omeprazole in pregnancy

[Happychick35]

Did anyone have omeprazole in pregnancy? I have absolutely horrid heartburn and acid reflux. Gaviscon and rantidine do not help at at all, and to be honest I think even made it worse. Just a smell of gaviscon makes me sick. I am already on a very restricted diet and forgot the taste of any kind of sauce with garlic, butter, tomatoes, no french fries , pizza etc. Also occasionally I still get "morning sickness", even though I am over 20 weeks milestone. So the only medicine which helps me to push food down the throat is omeprazole. But "googling" it information seems to be controversial, nhs website says it is safe in pregnancy, but in US it is class C drug. And there were some some studies which found that very large quantities are dangerous to foetus and that if it is used in first trimester it can sometimes cause heart defects in babies ... Of course as usual research is limited and non 100% conclusive. So did anyone drink it during pregnancy and any other tips to manage the reflux? Thank you

I've had GERD for years and pregnancy has made it unbearable.

No doc would prescribe it here (States) but have given me Pantoprazole which they say is safer. Apparently the NHS thinks otherwise. :(

If it's really bad then you have to consider that you can really do damage to your throat and it can cause throat cancer (sorry to scare but it really needs treating).

Take papaya enzymes, health food shops sell them, slippery elm works too. Don't ever bend over if you can help it, eat early dinner, prop end of bed up, chew gum all the time, apple cider vinegar or pickle juice works.

Avoid citrus, tomatoes, some people get worse with dairy (I do), fizzy drinks, alcohol, fatty meats, spicy foods. Although everyone is different, I wrote a food diary to figure out what made it worse.

:)

Oh God and NEVER eat onions lol.

BummyMummy77 thank you, sorry what can cause cancer omeprazole or GERD? I eat papaya and enzymes on daily basis. Citrus, etc I forgot the taste of. What drives me crazy how can one medicine have such conflicting opinions in two different countries, what really makes you question its safety in the first place! Unfortunately in UK you are stuck with rantidine or omeprazole. I am horrified every time I drink that I may do harm to my baby, but days when I do not have it are horrible, I literraly can't eat. Did you have to take food to work? As suddenly I discovered I can't eat anything out and going to the restaurant is a military operation...What did you end up drinking for GERD in UK during your pregnancy?

I'm on omeprazole 40mg, the GP said I can take up to two of these a day but I'm taking just one every two days and it is my wonder drug!
Its incredible the difference it has made to my life.
I'm 28 weeks pregnant and had heartburn symptoms from about 11 weeks.
Last pregnancy, I had heartburn which got stedily worse towards the end and couldn't lie down whatsoever. So this time I decided to bite the bullet and get it treated.
I never have any taste of acid anymore, and no more burping.
Have heard GERD can cause osophagel (sp?) cancer. The acid can damage your throat. It can also affect your voice but I think this may be long term GERd rather than pregnancy induced GERD.
I don't know of the effects of omeprazole on my baby as I'm still cooking but my GP was confident effects would be nil and I trust him.
I also noticed I'm eating less so weight gain is slowly thankfully.

Bummy I'm sure both are safe.

Yes, me twice and throughout both pregnancies, no obvious ill effects unless it causes stroppiness In the UK it is very widely used.

I started taking it at 7 weeks, like you, nothing else would touch the pain of a hot poker shoved down my throat. I'm 14 weeks now so no idea on the eventual outcome!

Is it really not allowed in the US? I am sure I have US friends who are on it but I could be mistaken.

There is also lansoprazole which is category B in the US (known as Prevacid there I believe) but I have no idea if you can get it here or not for treatment in pregnancy.

I am taking it, has saved my life. I found that most morning sickness drugs seem to be US class c so ignore that.

I think I read a study that showed omeprozole increase the risk of birth defects by 0.1% so I figured my sanity and ability to eat was worth this tiny increase!