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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone taking or have taken anti-sickness meds?

42 replies

YoureNotASausage · 04/06/2017 06:32

Firstly did they help?

I'm on my 4th pregnancy and they've all been hell on earth. I am really struggling with this one (7wks) maybe because it was unplanned and maybe because I've 3 little ones to mind but I'm thinking of asking the doc about anti sickness tablets. I do worry about the affect on the baby, that's what has stopped me before, how do you reconcile that risk? Or do you not feel there is a risk? I'd feel terrible if there was anything wrong with this baby and I had been taking tablets but I know that's not necessarily rational. I also would feel bad that I sucked it up for the other 3 but not this baby😢

But I'm really suffering and have such a long way to go.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

OP posts:
CaptainWarbeck · 04/06/2017 06:35

Do it. I ended up on them this pregnancy because the sickness was so bad. If you need them, you need them. At least talk to the GP.

Original poster
YoureNotASausage · 04/06/2017 06:42

Have they helped Captain? Which one and when did you start taking them? I'm reading that they are less effective if you don't start them immediately.

OP posts:
BubbleAndSquark · 04/06/2017 06:49

I'd try cyclizine its an antihistamine and the most mild.
I'm on cyclizone, ondansetron, metacloprimide and prochlorperazine self- injections for current pregnancy due to repeat hospital admissions where the tablets didn't work, also had 9 tablets a day throughout previous 2 pregnancies and around 7 weeks overall in hospital on drip and IV antisickness and DC are fine. Id avoid the stronger stuff if at all possible, though if you get hyperemesis it's more dangerous to be getting dehydrated to hospital admission level than to medicate, but see what the doctor says about cyclizine. Flowers

fishfingerSarnies · 04/06/2017 06:49

I took some with my second pregnancy as I was in a bad way they helped a lot and baby was absolutely fine.

WellErrr · 04/06/2017 06:53

I took promethazine during my last pregnancy for constant severe nausea. Worked really well. My baby does have some health issues and sometimes I blame myself for taking the meds but I know that's rubbish as they don't give you anything unsafe.

honeysucklejasmine · 04/06/2017 06:53

Cyclizine, from about 18 weeks until delivery. Would have had it sooner but didn't think to ask. It's only when midwife asked when my sickness had stopped and I said it hadn't that I got help. Don't do that, get help now.

UnbornMortificado · 04/06/2017 06:54

I've tried three. Cyclizine and metacloperamide didn't work but I've been on proclorperazine (no idea the real spelling) for about 16 weeks.

I have 2 older DD's I wasn't functioning without them and kept getting dehydrated. Mostly it was because I was throwing up my antidepressant (low dose but unable to stop completely) and my MH was going to hell in a handcart.

My GP explained the benefits/risks and I just accepted her advice as I trust her judgement.

Sorry your suffering it is horrendous Flowers

BubbleAndSquark · 04/06/2017 06:56

WellErrr I wouldn't blame yourself at all, I took them with both DC and older is extremely healthy and younger has a lot of unrelated health problems, its just bad luck not your fault.

Justdontgetitatall · 04/06/2017 07:03

Ondansetron is the cream of the crop. Docs are likely to try allllll the others before prescribing it as it is quite expensive to the NHS but my goodness....

I had SEVERE Hyperemesis that nearly killed us both. Tried every single Anti-emetic and then this little golden pill was given to me and....Shock.... Wow. Just wow.......

It's the same drug they give to Chemo patients who are suffering from Nausea.

Justdontgetitatall · 04/06/2017 07:06

Oh and my baby (2.5yrs now!) is entirely unaffected and a little angel! HaloEaster Smile

UnbornMortificado · 04/06/2017 07:23

My mam actually took that Ondansetron for chemo sickness and said it was a godsend.

Well I blamed staying on my AD's for DD2's prematurity it wasn't it was the safest one you can get but it's very easy to (wrongly) make the connection yourself Flowers

BlahBlahBlahEtc · 04/06/2017 07:31

I had severe HG (sick 30 - 50 times a day, multiple hospital admissions, near organ failure)I was on Cyclizine but I had an allergy so I was switched to Ondensetron and Metachlopramide (together), I was on double dosage but they didn't work for me unfortunately.
I would try them though, I know women that Cyclizine in particular has been a godsend for. Don't be afraid to ask for something else if it doesn't work for you though.. and be prepared to ask for these things by name also, my gp had no idea there was anything other than Cyclizine.. I had to convince her of it.Hmm

vivavivaviva · 04/06/2017 07:34

1st baby - sick from 6 weeks, 1 stone weight loss in 1.5wks. One rubbish pill, before being admitted at almost 8 weeks, drip etc. Then on cyclizine (didn't stop nausea, just lessened vomiting) for absolutely ages. Didn't worry about the drugs, as the doctors said 'being severely dehydrated is much more dangerous for the baby'.

Anxiety about having another baby, especially with a toddler at home. So scared to be that ill again. Doctor agrees to prescribe as soon as pregnant.

Second baby - took cyclizine from 4.5 weeks, before any sickness and it was great. Managed to throw up only every few days, rather than 10+ times a day! Not too much weight loss. Still had nausea and loss of appetite but 100 times better than first. Stopped taking much earlier too, maybe 20 weeks?

Done though, no way I'd ever willingly go through it again. Pregnancy (not labour) is too traumatic for me.

P.s. Always try cyclizine first, docs are so happy to prescribe because it's not expensive like the magic pills!

10storeylovesong · 04/06/2017 07:44

I suffered through sickness with my first as I didn't know there was anything available. It took being on the brink of hospitalisation before I was prescribed cyclizine which took the edge of, but made me really drowsy so I still couldn't go to work.

When I started being sick this time round I went straight to GP and demanded meds again. He gave me cyclizine again which didn't touch it and a week later my consultant gave me ondansetron, saying that cyclizine was useless. It really helped and meant I could just about cope with going to work.

UnbornMortificado · 04/06/2017 07:50

Blah I've never met anyone else with a cyclizine allergy. My hands seized up and I felt like I was dying it was bloody terrifying.

I'd been on it in the past when not pregnant with no issues.

Lemondrop99 · 04/06/2017 07:53

Lots of us. Come join us here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2934337-Hyperemesis-Support?msgid=69518508#69518508

Lots of good info here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2934337-Hyperemesis-Support?msgid=69518508#69518508

There's absolutely no way I'd have got through this pregnancy without medications. You can start with an antihistamine like cyclizine or promethazine which are very widely regarded as safe in pregnancy. You may well end up on ondansetron though, which thousands of women have still taken without adverse effects to their baby. It took me a while to feel comfortable with it, but it was the right choice for me (not that I really had another option!)

Avocado0nToast · 04/06/2017 07:54

I battled through the nausea in my first pregnancy but took the tablets in my second as I was getting so dehydrated I was going to end up in hospital. They were a god send! Got me through the rough first 16 weeks and I've had no ill effects on baby. They didn't make me feel 'normal' but they took it all down to a manageable level.

A doctor told me they can't say anything is 'safe' in pregnancy as they can't do clinical trials on pregnant women. However if drugs were thought to be causing problems then they would not be prescribed in pregnancy, so they are as sure as they can be. In this country we are very cautious about drugs in pregnancy due to the thalidomide scandal, but in America for example drugs are prescribed much more frequently.

Hope you feel better soon!

Lemondrop99 · 04/06/2017 07:56

Sorry that second link was supposed to be this

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/treatments/

Original poster
YoureNotASausage · 04/06/2017 08:01

Thanks for all the info everyone. I've a GP appointment on Tuesday so will talk to her then. Hopefully she'll be well informed.

OP posts:
CaptainWarbeck · 04/06/2017 08:55

Yes they helped, I don't know how I would have got through this pregnancy without them. I started with metoclopramide, then added in cyclizine, then also needed ondansetron on top before I started feeling anywhere near normal again. The ondansetron was brilliant. I think I first needed them about 7 weeks in too.

The cyclizine made me really drowsy so I stopped that but I'm still taking the other two and I'm 37 weeks. Sometimes you just need them. I've had no ill effects on the baby at all, she's been perfectly healthy on all the scans.

Sorry you're feeling crap. Push your GP if you don't feel you're getting anywhere, some are not brilliantly informed and reluctant to prescribe in pregnancy. You will get lots of support with this if you need it over on the hyperemesis thread a pp linked to upthread.

CaptainWarbeck · 04/06/2017 08:55

And congrats on your pregnancy SmileFlowers

BubbleAndSquark · 04/06/2017 10:15

Oh to add, if you get admitted to hospital and need anything through IV its quite common to react badly to cyclzine even if it's fine in tablet form, gives panic attack/feels like allergic reaction type reaction for about 10 minutes, its less common if its given through an infusion so I'd ask them to do that first and if you don't agree with it I'd ask for a different one when not in tablet form, I tried in 2 pregnancies to give it a chance and the second time was no better! Xxx

BubbleAndSquark · 04/06/2017 10:24

Also - sorry a bit off topic, but to the others who've been on metacloprimide recently, have you heard about the twitching side effects/new not being allowed on it for more than 5 days rule? I've had multiple doctors and the gp refuse to give it, one stopped it in my last pregnancy (this time last year) at around 22 weeks, then one doctor this time represcribed it among discharge meds and said it should be fine.
Im inclined to think it is OK as I've taken it for so long previously with no issues, and I'm trying to minimise use of it, but its preferable to using the injections so have been taking it still.

FuzzyPillow · 04/06/2017 10:44

I'm taking Odansetron and Metaclopramide during my Cancer treatment. They do work, but since they can cause diarrhoea I only take them when really necessary.

SaS2014 · 04/06/2017 19:10

I've had awful sickness since start. I was on cyclizine from gp which was a little helpful but now on prochloperazine (stemitil). It is wonderful. It was prescribed by obstriatician. I take it twice a day and it has made a world of difference. It's the drug they use for mums with hyperemisis so definitely safe for baby. Hope you get some relief soon Flowers

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