/07/2006 20:15

Hi all
Well my third pregnancy. It's a breeze mainly, no sickness can't complain, just knackered and the inevitable killer heartburn!
Finally a G.P who prescribed me ranitidine though as with the other 2 it was just gaviscon.
The ranitidine really keeps the heartburn at bay all day (though some nights are still torture ).
The G.p prescribed it a few weeks ago and although it says on the box 'one daily' she said only when i need them as they are not really researched on pregnant women for side effects. I have been taking them daily and am dreading a day without as i know i'll suffer!

Has anyone else used them daily as i remember someone recomending them on here last time but G.P wouldn't budge then!

OP posts:

FioFio · 03/07/2006 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Angeliz · 03/07/2006 20:17

Cheers, yes just about to pop it feels!

OP posts:

nicnack2 · 03/07/2006 20:22

i lived on rennies throughout my pregancy. i was told by gp/hv that gaviscon is no longer recommend for pregancy. i asked about rantidine and was told no. the rennies worked a treat. spearmint ones are the better. good luck

Original poster

Angeliz · 03/07/2006 20:33

gavison no longer recommended??

You wouldn't beleive how many gallons i've drunk so i hope that's juat the latest H.V rubbish

OP posts:

nicnack2 · 03/07/2006 20:39

think they come up with something new every week. how did the human race ever survive!

claireh11 · 03/07/2006 21:16

Angeliz I was on ranitidine throughout my preg as suffered rlly badly with heartburn even before I was preg and was told I could carry on taking. DS is now 3.5 and perfect in every way so no problems for us at all. HTH

cori · 03/07/2006 21:33

My consultant prescribed this for me from around 28 weeks. I wouldn't have survived without it. My DS is now 8 weeks old and is doing well.
By the way if you cant get a GP to prescribe it you can buy it over the counter as Zantac. I think I was able to take two per day.

Found this on drugs.com
"Ranitidine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby."

expatinscotland · 03/07/2006 21:36

Rennies would not have TOUCHED my acid reflux. I didn't have just heartburn, I had acid reflux so bad I developed an oesophageal ulcer and spent a week in hospital connected to a drip whilst pregnant w/DD1.

I took plenty of ranitidine and it doesn't appear to have done any harm.

chapsmum · 03/07/2006 21:40

ranitiadine is not recommended by the manufacturer as there has been no studys done to show is saftey, however as far as I am aware there is no evidence to show that it is dangerous either IYSWIM.
As with all drugs, benifit must outweight risk and if you are at risk of dehydration/ ulcer due to chronic heart burn then it is sensible to go with your GPs advice. however I woudl not rccommned pregnaant women uying over the counterzantac fro their continuing personal use.
You dr and obstatrician should be aware of it as there may be an underlying problem which needs addressed.

Original poster

Angeliz · 03/07/2006 21:42

Oh thanks everyone.
I had already bought Zantac but didn't dare take it. I'll keep up the one a day then.
I was almost in tears last night. Every time i woke up gagging on acid and had to sit straight up as i felt i was choking. It was burning my throat! I hardly slept at all! It really is torture!

Have to say Rennies wouldn't touch this either.

OP posts:

puff · 03/07/2006 21:45

Angeliz - I was prescribed ranitidine by a consultant in my hospital ante natal clinic - all was fine.

Dottydot · 03/07/2006 22:06

Zantac saved my sanity when I was pregnant - discovered it via a Mumsnet recommendation when I was about 20 weeks pregnant and took it practically hourly until I gave birth! I think without it I would have gone more bonkers than I was already was...

cori · 03/07/2006 22:11

My heartburn was worse at night. Try taking it before you go to bed. Sleep propped up a little, and have the rennies by the bed just in case.

bakedpotato · 03/07/2006 22:19

well done angeliz, you're cranking out these babies like a good 'un
I think we were pregnant together last time
I swore by ranitidine, taken daily, lifesaver

jasper · 03/07/2006 22:36

Nothing but zantac worked for me in my 3 pregnancies. Renies and gaviscon did not TOUCH the problem.
My consultant prescribed ranitidine and I took two a day throughout all 3 pregnancies.
Might have gone bonkers otherwise.

I kept meaning to write a letter of thanks to the drug company. It was a miracle cure

Berries · 03/07/2006 23:14

had it intravenously for 3 weeks with dd1 (from 9 wks - 12) and then 2 per day - stronger dose than over-the-counter one. Started it with dd2 at 5 wks (when hyperemesis started). DDs now 10 & 8 with no probs

expatinscotland · 04/07/2006 09:44

Oh, Angeliz! Poor you! This sounds exactly like my pregnancy w/DD1 - I would wake gagging on my own acid. This would happen even when I slept propped up on three pillows!

If you start to experience severe pain whilst swallowing, please see your consultant immediately!!

Hope yours doesn't get as bad as mine - that was nasty stuff and it hurt to even swallow water b/c I had an ulcer so I had to go into hospital from dehydration.

Original poster

Angeliz · 04/07/2006 09:49

Thanks everyone
Expat, it is horrendous isn't it? I don't have trouble swallowing as yet but i do often get a strong taste of blood which worries me.
Yesterday i was good as gold, no coffee (only evr have one anyway), no acidy foods and i even drank a pint of milk and last night was a 'bit' better!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 04/07/2006 09:54

Suck on lots of ice cubes!

foxinsocks · 04/07/2006 10:00

angeliz, I get that terrible taste at the back of the mouth (I know it is associated with pregnancy - I'm not pregnant I should say!)

I have a very acidic stomach and quite often have to take some stuff that suppresses the acid in my tummy but if I don't take it, I get that horrible metallic/blood like taste and I think it is the stomach acid coming up.

However, in your shoes, I would mention it at your next appointment just in case they want to make sure your tummy and its passages are all ok and you don't have an ulcer.

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