feeling v. anxious about anti-emetic prescribed (& taken) - anyone know anything about it?

[laa]

I've just come back from the doctor's. I had stomach cramps and vomiting last night and this is the 3rd time in 10 wk. - I'm 20 wks. now. She doesn't really know why, although I had gastriis with my 2nd pregnancy a couple of times. Anyway, about 3 wks. ago I had gastro-enteritis and couldn't keep water or solids down for about 2 days and was prescribed Maxolon by another GP. He said it was fine and that if I didn't take it I would need to go to hospital for rehydration with a drip. I took it over about 3 to 4 days. Today a different GP said I shouldn't take it and that she wouldn't have prescribed it. I am now feeling slightly frantic that I've taken something that will harm my baby. I feel terrible. I've been up since 4am being sick, I've got a 3 yo and an 18 mo old to look after, as DH couldn't take any time off work and to top it all my GP seems to be suggesting that I was irresponsible for taking a product her surgery flipping well prescribed.
Has anyone taken Maxolon during pregnancy? Any professionals out there with any advice. I'm really worried.

laa, the BNF says that "metoclopramide is not known to be harmful" in pregnancy, "but manufactrurers advise use only when compelling reasons". Most manufacturers have something of the sort printed on the packets, to cover themselves- it would be unethical to teat drugs in pregnant women, so they can't prove they are safe.

Firstly severe vomiting sounds like a compelling reason to me, and secondly you only had it for a few days. There are not many drugs that a re harmful to a 20-week foetus, the majority of the important body parts are developed by then, so I doubt if the drug has done your baby any harm.

Has the second doctor given you anything else? I had Stemetil (prochlorperazine) on and off at this stage in my pregnancy, my obstetrician (who is very sensible) said that dehydration would do the baby more harm than the drug.

Try not to worry too much

SueW thankyu for all these links. I've had a good read. Stil can't help feeling worried though.

I used to work in a hospital pharmacy over 15 years ago and it was being used to treat morning sickness then....hope this helps to allay your fears.

Laa I am sorry to hear this has happened, I don't have any medical advice but I do know if it were me I would be really p*ssed off and would feel just as worried, perhaps go back to GP for another chat to try and explain your feelings?

Feel better.

I had it prescribed with all four of my pregnancies.

Aww, its horrible to be worried isn't it. I think there seems to be some doctors who just aren't updated reagarding the way drugs should be prescribed to pregnant women. I had been taking salbutamol inhalers, when I went to see a (locum) GP she told me they can cause miscarriage and refused to prescribe me one! Thought this was odd, found out from the BNF (The doctor's prescribing bible - british national formularly) that they should be prescribed with more importance during pregnancy and a consultant I work with informed me that salbutamol was actually used to stop labour, not cause miscarriages!

What I am trying to say is that there is a wide berth between some doctors knowledge. She was not the one to be present when the decision to be prescribe the drug was made. So she should not be critiscing the decision. That just causes uncertainty and distrust in one doctor or the other. The BNF does not state that it should never be given, you were unwell and many others seem to have taken it here. So please try not to worry.

PS I took anti diarrhea tablets on my hols when twelve weeks pregnant, the fact that I shouldn't didn't even cross my mind for several days , so far everything looks to be fine.

Thank you so much everyone. You've helped me feel a lot less worried. I've got my consultant appt. next wk. and my 20 wk. scan, so I think that will be a good opportunity to talk this through. I'd better go now because for some reason I just can't stop crying. Damn pregnancy hormones!