Spiraling out of control...

izzetoot

Sorry if this is a little AW-ish, but I am at a loss! My OB prescribed me Zofran and Dicglergis for nausea.  I opted to not take the Zofran until after the first tri so I have been taking Diclergis for about 2 weeks.  But I cannot function for half the day on this drug! I feel like when I wake up I have just drunk half a bottle of Nyquil and I can hardly function to work, take care of LO or just feel normal until the afternoon. I took a Zofran on Sunday bc we were going to a Superbowl party and I knew we'd be there for hours and I just wanted to not feel like crap the whole time.  That night I forgot to take Diclergis before bed and the next day I felt amazing until around 6pm.  Then it was downhill until about 3am last night so I took a Diclergis and today I am a complete zombie.  I had to reschedule my work appts bc I don't feel safe to even drive a car right now. To add to the drama, DH is working overtime for some big events this month so is extra exhausted and my LO refuses to sleep through the night, getting up at least twice until we cave and let him sleep with us. Neither of us have slept for longer than 2hrs straight for over 3 weeks.   I don't know if I really have a questions here, just about to lose it and need some advice.  I'd almost rather be nauseous from 6pm on vs feeling drugged up an useless for the entire day. I have less than 3 weeks left of first tri and then I guess it's safe to take Zofran?  

tieragonz

I don't have any advise for you, but I feel your pain! I have never been this sick in my entire life. I feel like vomiting all day, every day. The only thing that makes me feel any better at all is to eat, but every time I try to eat, I throw up! I haven't been to the doctor for an official appointment yet, so I haven't even looked into medication. But I know several ladies who have taken Zofran in the past and swear by it. I didn't know you weren't supposed to take it until 2nd trimester. Good luck getting through this!

AnnaS930

Here's the current thoughts on Zofran... I'm not sure if maybe knowing that the warnings are mostly limited to the first tri will give you the light at the end of the tunnel of "surviving" to tri 2 when you will have a possible mode of relief:

Teratogenic effects were not observed in animal reproduction studies. Ondansetron readily crosses the human placenta in the first trimester of pregnancy and can be detected in fetal tissue (Siu, 2006). The use of ondansetron for the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) has been evaluated. Although a significant increase in birth defects has not been described in case reports and some studies (Ferreira, 2012; Pasternak, 2013), other studies have shown a possible association with ondansetron exposure and adverse fetal events (Anderka, 2012; Einarson, 2004). Additional studies are needed to determine safety to the fetus, particularly during the first trimester. Based on available data, use is generally reserved for severe NVP (hyperemesis gravidarum) or when conventional treatments are not effective.

As a pharmacist I'm still a bit up in the air with the use of zofran in the first trimester and agree with you that limiting the use as much as possible really in your best interest.  That being said - I had just 1 day of extreme nausea and vomiting with food poisoning and said again and again "I don't know how those with severe morning sickness do this".  I am sorry you're going through that and I really hope that hormones level out and the nausea subsides soon!!!

izzetoot

Thanks ladies I've only taken Zofran twice since I've had it.  And my OB set me back by 5 days with my due date so the first tri will be over in about 16-17 days. My sister had terrible nausea throughout her entire pregnancy and while I had none with my first, I'm fearing I will be just like her with this one.  This stupid diclergis is awful and expensive! $40 with insurance for 30 pills (Im assuming they are taking advantage of being the only 'safe' drug for pregnant women to take in first tri) But yeah, it's just not worth it to me to risk the zofran. I just want to crawl into a cave until I can start taking it

sunshinern96

I started with 2 pills of the diclegis at 6 weeks which is what my doctor recommended. The next day I was literally snowed until 6 pm. My lips were numb, I actually drooled on myself a couple times when I thought I was awake, and I literally could not function at all. It was scary actually and I still had to somehow take care of my 2 year old! So the next night I took just one pill before bed and have been doing that ever since. It does not totally alleviate my nausea--it is still there for most of the day. But it takes the edge off. I just could not function at all taking the two pills. My nausea was gone but I was a total zombie and it was scary! 

If my nausea was still terrible taking the one pill, I would probably just ask for Zofran and take it when I needed to. I am a nurse and so I know on the days that I work I have to have my nausea under control to function and take good care of my patients. Of course this is not medical advice--just my own opinion! But nausea can be totally debilitating and I think you have to be able to function in life! So for me, if I needed to go to the Zofran, I would do it, and my OB agrees. But every situation and OB is different! It is hard to know what to do...I hope you feel better soon :-( 

AnnaS930

Can you believe that the Diclegis labeling goes up to "If not controlled by day 4, increase to 1 in the morning, 1 midafternoon and 2 in the evening"?!?!  I can't even imagine.  It's definitely the doxylamine that's making you feel that way - it's very similar to Benadryl which can do the same thing. Is your husband home during the evening? Does it knock you right out with exhaustion or could you possibly try to push the dose earlier so that maybe you'd feel less zombi-like the following day?

mamajen10414

Is there anyway you can take half the dosage? Maybe take it earlier in the evening so hopefully it wears off by morning? I'm sorry your going through this, I hope things get better sooner rather than later!

sunshinern96

@AnnaS930 I read that and I told DH I am sure I would end up in the ER if I took 4 pills of that stuff! I can only handle 1 a day before bed.

TheTamedShrew

Take the zofran. I started taking about half a pill a day around 11 weeks when I was pregnant with DD (I'm not sure of the actual dosage in each pill). I took the same amount every morning from then until 20 weeks and it kept my nausea away completely. DD is perfectly healthy. I think the benefit outweighs the risk in your case. Maybe just don't take a whole pill for a couple more weeks. I'm not a doctor obviously so this is just my opinion. I think you'll be fine taking it now.

AnnaS930

@sunshinern96 - Trust me, as a pharmacist who approved medications beyond dosage limits as part of my job, you wouldn't BELIEVE the amounts of meds some people can tolerate/have built up a tolerance too - especially pain meds. And you think to yourself "1/2 of 1 of those would have me on the floor - this person is somehow functioning on 10 a day!"

sunshinern96

@AnnaS930 I can believe it!! I am a nurse on a mother/baby floor and we have had patients who have been able to get approved for big doses of Percocet because they are used to taking such high doses for chronic pain. They are fine, of course, because their bodies are used to it. They are up talking on the phone and eating lunch and I'm just thinking man I would be passed out on the floor with such a high dose! It's amazing how different everyone's bodies are.

AnnaS930

@sunshinern96 - I thought that might be the case with your user name (I'm awful at remembering everyone's intro stories, etc this early on in a BMB if you had already mentioned it!). Healthcare is a wild field.

Knottie1441289936

@izzetoot My OB encouraged NO Zofran until 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, this OB and the OB triage nurse apparently say it's OK. I have an existing Rx for Zofran due to some pre-pregnancy GI issues, but I'm trying to hold off in the meantime, because Dicelgis or whatever makes me feel crappy like that, too.


(8w0d)

izzetoot

Ive been taking only 1 pill around 10pm bc it says to take it before bedtime on an empty stomach.  So I wait about 2-3 hrs after dinner to take it.  I took 2 last night bc I woke up at 3 to a crying LO, barfed, and took the 2nd one.  There is NO WAY I could take 4! That is insane!! Maybe Ill take one a few hours before dinner and see if it wears off by morning that way.

JessicaC0203

have you tried phenergan (Promethazine)? That is a safe option in pregnancy. It can make some people drowsy but others tolerate it well especially if just taken a night. It is an old medicine so not many people think about it but has been used in pregnancy for decades. It is my go to for patients.

reesaXden

I'm sorry you are going through this.  I'm right there with you, unfortunately.  
I have never been so sick in all my life. I hope it passes quickly for all of us.  

rfrazier611

Another vote for phenergan!  It's not fun to take (it's a suppository) but it changed me from a sobbing, retching mess on the floor to an upright, semi-functional human being again.  I still feel like crap, but it's manageable crap.

izzetoot

At this point I would put (almost) anything in my butt to feel normal again  Ill ask OB about it at my next appt!

JessicaC0203

You do not have to take it via rectum. It also comes in pills and injections. If you cannot hold pills down then I would recommend the suppository but if you can, then pills should work just as well. FYI.

rfrazier611

JessicaC0203 said:

You do not have to take it via rectum. It also comes in pills and injections. If you cannot hold pills down then I would recommend the suppository but if you can, then pills should work just as well. FYI.

Well damn.  I think I'll call my ob tomorrow and ask for the non butt version of phenergan.

homebird

Huh. I've taken zofran through all three pregnancies and not once has my doctor/midwife blinked an eye about it (and I've had three different OBs). All I know is that it's a lifesaver for me. Minus the terrible constipation, haha.

Rebelyelle

I couldn't function without Zofran, for both this pregnancy and my first. But, I understand the caution. I only take one a day to get me through my work day. It's not a magic cure, but it takes the edge off. That plus B6 three times/day and a Unisom at night, and I can function okay. My OB was pretty confident that taking just the one dose of Zofran/day (instead of 3) would help mitigate any risk to a very very low level. 

AshleySparkle720

With DD I was taking a mix of anti nausea meds just to be able to drink water. It was horrible and I was easily sleeping 18 hours a day. I couldn't stay awake, couldn't eat, couldn't work, and it was horrible. Once we figured out the right mix it was smooth sailing for me! I hope you're able to talk to your doctor and decide what will work best for you and your body.

Glas43

My OB said no zofran until after 20 weeks. I hope you feel better soon!

izzetoot

Update! So last night I took diclergis around 8pm, went to bed around 11pm  and slept until 9am. DS only woke up once and best hubby ever took care of him so I slept right on through it. This morning I felt great! Around 6pm I started to get nauseous at the store, raced home and chilled on the couch for a few hours. No barfing! And I took another pill tonight at 8pm. Thanks for the suggestion of taking it earlier! That along with adequate sleep I think is really helping!

AnnaS930

@izzetoot - YES! Happy for you!!  Also.. nausea is such a weird actual and also mental symptom. Sometimes just getting past the worst of it will help turn everything around.  Thinking happy thoughts for you!

eightynine

Hi, yes, same! I am sick constantly without Diclegis. But with it I am a zombie-- although I've been taking it for a week and I do feel that my body has adjusted, somewhat. It was worse in the beginning. I was at first taking two before bed as prescribed; I could not wake up.  So I started taking one around dinner time and one around bed time. I'm still very tired but I can function.

I'll take another in the morning if I need it and, very occasionally, one in the afternoon. When I do have to take all 4, I am totally out of it all day. It sucks. But not as bad as nausea and vomiting all day!

msmossie

I cannot function at work with diclegis. It makes me way too sleepy and my brain can barely process anything. I'm often working in court dealing with high pressure situations so it just didn't work for me. I need to be able to string a sentence together  My midwife has no issue with zofran. I don't take it everyday and if I do, I take only one. I also take a Vitamin B supplement which is helpful.

guitarra1614

My doctor prescribed me Zofran at 9 weeks. It was a life saver and got me actually functioning again.  I was really sick and the medication helped me get over my nausea and got me out of the house!  It also helped me get out of a nasty depressive episode.  (I know the drug is not an anti-depressant, but it helped all the same.) It sounds like some doctors disagree, but I will trust mine!  I think that's what everyone has to do.  Trust your own doctor and your own instincts. 

chetna1509

My doc prescribed Metoclopramide.. and says its very safe. I had my reservations initially but the day I don't take it I can't keep down any food or drink. That worries me even more. 
Just waiting to get to 2nd trimester!!