Ondansetron

[abbs1]

I've been prescribed ondansetron from the hospital after having injections to stop my vomiting and nausea due to HG. This has helped but I'm so constipated and in so much pain in my tummy as I cant pass a stool. Has anyone else taken this? I'm also really scared of the potential risks to my baby so stopped taking it. I'm scared I'm gonna end up back in hospital.

I took it for all four of my pregnancies. It was a life saver. DS 1 is heading off to Oxford University in a few weeks, so I dont think it did him any harm. 🤣

So sorry you are sick, can you talk to your midwife unit about some stool softners that are safe in pregnancy. Then make sure you are drinking lots of water as you need it to push the stool through.

@seatoski I just called my midwife and I will need to see my doctor to get prescribed some laxatives.
How long did you take the ondansetron for? I've got 2 weeks worth and scared of the risks to my baby but it's the only thing that is giving me a better quality of life atm.

I took it from week 6 to week 12\13. Except for DS 1 where i didnt know yet that it was an option so didnt get it until week 9ish

While you are waiting for a prescription for laxatives, can you manage to sip on some prune juice or to eat dried apricot chopped up into tiny pieces , it might help to shift things

@seatoski oh right. That's good to know as I reckon I will need it a while if I've got any chance of getting back to work. The risks of heart issues and cleft palate scare me though and I'm guessing I will have to go in every other week for further meds? Or did you get prescribed a larger amount of meds.
I haven't got any food at home really atm so need to do a food shop so will get in some provisions.

I took Ondansetron from week 12 to week 24 with DC1. It did him no harm. I believed that the severe dehydration and lack of food would have done him more harm than the tablets.

@tangerine24 thats good to know. How long ago was this? Did you get the meds on repeat prescription or did you have to go back to get more each time. how did you cope with the constipation?

@abbs1 I was prescribed Ondansetron at week 6 and now 13+5 and still taking them, although now down to just one per day. Had a scan last week and baby was growing perfect and very active! I'd agree that I think the dehydration/lack of nutrition and tbh just the pure exhaustion brought on by the vomiting caused more harm.

In terms of constipation I have found after a couple of weeks my body has adjusted and everything has relatively return to normal (or thereabouts!). But like others recommend some laxatives, I just took some senna (herbal) tablets each night before bed :)

Like you I was only getting prescribed 2 week doses, but my doctors haven't been making me go in every time. The last couple of times they have just had a phone conversation with me and asked some questions before prescribing.

@katela18 thank you so much for advice on this. This is my second pregnancy after miscarriage so I'm just really nervous and scared. I had a scan on Monday and saw my little bub and its heartbeat which has given me a lot of hope and I just want to protect it so much and not cause any harm. I will see what the doctor advises this afternoon and go from there. Hopefully the constipation settles down then I can continue with it. I also found I was starving on it but that's probably because i finally stopped vomiting and my body is so starved it just needs food.

@abbs1 I totally understand how you are feeling, I found the first few weeks petrifying as like you I just wanted to protect my little baby and make sure nothing happened. When I was prescribed medication I felt almost guilty to be taking it, but seeing little one doing so well at my scan has helped ease some of that worry :) and I've got some quality of life back which has made me much less stressed than I was too. Fingers crossed the dr can give you something to help with constipation so you can continue getting some relief!

P.s I also had that starving feeling! So weird

@katela18 thank you so much. 🙂

I took ondansetron for 7 months in my first pregnancy, DS is absolutely fine.

As for laxatives, I had lactulose if you can get it over the counter via your DH/DP as they tend to be funny about giving it to pregnant women without a prescription.

Last pregnancy, I took Ondansetron from week 6 to 28, toddler is happy healthy little monkey.

I’ve been on Ondansetron & Metaclopromide this pregnancy.. life would just be unbearable if I didn’t take meds. I don’t think I could continue with pregnancy.

Def get yourself some laxative, I take Laxido. Does the job!

@Bol87 doctors have given me some laxatives so that's good and said it's better to continue the meds than stop and get bad again and end up in hospital again.

Like Bol87 I took Metaclopromide from 6 weeks and Ondansetron from week 10 every day right up until I gave birth - baby was perfectly healthy. I also had iron tablets which I think can also cause constipation. Managed without laxatives but I would defo go down that route rather than stopping the anti-sickness medication. For the first trimester I would try one day a week without the pills and that day was always hell.