erythromycin taken weeks 8-9ish in pregnancy

[Greeneyesbiglashes]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for some guidance/experiences really. I have been taking erythromycin for the past 8 days, 500mg x2 a day. I seem to have gotten on ok with them.

However, this is my first child and of course I am worried and concerned about things I am taking, eating, doing etc. to a ridiculous amount, i’ll be honest. It’s taking over but I am self referring for talking therapy.

Going back to the main point, I have read studies to say that this antibiotic can lead to a higher risk of birth defects and of course, this is today’s main worry. I am looking for some reassurance really or to hear people’s honest thoughts.

I have not taken the antibiotics today. They were prescribed for sore cystic acne.

Thanks everyone in advance

Bump

Hi OP, sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but I suffer from horrible painful cystic acne in pregnancy too, but both times have been told by my GP and MW that there is no safe treatment for it and that I would just have to put up with it. They told me I couldn't even use my mild benzoyl peroxide cream that I have always used for the odd bit of pre AF cystic acne. Did your doctor know you were pregnant when they prescribed it? I'm so sorry you're suffering with this too - it's a horrible condition - it's not just how it looks that's traumatising, it's constantly painful and miserable for months on end 😭

Phone the pharmacist and get their advice.

@SamoyedFan123 thanks for commenting. That’s pretty scary to read!!! Sorry you suffer with it too. Yes my dr knew I was pregnant :( I did tell my MW but she didn’t say anything just asked what the antibiotics were. I’m so scared i’ve caused more harm now. I’d rather have a face full of acne and have a healthy baby than not. The dr also prescribed me with benzoyl peroxide but I havent picked it up yet. Thanks for your comments though

@FelicityPike Thanks I will do

Whenever I’ve had anti biotics for acne the doctor has specifically warned me to not fall pregnant when taking them as they are dangerous for the baby. I would wait until baby is born before taking them if I was you xx

@workingmummyof2soontobe3 I have already taken them 😞 x

How long did you take them for? I’m sure the baby will be fine but I’d stop them from now or certainly get a second opinion from GP x

I took them for 8 days @workingmummyof2soontobe3 the dr said they were fine

NHS says it's usually safe during pregnancy: www.nhs.uk/medicines/erythromycin/#:~:text=It's%20usually%20safe%20to%20take,in%20Pregnancy%20(BUMPS)%20website.

Please don’t panic!! And we are so often way too OTT about the medications we will and won’t give in pregnancy. There are many great resources out there that doctors should use and just quickly checked on the British National Formulary (the medication bible) and it says erythromycin is not known to be harmful in pregnancy.

Please have a chat with your doctor if you are worried but we are careful about what we prescribe when someone is pregnant!

Thank you @Rosieposy89 and @countbackfromten

I have been absolutely beside myself with worry about what I have done to my baby. I feel like such a fool and of course trust my GP but just so worried I have done something irreversible.

Thanks for checking the BNF, I wondered if it changed anything as I am in the first trimester still 😢

Please don’t panic! Having had a quick search of the literature the evidence is that it is safe and effective throughout pregnancy. With all due respect to other posters, it is easy to panic someone about medications in pregnancy when we know from years of use that things are safe. That is why we have resources like the BNF so we can safely prescribe and make choices on medication based on the patient in front of us!

Sorry that didn’t send first time round but honestly, your doctor has used an appropriate medication that is shown in the evidence to be safe in pregnancy.

@countbackfromten thank you so much, getting so teary reading your messages (in a good way) I appreciate your expertise so much with this. You must work in the field? I thank you again for taking the time out to reassure me. I had read that it can cause an increase birth defects 😞. I so appreciate you looking into this for me. Just to ask as i’d kick myself if I didn’t ask you, does it matter what trimester you’re in?

I do completely trust my dr, it’s only because of me becoming overwhelmed with it all that I decided to google as I want this baby to be happy and healthy, clear skin really is the least of my worries in the grand scheme of things. Thanks again you have no idea how much your reassurance means to me

I’m an anaesthetist so spend a lot of time on labour ward and also get annoyed when people talk nonsense about medication and breastfeeding! If you google most drugs you will find something out there that will link it to all sorts of things!!

This study looked at women in the first trimester who had different antibiotics and the conclusion:

“This large, population-based register study did not find that exposure to erythromycin or macrolides in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with fetal cardiovascular or other malformations. These results suggest that the risk of erythromycin use during early pregnancy, if any, is low.“

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3522819/

In your first message you said that you are worrying about a lot of different things and I think seeking support from your midwife and GP is a great idea. They can refer you to the right people to help as this could become overwhelming and there are amazing mental health teams out there supporting women in pregnancy with similar worries. You aren’t alone in feeling like that but there is help and support.

Wow @countbackfromten I feel so lucky you have picked up on my thread, given what you do for work, thanks so much.

Also you mention being on the labour ward a lot so I assume you must be in a busy hospital. I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the work you do especially with Covid-19. I have the upmost respect in what you do and I am so thankful for what you are doing for our country.

Thanks re the article, before I saw your response I saw the website you mentioned which helped my mind rest a little. I had read another study which was a uk one apparently which said about the defects etc:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN20T2QS

Although I am aware I am probably seeking negative news at this point because of the anxiety I am feeling (you have made me feel better though). I work for the LA as a senior practitioner in the SEN team so I think my mind has gone into overdrive when reading reports etc.

Yes I have done a self referral for talking therapy which i’ve had before and it really helped. I told my midwife about my anxiety as well as used to be on medication however stopped this around 6 months ago.

I feel lucky to have great professionals and friends to talk to though!

Thanks again, you have no idea how much you have helped

@Greeneyesbiglashes it's very strange how different doctors say different things - I'm sure any risks are probably tiny, otherwise all HCPs would be giving the same advice. I know some types of antibiotics are very safe in pregnancy (I had multiple course of amoxicillin in my last pregnancy due to recurrent chest and sinus infections) so not sure why erythromycin would be any different. What does the leaflet in the medication box say about taking during pregnancy?

Sorry, that should have posted hours ago - can see you've had plenty of helpful answers since!

There will always be differing evidence out there for most things and it tough picking out different studies but risk is poorly communicated in such papers and there is a difference between the absolute and relative risk of something happening. Most of the time the risk is actually really small but sounds big in articles (this explains it nicely www.eufic.org/en/understanding-science/article/absolute-vs.-relative-risk-infographic).

Glad you are getting help and support and I hope you have a smooth rest of your pregnancy!

www.eufic.org/en/understanding-science/article/absolute-vs.-relative-risk-infographic

@SamoyedFan123 thanks for commenting! I have had great advice but always happy to read more positive outcomes too, so thank you. The leaflet says nothing at all about taking it in pregnancy, so was left a bit confused when I went back to check earlier today). Glad your baby was ok, that’s great news. Do you remember if you took it in the first trimester? I read in some places that it can effect the fetus when the organs are developing in the first trimester which freaked me out. I think I need to stop googling lol!

Thanks again

@countbackfromten wicked, thanks for sending that link. I’ve read through and I think I understand what you mean! The word risk I think sets alarm bells off in many people’s minds and I then find it hard to distinguish between what is likely and what’s unlikely.

Thanks again for all your help! I hope you are keeping safe and well.

@Greeneyesbiglashes tbh I had amoxicillin for the first time at 14 weeks, and then several more times up to around 32 weeks (twins delivered by EMCS at 34 weeks). Many, many people are prescribed antibiotics in pregnancy for chest and urinary infections so I never could understand why I was refused any treatment for the acne specifically. Tbh I found their attitude towards it quite dismissive, saying things like 'spots are really common in pregnancy', but as you'll know, cystic acne and 'spots' are very different things! I got to the point where I was embarrassed to leave the house and my MH really suffered, as well as the constant painful skin. I have found this pregnancy it's not quite as bad, because this time I'm only carrying one baby I presume! I also am actually really glad that we have to wear masks on the rare occasions we go anywhere because they completely hide all of the problem areas and my self confidence is much better.