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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Promethazine (Phenergan)

14 replies

SecondhandTable · 02/02/2021 18:50

Hi, I'm pregnant with my second, only about 5 weeks or so. I had HG with my first so I've been put on promethazine sort of prophylactically to try and prevent HG this time. I've had some nausea intermittently over the last few days particularly in the evenings which I guess is the start. GP advised promethazine is likely to make me drowsy and suggested I start with one tablet before bed for a few days and then reassess and I can add in another one in the morning if necessary.

Did anyone have success on this? Did it make you very drowsy? Last time my first line treatment was cyclizine but it was totally ineffective and also knocked me out, I felt so drowsy, groggy and dizzy it made me feel even more ill, but I did have full blown HG by that point. I'm hopeful the earlier prescribing will help this time but worried about being able to work if it affects me like the cyclizine

OP posts:

Blacktothepink · 02/02/2021 18:53

I use phenergen as an occasional sleep aid, but it’s also used for travel sickness so it might work. I don’t know of anyone who’s been prescribed it in pregnancy though.

AliceThroughTheLookingGlass · 02/02/2021 18:54

I was on ondansetron and metoclopramide with my first. Now 6 weeks with my second and already on both again. The nausea is mostly suppressed but I have a real aversion to water so I'm desperately trying to find food and drinks I can tolerate otherwise I'll need to go in for IV hydration. If promethazine isn't working for you I'd definitely ask for something different. Cyclazine and promethazine made me very drowsy when I had them last time.

Original poster

SecondhandTable · 02/02/2021 19:34

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I've just picked up the prescription today so haven't actually tried it yet! Last time I didn't know any better and waited too long to seek assistance which I'm sure didn't help. I was on cyclizine initially but not until I was about 6 or 7 weeks pregnant after a whole week of vomiting. It didn't help so then after another whole week I was put on prochlorperazine which also didn't help and after another week I had to go in for IV fluids. The hospital put me on ondansetron as well as the prochlorperazine and I did see some marked improvement in reduction of frequency of vomit and being able to eat more but I was still sofa/bed bound as moving around made me dizzy and vomit still. Gradually it improved itself over time and I came off the medication. Never really found an optimum treatment but this time I'm more informed and taking guidance from the PSS charity so will be more proactive. And my GP this time round is supportive, she said if I start vomiting at all she will put me straight on to ondansetron too.

OP posts:

AliceThroughTheLookingGlass · 02/02/2021 20:06

Sounds similar to me. I'm pretty much confined to bed with dizzyness and fatigue, so I'm not sure whether even being medicated will completely fix that. Cross fingers you find a combo that works for you!

SenoraSurf · 02/02/2021 20:51

I was prescribed phenerghan with ds1 due to hg. It was great, took 1 before bed and that worked for a few weeks then at around 10 weeks pregnant I had 1 before bed and 1 after breakfast. It was like a wonder drug for me. I did find I was going to bed at 8pm and having a solid 11 hours sleep but I didn't feel compromised or excessively tired during the day.

Hope it works for you op.

Orangepeel105 · 03/02/2021 13:00

Yes I took promethazine, I think the tablets were 20mg? I found them much too strong (totally knocked me out) so I broke them down into smaller pieces. I found they took the edge off the nausea, didn't make it go away completely but I was a bit more about to cope. After a couple of weeks my body did adjust more to them and I felt less zombie-like.

Original poster

SecondhandTable · 03/02/2021 15:07

Thanks all. I have 25mg tablets. I took one last night at 9pm and felt fine, didn't feel drowsy at all and didn't end up sleeping until about 11pm or later. I feel very tired today but not groggy or drowsy, and I often feel tired so I don't think that's related. I also have had no nausea yet today at all so fingers crossed...!

OP posts:

MarieCC · 28/04/2023 09:33

Can I ask please if you all had healthy babies after taking Phenergan? I know this post is old but please could someone message.
I have had about 6 hours sleep in a few days! Really really poor sleep. Not good I know. I have suffered with chronic insomnia in the past.
Since I found out it’s been
Nerves, excitement and anxious of being 4 weeks pregnant. I know no sleep
is not good for the baby.

My doctor said it’s my choice to take Phenergan. He said it’s ok to take as there should be no adverse effects but he also said there’s no evidence to say it’s completely fine.

Original poster

SecondhandTable · 28/04/2023 11:41

MarieCC · 28/04/2023 09:33

My doctor said it’s my choice to take Phenergan. He said it’s ok to take as there should be no adverse effects but he also said there’s no evidence to say it’s completely fine.

My baby was born with what I was told was positional talipes but at 1.5 he is still nowhere near walking, so we are waiting his further assessments. I took quite a few different medications during his pregnancy as a result of severe pregnancy sickness, I don't think theres any evidence about any of them that they could be the cause of any difficulty he might be having though. I took promethazine 1-2 times daily for about a month I think, possibly less, for the sickness. Poor sleep in pregnancy is unfortunately par for the course I think tbh and your poor sleep won't be affecting your baby in any way.

OP posts:

Orangepeel105 · 28/04/2023 13:21

I took it for a couple of months during my pregnancy and have a happy, very healthy 26 month old now!

AliceThroughTheLookingGlass · 28/04/2023 14:03

I was on a cocktail of antiemetics for both my pregnancies and both my children are fine. One had recurrent glue ear (now treated) but this is highly unlikely to be related to the medication as it seems to be a family trait.

Poor sleep is a thing (I suspect hormone related!), avoid worrying about it as best you can and just rest up whenever you get a chance. I found the first and third trimester’s worst for poor sleep.

MarieCC · 28/04/2023 14:10

@Orangepeel105 thank you for this.
I think I may need to at some point but just unsure. Good to know all was ok with your baby xx

MarieCC · 28/04/2023 14:31

@AliceThroughTheLookingGlass thank you for your message. I know poor sleep can happen esp the further you go along in pregnancy. I was ok before. That’s why I’m a little worried and annoyed. So you took Phenergan aswell. It’s such a grey topic and every doctor seems to have a different opinion.
Makes you laugh they were saying that the Covid jabs were safe when they were first available and they wasn’t tried on pregnant women but have little
info about Phenergan

Carlotta27 · 01/05/2026 13:03

@MarieCC i know it’s been a while but I was wondering how you treated your first tri insomnia?

im five weeks and have barely slept in days - the anxiety keeps my heart and mind up all night

my dr also said promathezine okay if needed, but want any extra risks or anxiety …hoping all worked out well for you :)

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