Help- hospitalised on metaclopromide, now offered cyclizine, scared. Any one had a bad reaction?

[mightymouse76]

Hi, I'm 40, 7 weeks and in a bad way. Had severe reaction to metaclopromide and was hospitalised with full body spasms on Thursday. Now out and getting strength back but sickness back with a vengeance. Gp recommended cyclizine instead, whereas hospital said cyclizine could trigger a similar reaction and recommended onastradon (sp). Apparently the onastradon is not tested in pregnancy. Another doctor again recommended Cyclizine for safety which I know is more common.
I'm terrified of having another adverse reaction or harming the bean but am struggling to cope with the sickness (am self employed and the main source of income so can't be signed off work)

I was given multiple shots of procycladine when in the trauma unit which is also not tested, but my spasms were so severe they were restricting my breathing and said it was too dangerous to leave me untreated. I don't want to take anything that further risks this.

I'm frightened and confused. What are your experiences of cyclizine? Have any of you had onastradon?
Sorry I'm rambling. Advice so very welcome X

Not had reactions but cyclizine was the third anti sickness I was given as other 2 didn't work and it was an absolute diamond!

I had 2 weeks complete sick free, and then when i stopped, it did return but much more mild/bearable at just once/twice a morning

Good luck x

Hi Mightymouse - congratulations on your pregnancy!

I am also 40 and 6.5 weeks pregnant (grrrrrh you are 7 weeks, wish I was!).

The hyperemesis that I had with my first pregnancy (DS is 2) returned with a vengeance about a week ago. I have the same problem that I work for myself and won't make it much longer lying in a heap in my dirty tracksuit.

I cannot comment on your reactions to drugs so far. But I know that Cyclizine is the first drug recommended by most doctors for morning sickness. Totally proven to cause NO harm to your baby. For me it is not strong enough - doesn't touch the severe nausea and makes me very tired. You should try it though because as Dlah says above, it does work for many.

Ondansetron (American brand Zofran) is stronger, different sort of drug and most women DO achieve great results with it. If you don't achieve good results with Cyclizine very quickly, I wouldn't hesitate to move fast over to Ondansetron as that really should make a difference to you. You will see 100s women on the Hyperemesis Support thread swear by both its effectiveness and safety to baby.

I am lucky enough to have some private consultant advice andcare for my HG, and yesterday I went a step even further. I have just started a course of Prednisolone (steroids) for mine. There is a theory that severe MS is an inflammatory response of the immune system which can be suppressed. I have been entirely convinced that this is also safe for my baby (not least because 1000s women use Prednisolone during IVF treatment). I have not been sick since I took my first dose, my nausea is almost gone, and I am operating almost as normal at home. Just tired and still need to eat really regularly.

I just mention this to reassure you there that there are many options for you to to consider. The NHS is VERY stingy about prescribing Prednisolone for MS, so depending on your finances, if you really wanted to try it, you may need to find a friendly private GP to prescribe for you.

I hope this helps. Hyperemesis is the absolute PITS and reminds me why I swore I would never try to have another baby.

How awful.

I take cyclizine without issues. No side effects.

I had it for sickness and it was amazing. No negative side effects.

Ondansatron is fine. It's not tested in pregnancy because it's not ethical to......most drugs will say they've not been tested in pregnancy. But ondansetron has been used in pregnancy for many, many years.

It's much more effective than cyclizine and won't make you as sleepy either. It's very expensive so you often have to push to get it. I would take it quite happily.

I'm 33+6 and have been ondansetron and cyclizine since just over 6 weeks. I've had no problems. My understanding is that GPS can be reluctant to prescribe ondansetron because it's seen as a lot more expensive than cyclizine (it's not now that there are generic versions available).

I would be pushing for ondansetron in your position I think. Hope you feel better soon

^ that should be "been on"

OP, I follow RaeSkywalker on the Hyperemesis thread (because I love her name). She has been to hell and back in her HG pregnancy so if she says get stuck into the Ondansetron, I think that is good advice.

I am 36 weeks into my second HG pregnancy, both times I have been admitted six times in the first trimester. Cyclizine was the first line of treatment both times (via IV, tablets and suppositories), unfortunately it didn't work for me. Next I was prescribed ondansetron but again this didn't work.

In my first pregnancy on my sixth admission I was given prednisolone and it was like a miracle cure. Despite this, the hospital ward (emergency gynae) refused to prescribe prednisolone in my second pregnancy, even offering me a termination. Eventually I saw the obstetric consultant assigned to my pregnancy and she prescribed prednisolone no problem. Again, it was like a miracle cure.

I guess what I'm saying is that there are lots of treatment options and if one doesn't work or you react badly to it, don't be afraid to ask for another. You really shouldn't have to be pushy but unfortunately I think there's a real "put up and shut up" attitude to hyperemesis that you just don't get with other conditions.

PonkAlert your experience makes me feel dizzy and terrified just thinking about it. I'm glad Prednisolone worked for you too. Good luck with the birth!

Thanks LH! I'm glad prednisolone worked for you too and I'm horrified by the NHS attitude to prescribing, or rather not prescribing it. During my current pregnancy they repeatedly told me it was unproven, risky for foetus etc. and that they only prescribed it about once a year for HG. I know three people who took it for other conditions, eg asthma, throughout their pregnancies and were absolutely fine (as was my first pregnancy). I just don't understand! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Cyclizine is a great drug and does not work in the same way as metoclopramide so shouldn't cause a similar reaction.
Good luck

Metaclopramide made me go a bit mad. I only took it for a 1 1/2 days. Although it did stop me being sick! Cyclizine had no side effects. It only cut down and didn't stop me being sick, but it made things bearable.

Hi, I had hg in pregnancy (ds now 8 weeks).

Tried promethazine (avomine), buccastem, cyclizine and ondansetron.

Cyclizine and ondansetron in combination worked the best for me. My GP was happy to prescribe both, and my husband (who is also a doctor) was happy with me taking them.

No drugs are tested on pregnant women. It would be unethical to do so. However it doesn't mean some are unsafe to take. There are risks with the drugs, but your doctor should discuss these with you.

More recently trained doctors are, in my opinion, happier to prescribe for hg as their training is more up to date. Previous generations of doctor were trained not to prescribe in pregnancy. The current NICE guidelines recommend prescribing to avoid women getting dehydrated and having hospital admissions.

Really hope you feel better soon. Sickness sucks.