Rae I just looked up Ondansetron on the National Formulary and in fact although the branded version (Zofran) is £3.50 per pill, there seem to be generic equivalents for 17p per pill - so I wonder if the perception it is expensive is a out of date now? Although it came off patent in TEN YEARS AGO in 2006, so you'd hope people would know about the generic versions by now...
For comparison, generic versions of metoclopramide are only 3p per pill, but cyclizine 11p per pill, so the difference between cyclizine (which they pretty much give out like candy?) and Ondansetron just doesn't seem to be that much does it? Certainly cost doesn't seem like a major reason not to prescribe it if the first line drugs aren't cutting it.
www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/bnf/current/4-central-nervous-system/46-drugs-used-in-nausea-and-vertigo/5ht3-receptor-antagonists/ondansetron
I've had a much better few days here. Have gone down to 2 pills a day and although I felt a little bit worse it wasn't too bad and I haven't thrown up for nearly a week now. I feel really happy that I started drugs so early, because the sickness started out even worse than my last pregnancy but seems to be getting better much earlier (last time I was throwing up until 20 weeks and never stopped feeling sick), so I think there's a very high chance the pills are to thank for that.
I so agree about people not understanding. Even a friend who has been totally brilliant and sympathetic was really shocked when I said that if I knew I was going to feel like that for ever I would rather be dead. I just don't think people can really imagine what it feels like (and I haven't even had the worst end of the spectrum but I still couldn't imagine going on with it if I thought that was going to be the rest of my life). Even at my level I had thoughts about terminating the pregnancy, which then just make you feel guilty and even worse. It really is hell. The only silver lining is you know it won't last forever, but it feels pretty close to forever at the time.
Now I just have the "slog" to go ... feeling entirely bearable, but still nothing is really joyful or brilliant. I just have to trudge through these last few months. But still it's a hell of a lot better than where I was a few weeks ago, and I would no longer choose death over feeling this way for the rest of my life (though I would be pretty depressed about it).
Sorry to start talking about death and stuff. Probably not what you all need for a Monday morning. I hope you all have a good start to the week x