Do not use if you are pregnant...

[CarlyCape]

Long story short. I have been to docs today for morning sickness. Prescribed Stemetil (prochlorperazine). Had a quick read through the leaflet and it says quite clearly:

• "do not take stemetil tablets if:
• you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you might be pregnant"

It doesn't recommend to consult your doctor. It just says 'do not take'.

So... to take or not to take? Normally I would just go with docs recommendation but my pregnancy has made me extra cautious...

I'd ask the pharmacist in the first instance. Quicker than going back to your GP.

@Speedy85 going to be very difficult over bank holiday weekend as they're all closed now, however will have to try my best to get in touch with one! Thank you.

Don't take them. Go to a pharmacy if there's one near you that's open. Otherwise can you call your doctor's surgery on the out of hours number?

If doctors have prescribed for morning sickness and knew you were pregnant when prescribing then take them. All the anti sickness tablets say "do not take" because it's unethical to test on pregnant women. But they can see from use that risk is minimal. I have 3 different anti sickness tablets for hyperemesis and all of them say do not take if pregnant but they were prescribed by the gynae doctor who obviously knew I was pregnant! Hope your sickness gets better soon.

Unfortunately there are no drugs licensed for treating sickness in pregnancy so they will all say something similar in the data sheet. Stemetil is commonly prescribed to sufferers - lots of people on the HG support thread on here have been on it (v helpful thread if you need advice/support).
I always check meds I have been prescribed on the Pregnancy Sickness Support website for reassurance:
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/treatments/
They are also very helpful and knowledgeable if you call them for advice.
I hope the medication works for you.

I've had that prescribed for HG, it's fine.... doesn't work though! Go back and get Ondansatron!

Stemetil is used very commonly in pregnancy and has no known side effects. There are other options if it doesn't work but as pp said they will almost always say not to use in pregnancy.

Pretty much every drug says don't use in pregnancy because the manufacturers don't want to take culpability because no one does trials on pregnant women.

Call the number your midwife gave you for out or hours.

Ive had hyperemesis gravidarum twice and have taken every anti sickness under the sun , they all have that warning its because they are not tested on pregnant women , it would be unethical to do so , however they have been used by pregnant women for many years

You can phone the pharmacist who dispensed it, their number will be on the box, they will be open on a Friday. Don't take till you're rrassured.

I was prescribed that by the obstetric consultant whilst in hospital... She definitely knew I was pregnant

Stematil is used theoughout pregnancyas oral tablet, injection or a drip. Its most common use is for hyperemesis.

I had it for hyperemesis and as everyone else has said it isn’t licensed as not ethical to test on pregnant women, same as the flu jab and whooping cough jab!

Thanks all! Just took my first one and am heading to bed. Will let you know if they help!

There are no anti sickness drugs that are licensed for use in pregnancy so they will all say this.

This is the information from NICE that most GPs use as guidance
cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy

I had it for morning sickness too.

Thanks both

I'd still be a mess and severely dehydrated and hospitalised if I hadn't been given Stemetil. The dr who prescribed it for you must've given it to you knowing you're pregnant. As a pp upthread has said, very few medications are tested on pregnant women and pharmacological companies add the warning so they're not held responsible as a precautionary measure. Take it and start living again! It really works!

Thanks @PoodleDoodleCaboodle - I took my first one about 30 minutes ago. No change yet so hopefully will kick in soon! Can't wait to feel human again...

Don’t take it. NICE guidelines say that it causes anomalies in animal testing.

Go and ask for cyclizine. I’ve been prescribed it for vertigo. It’s far safer.

Not sure that's an overly helpful comment when OP has started taking it. The following is from the NICE guidelines:
Prochlorperazine — a meta-analysis of exposure to a number of phenothiazines, and a case-control study of prochlorperazine found no evidence of an increased risk of congenital malformations .
The NICE guidelines suggest either prochlorperazine or an antihistamine (cyclizine or promethazine) as first line treatments. Honestly OP continue to take it as prescribed and if it doesn't work go back for something else.

I've taken shit loads of procholperazine in all my pregnancies and can safely say that they didn't turn into deformed animals

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Prochloperazine/