Brethine and now on Procardia. Few questions :)

Re: Brethine and now on Procardia. Few questions :)

• TriciaandSean member

  February 2012

  I had pre-term labor around 33 weeks, 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated, and was admitted to the hospital for 48 hour observation and to get my two steroid shots. 

  While at the hospital they gave me Procardia which I took every 6 hours for 48 hours, while at the hospital. 

  They sent me home on nothing and I was back in the hospital once the medicine wore off, literally within 12 hours.  They had told me they don't like to send someone home on Procardia and it was only being used to keep me pregnant for the 48 hours needed for the steroid shots.  I'm not sure the reasoning as to why they don't like to keep you on it longer.

  Once in the hospital they gave me a shot of brethine to get it in my system quicker and then my next doses were all oral.
  

  I was sent home the next day (about 24 hours later) with a prescription for brethine that I was allowed to take every 4-6 hours. 

  This was Saturday, Tuesday I had my 34 week appointment and I had progressed to 5 cm dilated.  In all honesty I was supposed to be on bed rest, but had the urge to pee, every 2 minutes, so it was really hard for me to be on bed rest.

  By Wednesday I had progressed to 9.5 cm, and had my son later that day at 34.5 weeks. 
  

  So in my experience the brethine at home didn't really work well for me, but like I said, I wasn't doing a good job at staying on bed rest.  It's possible that the procardia would have worked better.  

  Good luck.
  

  
  

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• LilyPotter218 member

  February 2012

  TriciaandSean:

  I had pre-term labor around 33 weeks, 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated, and was admitted to the hospital for 48 hour observation and to get my two steroid shots. 

  While at the hospital they gave me Procardia which I took every 6 hours for 48 hours, while at the hospital. 

  They sent me home on nothing and I was back in the hospital once the medicine wore off, literally within 12 hours.  They had told me they don't like to send someone home on Procardia and it was only being used to keep me pregnant for the 48 hours needed for the steroid shots.  I'm not sure the reasoning as to why they don't like to keep you on it longer.

  Once in the hospital they gave me a shot of brethine to get it in my system quicker and then my next doses were all oral.
  

  I was sent home the next day (about 24 hours later) with a prescription for brethine that I was allowed to take every 4-6 hours. 

  This was Saturday, Tuesday I had my 34 week appointment and I had progressed to 5 cm dilated.  In all honesty I was supposed to be on bed rest, but had the urge to pee, every 2 minutes, so it was really hard for me to be on bed rest.

  By Wednesday I had progressed to 9.5 cm, and had my son later that day at 34.5 weeks. 
  

  So in my experience the brethine at home didn't really work well for me, but like I said, I wasn't doing a good job at staying on bed rest.  It's possible that the procardia would have worked better.  

  Good luck.
  

  Thank you for this!

  I do have a script for Brethine pill form for as needed use. Last night I went to bed with pretty regular contractions (every 7 or so minutes), I figured if I could sleep with them, they were not getting stronger and I didn't need to call. 3 pills later, they have slowed down a LOT and are very irregular now.

  My modified rest is going to be difficult. I have a really hard time sitting and delegating. Sitting at work is easy! It's when I get home that will be a challenge. I just have to keep telling myself I NEED to rest! 

  I guess the true test will be my appointment next week! I have enough of the meds to get me to 35+3.  

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• TriciaandSean member

  February 2012

  Good luck.  Fingers crossed you can make it until at least 36 weeks.  The good news is that you aren't dilated yet. 
  

  
  

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• iristony member

  February 2012

  I went on procardia when I was hospitalized at 24 weeks having contractions 2-3 min apart, I was fully effaced and 1 cm dialated for 5 weeks.  The procardia kept my baby baking for those 5 weeks (3.5 wks in hospital and 1.5 at home).  Also, the dizziness and flushing goes away eventually.  I forget how long it took- maybe a week or so.  Also, if it is really bad they may be able to lower dosage.  At one point it was making me so flush and I felt like I was having a heart attack so they lowered my dosage and I still kept baby baking!  Best of luck to you.

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• wordtothewise

  February 2012

  I started procardia at 27 weeks for ptl. I was 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced. My baby was born at 30 weeks. In the interim, I was in the hospital on bedrest (allowed to get up for 5 min shower and to use the restroom). I continued to take the procardia up until the morning of my c-section. The side effects should subside after about a week. Are you monitoring your bp to make sure it isn't getting too low? Mine got pretty low (but my normal bp is usually low). Good luck! I hope you are able to keep that baby baking for many more weeks

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• LilyPotter218 member

  February 2012

  wordtothewise:

  I started procardia at 27 weeks for ptl. I was 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced. My baby was born at 30 weeks. In the interim, I was in the hospital on bedrest (allowed to get up for 5 min shower and to use the restroom). I continued to take the procardia up until the morning of my c-section. The side effects should subside after about a week. Are you monitoring your bp to make sure it isn't getting too low? Mine got pretty low (but my normal bp is usually low). Good luck! I hope you are able to keep that baby baking for many more weeks

  They didn't mention monitoring BP. It has been really normal the entire time so now I'm wondering if I should be.

  I assume low BP could have something to do with the dizziness and feeling lightheaded. Thanks for the heads up on that one!

  Thanks for the input and well wishes  

  <a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa329/lilypotter2181980/?action=view

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• wordtothewise

  February 2012

  LilyPotter218:

  wordtothewise:

  I started procardia at 27 weeks for ptl. I was 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced. My baby was born at 30 weeks. In the interim, I was in the hospital on bedrest (allowed to get up for 5 min shower and to use the restroom). I continued to take the procardia up until the morning of my c-section. The side effects should subside after about a week. Are you monitoring your bp to make sure it isn't getting too low? Mine got pretty low (but my normal bp is usually low). Good luck! I hope you are able to keep that baby baking for many more weeks

  They didn't mention monitoring BP. It has been really normal the entire time so now I'm wondering if I should be.

  I assume low BP could have something to do with the dizziness and feeling lightheaded. Thanks for the heads up on that one!

  Thanks for the input and well wishes  

  It is actually a bp drug that is used off-label for ptl. It definitely can cause your bp to drop and make you feel woozy. My bp was checked each time I got a dose. If it was too low, they wouldn't let me take it. If mine was lower than 90/60 I couldn't take it. Good luck!

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• ardilla member

  February 2012

  I went into PTL at 22w1d, was on mag sulfate IV plus terbutaline injections and oral procardia, hospital bound....at 27w they got me off the mag and onto oral terbutaline while still taking procardia (plus terb injects as necessary) . At 29w they let me go home on full bedrest, on just the oral meds. Discontinued meds at 36w0d and delivered that night. My case is probably exaggerated due to being a twin pregnancy. I do remember the side effects of all the meds decreased over time. As a PP mentioned, I was required to monitor my BP while on the meds. Best wishes to keep LO cooking awhile longer!

  After 20 months TTC with PCOS, we were blessed with twins!
  They arrived at 36 weeks after PTL and bedrest for 14 weeks.
  
  

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