Upping Procardia mg??

Mrs_D_in_KY

Has anyone gone from 10 mg to 20 mg of Procardia? Has the side effects increased any?

I've been on 10 mg 4 times a day for 7 weeks now. To get me to 34 weeks my OB wants to increase the dosage to 20 mg.

Just seeing what the consensus is. Thanks in advance!

bluebird0521

I just started Procardia in the hospital. They gave me 10mg and after 20 minutes I was still contracting so they gave me another 10mg. The only thing I noticed was that I had a horrible headache, which they told me might happen. After that initial dose of 20mg I have been brought back down to 10mg every 6 hours and I haven't had a headache since. 

The nurse said the most common side effect of a higher dose is the headache. It stinks but you can take Tylenol for it. I didn't but only because I am taking so much stuff already and I wasn't comfortable with adding more.

Mrs_D_in_KY

Okay thank you. I started the 20 mg and don't feel a whole lot different now. However I'm still coming off the magnesium drip that was stopped earlier. Magnesium was started so they could administer the steroid shots for the baby's lungs.

Next hurdle is to get to 34 weeks this coming Wednesday. Here's hoping!

bluebird0521

Magnesium was awful for me. I was SO hot. I had to have them place ice packs under my neck and around my face. I seriously felt like I was on fire. The first steroid shot was also a shock for me because it burned so much...and I thought my 17P injections were bad.

You are so close to 34 weeks, I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I still have 5 weeks until I hit that milestone. I am also hoping to make it until at least 34. Good luck to you!!

Mrs_D_in_KY

Good luck to you as well! I started with preterm labor at 25 weeks. Don't lose hope!