I went to the emergency room last night. I was severely dehydrated, I have the flu and an intestinal virus. The doctor prescribed me Tamiflu, but I'm scared to take it. It's a category C product, not tested on pregnant women, but their website states "TAMIFLU is normally not recommended for use during pregnancy or nursing, as the effects on the unborn child or nursing infant are unknown" and "FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby." But my doctor tells me he recommends I take it, so I don't get worse...What should I do?
Tamiflu during pregnancy?
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that is a really hard place to be.
I would have a serious discussion with your doctor, and let him know that typically tamiflu only shortens the illness by a day or two. So does it really prevent you from getting worse? I guess that is a day or two of not losing fluids/ having stuff build up in the lungs, but honestly, it might be better to be in a hospital where they can keep your fluids up/monitor you and give you breathing treatments rather then risk taking a drug you are not comfortable with that might not really help you all the much.
Did the ER doctor prescribe the tamiflu? Have you spoken with you OB/midwife/regular doctor about it? I would call the on-call personu *now*, because this is certainly an emergency IMO--if you haven't spoken with your regular care provider yet.
let us know how it goes and what you decide!
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So sorry you are feeling bad.
For me, I would not take it. I don't think the risks are worth the potential "shortening" of symptoms. But, I don't tell anyone else what to take. It should never be taken lightly.
I hope you feel better soon.
For me, I would not take it. I don't think the risks are worth the potential "shortening" of symptoms. But, I don't tell anyone else what to take. It should never be taken lightly.
I hope you feel better soon.
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I thought tamiflu only worked if you took it at the first sign of symptoms? it sounds like you are knee deep in your sickness, so it may not even be worth the stress. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Oh, and I just googled for the heck of it and came up with this article. I don't know what to make of it, but it is something I hadn't heard before: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sh-policy.html
Oh, and I just googled for the heck of it and came up with this article. I don't know what to make of it, but it is something I hadn't heard before: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sh-policy.html
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Oh no, I would not take that personally, especially while pregnant.
I had the most terrible flu earlier this year when I was in my first trimester (swine flu? I don't know, it was right at the beginning of the stories about it, but all of the symptoms fit). I also developed a bacterial complication, a really bad sinus infection with it so I went to the doctor- not something I would normally do, but at that point I was actually fantasizing about being in the hospital!
They gave me azithromycin (Z-pack) for that. Everything I could find about it said that there is no evidence of harm to fetuses, but I worried like hell about taking anything. I'm due in a week and a half, and I still worry that the antibiotics have harmed the baby. I wish I'd never taken it, because it wasn't worth the stress- it didn't work anyway! They said it would knock it out in a day or two at most, and I was still severely ill for 5 days.
I was reading that the side effects of Tamiflu can be very bad for some people, too.
I had the most terrible flu earlier this year when I was in my first trimester (swine flu? I don't know, it was right at the beginning of the stories about it, but all of the symptoms fit). I also developed a bacterial complication, a really bad sinus infection with it so I went to the doctor- not something I would normally do, but at that point I was actually fantasizing about being in the hospital!
They gave me azithromycin (Z-pack) for that. Everything I could find about it said that there is no evidence of harm to fetuses, but I worried like hell about taking anything. I'm due in a week and a half, and I still worry that the antibiotics have harmed the baby. I wish I'd never taken it, because it wasn't worth the stress- it didn't work anyway! They said it would knock it out in a day or two at most, and I was still severely ill for 5 days.
I was reading that the side effects of Tamiflu can be very bad for some people, too.
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My DD got the flu, tested positive, and I was getting the earliest symptoms. I called my OB and she said Tamiflu WAS NOT SAFE for pregnant women.
If you've had the flu long enough that you're dehydrated, it's not going to help you. Plus, my kids took it, and they each vomited twice after each dose for the 1st 2 days, which is the only time they vomited with the flu.
So, no, I would not take it at this point, especially if you're already dehydrated. Up your Vitamin C and D intake to 1000 mg daily and rest instead. Elderberry really helps with flu too.
If you've had the flu long enough that you're dehydrated, it's not going to help you. Plus, my kids took it, and they each vomited twice after each dose for the 1st 2 days, which is the only time they vomited with the flu.
So, no, I would not take it at this point, especially if you're already dehydrated. Up your Vitamin C and D intake to 1000 mg daily and rest instead. Elderberry really helps with flu too.
Hi, and thanks! The er doctor is the one who told me to take it, but I talked to my OB who told me that I should too. However, I'm feeling a little bit better than yesterday, so I think I'm not going to take it. (Unless I get worse I guess) I don't think I could survive these next 15 weeks being all paranoid that something happened to my baby. Thanks for your help!
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but it only works if you take it in the first 48 hours...
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Jumping in here....I would NOT take it. Research it some more. Maybe you could go to a ND in your area. The risks are not worth it, especially the unknown risks to an unborn baby.
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They say the benefits outweigh the risks for pregnant women, but they don't even know what the risks are.
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Quote:
Yeah, I find it very interesting that they say this, too. Sounds just like a doctor.
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Originally Posted by tayndrewsmama  They say the benefits outweigh the risks for pregnant women, but they don't even know what the risks are.
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I am glad! I do hope you begin to feel better soon. From what I have heard it runs through in just a few days or so (never had it so I don't really know). But if it does, perhaps you are about one the end side.
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Originally Posted by Channelle Lol, OK! I'll do my best. Ok, you guys convinced me. I got rid of Tamiflu, and stocked up on more elderberry. |
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My best friend is a very mainstream ER doc and I asked her about the flu the other day and she said Tamiflu only shortens symptoms by a half a day and it's very expensive, so she is not rxing it to many people.
I wouldn't take it.
I wouldn't take it.
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