Prescription medication during pregnancy - Page 2

[mediumcrunch]

My Flexeril scrip is 10 mg every 6 hours as needed, which I believe is the standard dosing. I take one every night and once in a while another during the day.
Unisom is another option for you for OTC sleep aid. Doxylamine succinate. You can't get a much more studied drug in pregnancy.

[Arianwen1174]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

its May-Rin (the little girly in my tummys name when she finally comes out in august/september!)

I think when it comes to necessity... and benefits vs. risk... it is up to a woman and her doctor to decide, no one else. If you feel they are necessary to take (and obviously you do) then they ARE.


I do have a question though since this thread mentions it a lot

May I ask what dosages of Flexeril you ladies are taking?

I was given a low dose, so low that my insurance does not even cover it and I had to get a higher dose and split them in half to take them!

They are not knocking me out as intended and I want to ask my doctor if its possible to up my dosage, but if none of you are even comfortable taking a higher dose than what I was prescribed I wont even bother and will just ask to be put back on the benedryl! (I had some work done today and the pain is a lot more tolerable, though still present, so I think the benedryl may do the trick again... but the flexeril is supposed to help with my RLS as well... with a 4 year old and 7 year old and nearly 6 months pregnant I cant afford to keep missing out on sleep)

Ah, now I see why some ladies call you Mae. Thanks!

I take 10 mg tabs of Flexeril, I think it's prescribed up to 3 times a day. Even if it doesn't knock you out, you may want to give it a chance to help with the RLS. Hope it helps!

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

I do have a question though since this thread mentions it a lot

May I ask what dosages of Flexeril you ladies are taking?

I was given a low dose, so low that my insurance does not even cover it and I had to get a higher dose and split them in half to take them!

They are not knocking me out as intended and I want to ask my doctor if its possible to up my dosage, but if none of you are even comfortable taking a higher dose than what I was prescribed I wont even bother and will just ask to be put back on the benedryl! (I had some work done today and the pain is a lot more tolerable, though still present, so I think the benedryl may do the trick again... but the flexeril is supposed to help with my RLS as well... with a 4 year old and 7 year old and nearly 6 months pregnant I cant afford to keep missing out on sleep)

I understand completely about the sleep thing. When I was younger my body would sometimes become so overwhelmed by the pain that I couldn't function, couldn't fall asleep, couldn't breathe without being completely overcome by it all. Thankfully, this happens only rarely now, but when it does it knocks me flat on my butt and takes quite a bit of time to get over. I can't imagine doing it with two kids to take care of and another on the way. Props to you. You're SuperMae! Faster than a child's tantrum, more powerful than a glare from Dad, able to clean up large messes in a single swipe!

My Flexeril dosage is 10 mg three time a day, but I generally only take one in the morning, sometimes another at night if it's been a particularly hard day. I agree with whoever said that I think that's the standard "highest" dosage for it.

The Flexeril is what saved me years ago when I was bouncing between different pain medication options - I tried everything just about: morphine patches (ate up my skin, made me moody and hard to deal with); methadone (did nothing for me); morf sulf, morphine in pill form (it helped some, but not enough to justify it's disadvantages), and so many more.

I got so tired of switching because every time I would, I'd go through withdrawal. Talk about taking someone's pain and cranking it up about twenty or so notches. Flexeril carried me through that last rough patch. For some people it can take a little while to "sink in," if you will so I'd give it a chance, if you feel it's possible.

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

before i got pregnant i took: advair (asthma), zyrtec (allergies), albuterol (asthma - as needed), and atenolol (skipped/early heartbeats and migraines).

the only one i stopped was atenolol (class D). luckily my symptoms of both issues were better during preg- otherwise we would have been finding something else for that, for sure

It's so great that your symptoms haven't been causing you trouble! Very awesome.

I was so surprised to find out that only two of my medications were class D: the Klonopin (which I am going to continue with - I take a very mild dose only once a day. It's benefit over risk in action here) and my blood pressure medication, Vasotec, which is class C during the first trimester, but class D during both the second and third. With all my other health issues it's not worth the risk of not having me on something to control it, so that's why I'm on Procardia now - today was the first dose as a matter of fact. We'll see how it goes.

Originally Posted by Arianwen1174

Makes me feel a lot better hearing from others, too. And I'm so sorry about all your health issues! You and I have too much in common there.

I have to tell you, I was ever so wary when I posted this. I was afraid of being demonized, but the exact opposite has happened. I didn't know it was possible to feel so connected to people through a computer screen. I heart all you ladies. I'm still kicking myself over not having come here sooner. It's like a love fest in here!

Although, I completely agree that it bites - hard - that we have so many health issues. It's almost enough to send you right back into the "why me's?" isn't it?

[Arianwen1174]

Originally Posted by paintedfire

I have to tell you, I was ever so wary when I posted this. I was afraid of being demonized, but the exact opposite has happened. I didn't know it was possible to feel so connected to people through a computer screen. I heart all you ladies. I'm still kicking myself over not having come here sooner. It's like a love fest in here!

Although, I completely agree that it bites - hard - that we have so many health issues. It's almost enough to send you right back into the "why me's?" isn't it?

Thanks for making me smile big tonight! (And ROFL about SuperMae!)

[MaerynPearl]

lol thanks

Ill call my doctor later (on the way to the hospital to pick my gramma up in a few, she had some tests done today she cant drive after doing as they make her sleepy)

Hopefully she will let me take the 10 as she put me on 5 and all the 5 does is makes things a little fuzzy.

[luckiest]

pre-pregnancy i was on three meds for rheumatoid arthritis: plaquenil, imuran, and humira. i stopped taking the plaquenil and imuran when i found out i was pregnant, and although i stopped the humira it stays in your system for about ten weeks.

my RA is fairly mild, on the relative scale, so i'm hoping that i get a bit of a remission that will keep me comfortable.

to the OP, will your lupus subside with the pregnancy, since it's an autoimmune condition? i think i read that something like 80% of women with autoimmune diseases get some degree of remission while they're pregnant, which can help with going of/decreasing meds.

post-pregnancy, i'll probably go back on humira alone. it's an injectable, very little passes into breastmilk and the little that does isn't readily absorbed through the gut.

to the OP, we do what we have to, and we can't beat ourselves up over it.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by luckiest

to the OP, will your lupus subside with the pregnancy, since it's an autoimmune condition? i think i read that something like 80% of women with autoimmune diseases get some degree of remission while they're pregnant, which can help with going of/decreasing meds.

I know that multiple sclerosis has a good chance of going into remission during pregnancy, but lupus doesn't go into remission for anything that doctors can really pinpoint. It's completely random.

My lupus has NEVER gone into full remission. I've had periods where I haven't been as affected, but there's always something going on.

My best bet is to stay on my meds, eat well, and try and stay active and calm.

[LisaJP]

I wanted to say thank you to all of you too for sharing.

I am 38 and will be 39 (!!) in August, and my dd turned 3 in Feb. I would like to get pregnant again, but I too suffer from anxiety/depression and had been taking Lexapro 10 mg since Jan 09.

A friend from college writes a daily blog Beyond Blue and just published her memoir under the same name. To make a long story short, I learned a lesson from her and made an appt with a diff psych in downtown Chicago - about an hour away.

I made the mistake of going with my RN educated mom, who thought it was a good thing I was going to see a new psych, but totally misunderstood what a pysch does. The trip back to my parents' house in the burbs was hell: she proceeded to tell me that she would be very disappointed to hear I was pregnant, and you mean to tell me that that dr would give you meds while you're pregnant??!! Bill would never allow that, he doesn't even like you to have coffee!!! Ahhhh!! I love my mother, but she has her moments!

So that was on May 7th. The dr rec Zoloft since I'd like to get pg soon, instead of Pristiq. My migraine dr here in Rockford rec Pristiq for the migraines, but since it's a newer drug, it could me risky. So what happened? I ended up taking half the Zoloft for a week and then the full amount for another week, only to go off it and do 5HTP, GABA and other amino acids. I see a natural dr too and she showed me her book that said that Zoloft has caused bone growth abnormalities and lung problems, so 2 days later I made the switch. I have been on those natural things before, so I figured I'd give it a whirl again since I do not want to cause more problems, esp since I am even older now than the first pregnancy. I am a high school teacher with a very stressful job, and fortunately we are done for the summer, so I do have a respite for a while. But, my dh will say that he notices a marked difference in me when I am on the medicine, and that bugs me b/c I view these issues as deficiencies in me. I should be able to handle the stress in my life, right?

thanks for sharing and listening!!

[*Jade*]

I'm definitely in the "healthy, happy mama, happy baby" camp, and if you need it, take it.

I'm on anti-depressants for this pregnancy, and man, at the start I *needed* them (last pregnancy was a miscarriage). For me, the benefit of not going completely mad definitley outweighed the risks (since my dr and mw were onboard).

Congrats on your pregnancy!

[kythryne]

Oh, I'm so glad to find this. I've had severe fibromyalgia for over a decade and was diagnosed with adenomyosis last year, so we were really worried about pain management during pregnancy. It seems like I'm one of the lucky ones who goes into remission during pregnancy, at least so far, but before I got pregnant I was on Vicodin, Soma, Ambien, Lidoderm patches, and a ton of ibuprofen. I actually fired my first infertility specialist largely because she was insisting that I had to stop all my pain meds cold-turkey before she'd even start testing me to figure out what was wrong. Thankfully, I was eventually able to find someone who understood that Tylenol is utterly useless when your pain levels run between 6 and 8 on a daily basis.

Since I've been pregnant my pain levels have been a lot lower, so I've been getting by with Tylenol, the occasional Lidoderm patch, and a lot of massage and hot baths and rest. My midwives weren't fazed by the prospect of me needing to take Vicodin or ibuprofen, but I'm trying to get through the first trimester without either - so far, so good.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by kythryne

Oh, I'm so glad to find this. I've had severe fibromyalgia for over a decade and was diagnosed with adenomyosis last year, so we were really worried about pain management during pregnancy. It seems like I'm one of the lucky ones who goes into remission during pregnancy, at least so far, but before I got pregnant I was on Vicodin, Soma, Ambien, Lidoderm patches, and a ton of ibuprofen. I actually fired my first infertility specialist largely because she was insisting that I had to stop all my pain meds cold-turkey before she'd even start testing me to figure out what was wrong. Thankfully, I was eventually able to find someone who understood that Tylenol is utterly useless when your pain levels run between 6 and 8 on a daily basis.

Since I've been pregnant my pain levels have been a lot lower, so I've been getting by with Tylenol, the occasional Lidoderm patch, and a lot of massage and hot baths and rest. My midwives weren't fazed by the prospect of me needing to take Vicodin or ibuprofen, but I'm trying to get through the first trimester without either - so far, so good.

I'm glad this thread helped!

I was pretty afraid when I was typing it and then in the moments after I hit 'submit.' Thankfully, as you've read, everyone who has responded is either in the same boat or is just incredibly supportive.

I've cut back on how many painkillers I'm taking, but there's no way I'd be able to stop. Congrats to you! That's amazing.

[Snugglebugmom]

I suffer from depression, and was on Prozac (category C drug) and Remeron before I got pregnant with my oldest. It took several years and a lot of different antidepressants to find a combination that worked for me. Since Remeron wasn't very well researched back then, my doc advised me to stop taking it. I developed insomnia but took Unisom for that, which is considered safe. I even stopped the Prozac for a bit because I felt guilty that I was putting something potentially very hazardous into my body, and stopping it was better for my baby. That lasted until I started seriously relapsing and it occurred to me that a suicidal mommy is not really good for my baby either. My daughter was absolutely fine, and I continued to use the Prozac while nursing.
In April of 2008 we moved to Canada and since I have no health care and won't be getting any in the foreseeable future, I am not on Prozac anymore. I did fine for a while, but find myself in the middle of a major relapse at the moment. DH just lost his job, so we have no money for prenatal care, much less for anti-depressants. I feel like I am drowning.
Anyway, the point of the pity party is this: if you have the means and the option to take care of yourself, DO IT, without letting ANYONE make you feel guilty. Nobody, but nobody, has the right to lecture you on what prescription drugs you take to make sure you are a functioning, reasonably happy human being!
And for what it's worth, Leigh, I admire you for a great many reasons, and your ability to not just survive but thrive in spite of all the difficult circumstances you have encountered, is inspirational.

[paintedfire]

I'm so sorry that you're without medical care right now, Iris. Health is not something anyone should have to sacrifice, as far as I'm concerned.

Originally Posted by Snugglebugmom

And for what it's worth, Leigh, I admire you for a great many reasons, and your ability to not just survive but thrive in spite of all the difficult circumstances you have encountered, is inspirational.

I'm speechless. Thank you so much.

All I can really say is that it's been a hard road not letting myself get bogged down in the memories and pain, but I wake up everyday now thankful that I pulled through. My life is so amazingly charmed right now - I couldn't possibly feel more blessed than I do at this moment.

I've never set out to be an inspiration, but I'll gladly take it. Thanks again.