Hyperemsis medication

[Dizzysheep]

Hi all how have you found your medication I’ve been given cyclizine and metochlopromide neither have worked so now the doc has given me odanzepran (can’t spell them properly sorry) but these are linked to defects and I’m really concerned about taking them I spoke to the doc who said nothing is really safe but I have to function so if I want just take these when I’m really bad and carry on with the cyclizine and these can be taken together. Has anyone else been told this or have concerns over the odanzepran?

Do you mean Ondansetron?

If so, how many weeks are you? I was on this in both pregnancies, the risks are linked to taking it pre-10/12 weeks, but even then they’re very small risks. Have a look on the Pregnancy Sickness Support charity website, they’ve lots of good information regarding it. If you do decide to take it (I did) make sure you’ve got lactulose or similar, as the side effects can be pretty grim too. But it enabled me to get my life back.

Sending love, hyperemesis is the absolute worst

Hi Dizzysheep,

I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering with hyperemesis — it is really, really tough. I had the same with my pregnancy and I tried multiple medications (none of which helped) in the early days. I eventually pushed for Ondansetron and after reading up about the risks, I decided to start taking it after 10 weeks. Ondansetron worked a treat for me — it stopped most of the vomiting and helped me to eat and drink again. I was nervous before my scans but baby was absolutely fine and he’s here sleeping on my lap right now, healthy as can be!

As the PP said, have a look at the Pregnancy Sickness Support website and maybe join their forum — I went there often for support and advice throughout my pregnancy.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

I’m only 8 weeks I’ve just spoken to the midwife who said she’s not happy they’ve prescribed it so I’m going to persevere with the cyclizine for now thanks ladies

Hiya I tried both of those and now on ondansetron at 13 weeks which has finally really helped and the sickness has subsided. As pp said though lactulose or similar is a must I was in agony last night with bowel issues due to not taking it soon enough x

That's really bad advice from your midwife- if you need it to stay well then it's appropriate for you to have been offered it. The ondansetron data suggests that it might cause cleft lip and palate in about 1 in every 3,000 babies who are exposed to it in the womb. The risk is tiny and depending on how unwell you are, the benefits of taking it might outweigh these small risks. Your midwife or doctor should have talked this through with you

I took it from about 7 weeks to 26 weeks, baby is totally fine and healthy.
There is a great video on the pregnancy sickness support website about ondanseton, I don't think the cleft palate study is very reliable.

Well doctor rang me out of the blue this morning saying they spent all evening researching it and they’re now prescribing me stemetil which I’m a bit more comfortable with, @bunhead34 that does make me feel a lot better you took it from so early. Thank you all ladies 🙂

@Dizzysheep im so sorry your suffering from hg. If its any comfort to you in my previous pregnancy I was started on ondansatron injection and IV in hospital (tablets at home) from 7+4 and was on the IV stuff for months along with IV fluids. I also had metoclopromide and then steroids and baby was fine.
This time I was prescribed Xonvea from 5 weeks pregnant and its helped me so much. Minimal sickness.
Can you ask your Dr to try it?
Also my hospital said that ondansatron is the main medication given to any hg sufferers that go into hospital for fluids and antisickness medication.

@Dizzysheep I forgot to add under the pregnancy thread there should be one for Hyperemesis Support which is very helpful and got me through my first pregnancy.

First pregnancy:
Cyclizine from 5 weeks
Metoclopramide tried at 9 weeks ended up in hospital within hours as it did so little.
Ondansetron given in hospital (by obstetrician) at 9 weeks, worked brilliantly but GP reluctant to prescribe so I landed back in hospital. Then got hospital prescription for ondansetron until GP was happy to prescribe.

Pregnancy 2:
Found I was pregnant at 4 weeks and spoke to GP straight away to get a plan in place. Cyclizine to start then stepping up to stemetil. GP liaised with consultant from my previous pregnancy who basically said they were happy for me to have ondansteron when I wanted it. I started it at 8 weeks this time and wasn’t admitted to hospital at all.

The chance of birth defects from ondansetron is incredibly, incredibly low. And the birth defect associated with ondansetron is a minimal cleft palate. I have even read research that has suggested that the increased chance of birth defects doesn’t come from the ondansetron but from the fact that to have been prescribed it in the first place you will have been incredibly ill and likely malnourished which could have an adverse effect on the foetus.