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Pregnancy

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

Anyone taken Buccastem 3 mg for morning sickness

17 replies

whippybamboo · 18/12/2009 15:35

Hi there,

Has anyone taken Buccastem 3mg tablets for morning sickness. I am about 10 1/2 weeks pregnant ans since 6 weeks have been feeling absoulutely terrible with morning sickness, or rather all day sickness. I can hardly eat as I can't get it down, I find it hard to drink. Sometimes I am sick all day, and all I can really do is lie in bed, I have had to be signed off work. It is pretty horrible and miserable.
Anyway the doctor prescribed me Buccastem 3mg tablets (prochlorperazine maleate), and she has said that it is 100% safe in pregnancy, and she has said I should take it just so I can eat food as I keep waking up at 3 in the morning starving hungry ( I swear morning sickness is a good way to lose weight!). I have held off and held off, as I am reluctant to take anything but yesterday was so awful and I was so sick that I felt desperate and now I think I might take them. has anyone any advice or info? Have you or are you taking Buccastem? Have you had a baby after taking Buccastem? Baby alright?

Any help very appreciated!!!

OP posts:
whippybamboo · 18/12/2009 15:54

Please anyone...desperate!!

OP posts:
babblington · 18/12/2009 16:29

took them for vertigo when I was pregnant and breastfeeding and all been absolutely fine.

bigpreggybelly · 18/12/2009 17:30

I took it once for gastroenteritis - found it to be evil stuff. I stopped throwing up but felt sooooo nauseous. Didn't agree with me at all.

Try it though, if your doc says its safe - you may find it helps.

Bexybear · 18/12/2009 19:59

Hi wippy not heard of buccastem, i was on cyclazine and then metacloprimide neither worked fantastically but there are lots of drugs out that are ok. If buccastem dosnt work ask to try a different one - also check previous ms posts... I remember several recomendations for avomine. Dont suffer needlessly ms is hell

pecanpie · 19/12/2009 20:16

Yes I took this about 10 weeks ago when I was around 20 weeks pregnant. Didn't really help me at all. I did take a lot of advice including from my consultant's team at my hospital and all have said it's as safe as it can be. It's worth taking something until the sickness subsides because otherwise you can end up getting very ill/weak at the very least.

Cyclizine worked in the end for me so you could ask the doctor about that, but it can make you really tired (it's an anti-histamine). I'm guessing the reason for prescribing buccastem is that it dissolves rather than you having to swallow - i.e. you're less likely to be sick after taking it but before it starts to work.

I hope you start to feel better soon!

westlondongirl · 20/12/2009 07:41

I did take this for severe morning sickness but found it fairly ineffective. Cyclizine worked better for me. Both are safe in pregnancy as far as I know and i'm sure the doctor wouldn't prescribe it if not. I am 30 weeks pregnant now and took those meds in 1st trimester, baby is developing normally and kicks like crazy. Personally having felt as you did I would try the meds. Hopefully it will ease in a few weeks. Good luck!

ShiriDoula · 20/12/2009 08:14

As far as I know it is unsafe to take it during pregnancy.... and anyway, there is NO SUCH THING as a drug that is 100% safe. As far as I know, it can cause liver defects and other problems- do contact your GP (or GYNEA) for further explanations...Having said that, you should be treated for your hyperemesis (throwing up too much)- but your GP shouldn't hand out that drug as if it were lollies...

and just so you'd know I didn't make it up
this is a quote from the medicine's leaflet-

Prochlorperazine maleate is not safe to take if you are, or are planning to become, pregnant.

It is sensible to limit use of medication during pregnancy whenever possible. However, your doctor may decide that the benefits outweigh the risks in individual circumstances and after a careful assessment of your specific health situation.

If you have any doubts or concerns you are advised to discuss the medicine with your doctor or pharmacist.

lunaestellina · 20/12/2009 08:35

I also had really bad all day sickness with DS2 it was extra hard because I was looking after my 18 month old aswell, the doctor never suggested any drugs though, the only thing I found helped was a hot not very milky but very sweet cup of tea, i hated tea before I got pregnant now I drink it every day! If your nearly 11 weeks you should start feeling better in the next few weeks hopefully so maybe just try and hold off taking it. Its a bloody awful feeling though. Good Luck!

whippybamboo · 21/12/2009 19:38

Thanks so much for all your reponses....Shiridoula I am surprised that Buccastem is unsafe as my doctor assured me it was perfectly safe....anyhow, I tried it and it made more sick and I threw up, then the whole of my jaw became swollen! So I WON'T be taking that again....sigh, is there anything that will help.

Also I've been a bit worried as I've been trying to take a pregncare vitamin everyday, but sometimes I just cannot get it down me at all. How can I get the folic acid in my body...

OP posts:
FlowerBee · 28/12/2009 18:12

No drug is technically "safe" in pregnancy as drug companies can't do proper trials in pregnant women. Most drugs that are prescribed are tested in pregnant animals, have no forseable pharmacological effects that could harm a growing fetus, and have few or no reported complications/reactions when initially prescribed to pregnant patients.

This is reflected in the "cascade" or order of prescription of drugs, which is based on 1. risk of side effects, 2. cost to the NHS (and 3. the doctors familiarity/preference for prescribing said drug).

For Hyperemesis, the cascade is usually as follows (according to my Gynaecology Regristrar Friend)...promethazine, cyclizine, prochlorperazine (Stemetil/Buccastem is the trade name), metoclopramide, domperidone, and lastly ondansteron/ondansetron - these are all the actual drug names, they may have different trade names.

No one can be 100% sure that these drugs will definitely not cause any problems to your baby ? BUT ? what will definitely cause a problem is UNTREATED DEHDRATION and ion imbalances, not only for your baby but also for you.

Your doctor will test you for dehydration based on your blood pressure, heart rate, and the levels of KETONES in your urine.

I had Hyperemesis from week 5 and a half to week 10/11 and was hospitalized and put on a drip 3 times and given all of the above drugs (the only one which stopped the vomiting was Ondansteron?. until the next bout of vomiting!), and last week I had my nuchal and dating scan. On the scan was a very healthy looking fetus waving its arms and legs, with perfectly developed spinal cord (despite me not keeping down folic acid for weeks), nasal bones, heart and other organs.

I still feel nauseous and knackered all the time and occasionally have days where I vomit 2/3 times and can?t eat anything but I?m a lot better than I was.

FlowerBee · 28/12/2009 19:12

BTW by "DEHDRATION" i don't mean just run of the mill "thirsty" i mean proper dehydration that your doctor will better be able to identify.

For me i'd recognise it after a day of vomiting more than 12 times, being extremely lethargic, slightly faint, unable to concentrate, a furry tongue, and very dark small volumes of urine (sometimes orange coloured).

DefNotYummyMummy · 15/01/2010 07:22

Took this from week 7-16 in last pregnancy. Baby fine. Didn't have a choice as felt so bloody awful and was one step away from being hospitalised. For me it helps the vomiting (not the nausea).

Am pregnant again and taking it again. Still feel bloody awful now at almost 12 weeks. Hopefully just another 4 weeks of this hell. Time goes so slowly.

It makes me nervous, but there's nothing else I can do - the alternative is unbearable. Just have to hope my scan goes OK.

vanloadtovenice · 15/01/2010 09:10

Look, I've had hyperemisis now with 3 pregnancies. With the first I wasn't offered any drugs, and it remained undiagnosed. Frankly, I don't think that was a good thing. I spent weeks 4-24 on the sofa, and lost a stone and a half. I'm pretty cross in hindsight that more wasn't done to help me.

2nd pregnancy - same start, moved in with in-laws as couldn't look after dd, who seems absolutely perfect thankfully. Enlightened GP did acupuncture 3x week, which stopped vomiting, but left nausea. Again dd2 super.

Am now pregnant again, some years later. Went downhill fast, and made decision to take any meds they could offer me, so that I could at least help to look after my children. Ended up in hospital at 7 weeks, and am now on Ondansetron and ranitidine. I'm taking these drugs because I need to, not because I would ever choose to.

If you think this sounds similar to you, pls get help, there are lots of drugs they can try. Ondansetron is 1st line for hyperemisis in the States, so hundreds of women take it there. I think it's only not here due to cost, so do push for it if your sickness doesn't stop/improve with anything else.

You are not alone!

angelajely · 24/11/2011 11:51

Hi whippet bamboo! This is exactly what i'm like and have just been signed off and prescribed those tablets today. I am currently trying to dissolve one now. We have battled through endless rounds of fertility treatment so I am reluctant to take anything risky but the sickness is getting me down so much that I'm sitting and crying cos of it. We do know that we are expecting twins and keep getting told to expect it to be worse. I think that may also be why my dr was so sympathetic. I'm going to take them when I'm desperate but not rely on them. Also having to take gaviscon as acid reflux is making me sick every hour or so too! Walking chemist. Hope all is going well for you. X

angelajely · 24/11/2011 11:52

Sorry predictive text. Was all ok with your little one?

VivaLeBeaver · 24/11/2011 12:04

I took it for a few weeks but didn't find it helped so went onto cyclizine which helped a bit. Tis was 11 years ago so they've been used for a long time. Ondansetron is definetly the best anti emetic available.

Eating little and often is meant to help with hyperemesis, try to avoid swings in blood sugar levels.

VivaLeBeaver · 24/11/2011 12:05

Ah, old thread.

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