Metoclopramide and developmental problems

[Londonwelsh]

Hello all,
I was prescribed metoclopramide by the GP to help with my morning sickness (was struggling to cope with it and my two kids). I did a fair bit of quizzing and Internet research and saw loads about how there was no evidence of increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects. I took the medication for two weeks and it changed my life. I felt so much better and could eat far more normally and better still crack a smile and play with my kids. I then had one of those 3am panics where you stare at the ceiling convinced something is going wrong and I started panic googling. Have found some websites with anecdotal stories about metoclopramide in pregnancy leading to ASD.
I don't wish to offend anyone and I know that every child brings their own challenges along with their own joy and love, however I can't get over the guilty feeling that I may caused developmental challenges.

Does anyone have any experience of this medication who can give me any reassurance? I have come off the medication and although I am still throwing up it is not as severe and I am coping (am almost 11 weeks, so hopefully improving by itself). During the day I can be more balanced about risks and potential outcomes, but 3am finds me awake and consumed with anxiety.
Thank you xxx

I took this combined with cyclizine from week 5-birth with both my pregnancies. Both kids fine

hi,

It's pregnancy category b, which is about as good as you'll get. Pretty much nothing is cat a. B means that there is evidence that it's safe in pregnancy. Large scale studies have shown no link at all between it and birth defects, autism etc etc.

Ok, now this is going to sound grumpy and harsh, I totally don't mean it as a go at you, more as a go at the bloody Internet forums where this kind of misinformation lurks ;)....

There is a lot of misinformation on the web, especially when it comes to health/child development. Unless you've got a medical or scientific background, it can be extremely difficult to separate out the crap from the genuine.

When people have a medical issue (like autism, or infertility ) they want something to blame. It's much easier for the human psyche to blame a single factor like a drug or a vaccine than to accept that the causes of their problems are muddy, complex and caused by multiple factors, or that they may never know what caused them. Thus, there are loads of Internet boards where people are convinced their kids are autistic because of a vaccine, or that drug X caused their developmental defect. That's much easier for them to believe than the facts (autism is often diagnosed and manifested at the same age as the big vaccinations are given, and most birth defects are down to a complex interplay between genetics and environment.)

Long story short, don't worry. :) it's been shown to be safe.