Zofran not working « Back to Group Discussions

[katpfeifer]

This is my 2nd pregnancy,(9 weeks) thirteen year age difference between this one and my son! However, I don't think I was quite prepared for feeling so bad!!!!!!! : ( Was taking Zofran for three days, and then all of a sudden since yesterday, it stopped working!! Has anyone experienced this?

[SweetMama34]

I'm struggling with terrible morning sickness this time as well. Didn't have it nearly this bad with either of my previous pregnancies.

Zofran keeps me from vomiting, but doesn't do much for nausea. I've found that if I take 25 mg of Phenergan at night, it gives me at least some relief in the morning. Midday gets rough again, but I just stick it out until 7pm, when I take my Phenergan. I'd take it during the day, but it makes me SLEEP - not just drowsy, but nodding off sleepy.

I'm sorry you're suffering. This part is hell, for sure. :(

[katpfeifer]

Thank you so much! This part is hell for sure alright! So sorry your suffering as well! I'll ask my doctor about Phenergan...( Maybe just a few more weeks left for us dealing with this fun stuff?)  Good luck with everything and hope this passes quickly for you! ; )

[essco]

Homeopathy sometimes works for morning sickness.  Do you or your friends know any good ND's or homeopaths nearby? There was a recent article published in Homeopathy Today about called Nausea in Pregnancy, in June I believe.

[SweetMama34]

I wish I could afford to see my NP midwife for this pregnancy. We just can't come up with the $3k needed right now, as we've had to make some financial changes due to our housing situation. Such a bummer! I may see about a visit or two, though....

[bearandotter]

My master's research was on ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It does have pretty good effect for many women and has compared well with 'drugs' in many studies. There has been no evidence of negative fetal outcomes in any of the large studies. It can be linked to increased heartburn immediately after taking it for a small number of women. You can take it in a variety of forms - capsules, candied, tea (grate fresh ginger into hot water). I am finding it works very very well this preg - but I have to sip the tea or nibble at candied ginger fairly regularly. 

Not sure where you are, but diclectin is an AMAZINGLY effective drug available in Canada. It was pulled about a decade ago in the USA for stupid reasons (law suits but NO proven baby problems. It is probably the most well studied drug in pregnant women and has been shown to be VERY safe. It is far better studied for safety than ondansetron (zofran) and Pheneragan). It is a combo of doyxlamine 10mg and vitamin B6 10mg in a slow release pill. Doyxlamine is sold over the counter in the USA as Unisom (not the gel caps) and you can buy B6 anywhere. I know lots of American women use these drugs in combination for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

have you tried therabands (the motion sickness band you can buy in the pharmacy). They have worked for friends of mine in pregnancy. 

:)

[essco]

Originally Posted by bearandotter 

My master's research was on ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It does have pretty good effect for many women and has compared well with 'drugs' in many studies. There has been no evidence of negative fetal outcomes in any of the large studies. It can be linked to increased heartburn immediately after taking it for a small number of women. You can take it in a variety of forms - capsules, candied, tea (grate fresh ginger into hot water). I am finding it works very very well this preg - but I have to sip the tea or nibble at candied ginger fairly regularly. 

Not sure where you are, but diclectin is an AMAZINGLY effective drug available in Canada. It was pulled about a decade ago in the USA for stupid reasons (law suits but NO proven baby problems. It is probably the most well studied drug in pregnant women and has been shown to be VERY safe. It is far better studied for safety than ondansetron (zofran) and Pheneragan). It is a combo of doyxlamine 10mg and vitamin B6 10mg in a slow release pill. Doyxlamine is sold over the counter in the USA as Unisom (not the gel caps) and you can buy B6 anywhere. I know lots of American women use these drugs in combination for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

have you tried therabands (the motion sickness band you can buy in the pharmacy). They have worked for friends of mine in pregnancy. 

:)

Wow, thank you for that info, bearandotter!  Good stuff. you know what other drug you guys have that we don't have access to? Domperidone, to help with milk supply in breastfeeding. Argh, so annoying!  But at least we get kava kava!  Which apparently Canada doesn't allow.  Isn't it AMAZING how different the physiology of Canadians and Americans are that we have such different ability to tolerate drugs and herbs?   (har har)

[crazyeight]

some people report the extra b6 made them more nauseated. i'm pretty sure it did me too. i liked the unisom for the morning sickness but it can make some people too sleepy to function. take a half at first if you are unsure how it will affect you and then you can still take a half at noon or so if you feel up to it (not knocked out from the first half) or need a boost to curb the nausea.

CHIA seeds are also very good at reducing nausea. I have no idea where my little bag went though. I would just eat a large pinch and drink a glass of water but I think most people ate them differently (I was happy to just get the seeds down. lol) i'm sure there are 2 other things i can't remember about nausea...oh magnesium. http://www.mommypotamus.com/the-real-cause-of-morning-sickness/  Magnesium deficiency is actually attributed to many of my own (non pregnant) symptoms and it is a mineral I know that I need to add to my diet so it stands to reason that this deficiency also may cause some morning sickness in other women. I found a liquid that mag, calcium and b6...now if i can hold it down (i gagged on it, it's the thickness of milk of magnesia). I can't remember the other one!

[crazyeight]

oh and yay kava kava! (although i don't think it was for nausea? or is it? i have some but i don't want to waste it b/c i'm not sure where i found it lol)

[nattery]

I know this isn't going to be a popular post... and I'm not necessarily offering it as a suggestion as America is not friendly to its use with pregnant women, but after much research (and I mean a lot!) and after having poor results from using other anti-nausea therapies (though ginger works a bit) I started using a little bit of marijuana when I became overwhelmed with sickness and it's the only thing that has effectively allowed me to eat a fully balanced meal without wanting to throw it up moments later... I've gone weeks of eating minimal foods and even hesitant to drink water due to feeling sick.  I was beginning to worry because I was loosing weight (I can slide my pants off my body without undoing them :( )

I've started using it about twice a day and my partner and I are using the resources we have (medical marijuana recipes to support people who require it theraputically are wildly available through compassion clubs) to find the best, safest (ex- cut back on the amount of inhaled smoke, etc)  low dose ways to use it. I think it's also important to note that prior to this situation I was not a pot user... not that I disagree with it but I also am not interested in using it recreationally.

[bearandotter]

Originally Posted by essco 
  Isn't it AMAZING how different the physiology of Canadians and Americans are that we have such different ability to tolerate drugs and herbs?   (har har)

Crazy amazing!!!! Who would guess an arbitrary line in the sand would cause such differences ;)

Unisom (doxylamine) is a sleeping pill, it is true. But like ALL sleeping pills people develop tolerance incredibly quickly. I might start taking it at bedtime and then after a few days take it in the am too - you will find it won't make you as sleepy. That being said - no heavy machinery until you know how your body will react to it. 

Never heard about B6 increasing nausea - it also has a huge body of research literature about it efficacy. But anything is possible. Diclectin only has 10mg in in, the B6 pills at my health food store are 100mg pills (which is probably the most you would want to take in a day). They studies I've seen for nausea in pregnancy use 25mg 3-4times daily. You can break up a tab to get that dose. 

I'm not judging, I know marijuana works amazingly well for other forms of nausea. But since we know cigarette smoking is bad for baby, I would really be cautious about any other drug that is consumed in an act of combustion/burning. Plus even with medical marijuana (I live on Vancover Island - where it is readily available) is difficult to dose out since there is such a variety of strengths. Personally, I will stick with the better studied and accurately dosed treatments for my nausea and vomiting (not to mention legal, I would hate to hear of someone potentially losing custody of their child over trying to treat their morning sickness). Other thoughts?

[CoBabyMaker]

DDC crashing.  I'm from the May DDC and have been on Zofran but like the OP it's controlling my vomiting but not the nausea.  I had previously tried the B6/Unisom without success but I am thinking about trying it again.  Is there any reason it shouldn't be taken while also taking Zofran?  Has anyone ever tried both?  Thanks!

[nattery]

Originally Posted by bearandotter 

I'm not judging, I know marijuana works amazingly well for other forms of nausea. But since we know cigarette smoking is bad for baby, I would really be cautious about any other drug that is consumed in an act of combustion/burning. Plus even with medical marijuana (I live on Vancover Island - where it is readily available) is difficult to dose out since there is such a variety of strengths. Personally, I will stick with the better studied and accurately dosed treatments for my nausea and vomiting (not to mention legal, I would hate to hear of someone potentially losing custody of their child over trying to treat their morning sickness). Other thoughts?

I live on Vancouver Island too! and I don't suggest people use MJ because of the crazy laws that could cause problems for families... I'm just sharing my experience and what I feel is the best and safest decision for my situation and family. I guess I feel comfortable around it since I have a number of friends and family that use it medically for a variety of problems and know a variety of people who grow the plants themselves so I feel confident. I don't think smoking anything is a good idea and would encourage people who are using it to eat it (but will admit that when you're terribly nauseous and cannot eat anything, I can understand someone's decision to smoke a little to get it under control).

[Tenk]

Phenergan in 12mg (it's the child dose) might work better for you.  It causes pretty intense fatigue BUT if you keep it in your system (i think every 6 hours?) after 4-5 days you will build up a tolerance for it and no longer feel the fatigue.  the b6 and unisom combo makes me projectile vomit :(
 

[bearandotter]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

DDC crashing.  I'm from the May DDC and have been on Zofran but like the OP it's controlling my vomiting but not the nausea.  I had previously tried the B6/Unisom without success but I am thinking about trying it again.  Is there any reason it shouldn't be taken while also taking Zofran?  Has anyone ever tried both?  Thanks!

Safe to take both - as they have very different mechanisms of action. The Canadian Obstetric Society (SOGC) guidelines supports their simultaneous use.

and Nattery: I totally get where you are coming from and am in no way judging your decision. I have a friend who used MJ in pregnancy for her Multiple Sclerosis, MD got wind of it and caused all types of hell for the family. very sad..... Hope you are feeling better and enjoying this break from the rain we are having!

:)