Withdrawal risk in newborn due to a drug taken in pregnancy

[doxylamineXonvea]

I’m wanting advice about Xonvea. I took this last year for severe HG and it gave me psychological problems that were quite severe (apparently a rare side effect) and I had to be weaned off as became dependent very quickly. I had to terminate due to the HG then being unmanageable.

We are ttc again and I’ve been told to take the Xonvea immediately on getting a positive test and remain on it all pregnancy. but I’m too scared. I have also read that it can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns. Is there any alternative drug ? I’m so distressed about ever taking it again that I’m considering not ttc anymore. With my first I had HG and was managed with IV fluids and anti sickness drugs in hospital but they didn’t really work that well and I was told Xonvea was amazing but it made me so mentally ill.

has anyone tried anything else ?

Get a second medical opinion. I was on antidepressants during my pregnancies and babies were monitored for 3 days after birth. One had withdrawal syndroms (shaking hands) but was absolutely not in pain (only cried for milk:). I think it's important to follow doctor's advice. Ask your GP all these questions- no one on mn knows your medical history and has the knowledge to give you better advice than your GP- get a second opinion to be sure if you don't think they can answer your questions in a satisfying way.

That’s the thing I’ve asked my GP and the obstetrician and both said what happened was a rare side effect and no reason to think it would happen again? But I’m the same person and if I’m susceptible to a certain side effect surely it will be the same ? It was hell it was some kind of psychosis I think and then when I was weaned off I was shaky and couldn’t sleep and then the HG got worse and I had no other options. They don’t seem to offer any alternative treatment plan and I’m now feeling too scared to continue ttc as can’t get advice

There is a charity that supports women with HG. I can't remember the name but it definitely exists. They have a good website and a helpline too

https://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

Thankyou I will contact them

My sympathy on your awful previous experience. I had HG and it was truly miserable. Is Xonvea the only option being discussed as it's a first line medicine so not the only medication available. Can you discuss with an obstetrics consultant

Xonvea wasn't available when I had my babies and I had a brief period of being admitted to hospital for rehydration. I was prescribed ondansetron after the first line medication available at the time wasn't sufficient. It stopped most of the vomitting but the nausea was still there. It stopped at 27 weeks with my first born and 32 with the second having started at 6 weeks with both

I was on anti depressants throughout both my pregnancies and my babies needed 3 days monitoring after they were born. My daughter was in NICU but that was due to an infection not the medicine. Both are absolutely fine, happy, intelligent sweet kids after being fine during three days monitoring. I breastfed too which was my preference and may have helped reduce any withdrawal symptoms but this isn't clear.

I hope you get answers and can be offered something more suited to you. I am so sorry that you have to terminate, that must have been very hard to go through

They told me it was the new treatment and safest ? In my other pregnancy I was given cyclizine which didn’t work then admitted multiple times they had iv fluid and anti sickness but I don’t know what drug exactly it would work for 48 hrs then I’d be sick again.

You could ask if ordansetron is an option. I used this with one of my HG pregnancies, it took the edge off the sickness. It does cause constipation commonly. I also had awful headaches with it but I don’t believe everyone does.

I would want to know why you can’t just take ordansetron. It wasn’t a miracle drug for me, but it took the edge off enough. I still vomited daily, but not as much. Mostly because I took it sparingly. It gave me debilitating headaches, but that was something I could accept in exchange for being able to consume enough calories to grow my baby.

I'm really surprised you have been given the response of 'dont worry it will be fine next time'

Its likely to come down to you having to advocate really firmly/clearly for yourself

"I've considered what you said, and on balance that is not a risk I will be taking". Can you talk me through the options with X or X treatment please instead".

Treatments | Pregnancy Sickness Support https://share.google/f23ivn8uV3VS6jJLA

I’ve just been looking up ondansetron I wonder if that was what I had in my IV with my first pregnancy but I don’t remember as was pretty out of it at the time. I think I need to pause ttc till I can get a doctor to make a plan with me and be willing to prescribe something like ondansetron apparently it can’t cause psychological issues or withdrawal in either mum or baby the way doxylamine can