Zofran
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31315
Printed Date: 18 December 2024 at 8:19am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Zofran
Posted By: Lou1972
Subject: Zofran
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 4:58pm
|
Just wondering if anyone suffering from morning sickness has tried Zofran?
I'm suffering awful morning sickness and the doctor presribed maxalon which didn't work.I was then prescribed Cyclazine to take along with the maxalon,which didnt work either and made me so groggy I couldnt function. I was told by my GP that the next step would be Zofran,but that it's a pretty hardcore drug. Has anyone tried it and did it work for you? I had hyperemisis the whole 9 months in my last pregnancy,but I didnt have a 20 month old to run around after,am finding it alot harder this time round. |
Replies:
Posted By: Bayley
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 6:37pm
|
I have! It doesn't take the sickness away entirely but I take it in conjunction with Maxalon and Cyclizine which does seem to help slightly. They are expensive, but I was like you and suffered the entire 9 months with DS and was trying to avoid that this time, so was willing to pay anything really.
I hope your MS goes away soon, I know how awful it is as I am "living" through it right now too. Big hugs to you. |
Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 7:31pm
| Lou! I posted on your due in 2010 thread...Zofran has been really really really helpful for me. GOOD LUCK!!! |
Posted By: Lou1972
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 8:39pm
| Thanks Bayley and Sally.Am off to the doctors tomorrow .Just hope it does help. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 9:14pm
|
Not tried it for MS but it is the only antiemtic that works for me any other time....
GL -------------   
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 February 2010 at 12:35pm
|
Yes, I had it during both my last pregnancies, and I so wish I had known about it when I was pregnant with Maya coz it was the only thing that made me feel even slightly human. It didn't take the nausea away completely, and I still threw up once a day (every morning when I first got up) until delivery, but it was a huge improvement on not being able to get out of bed and ending up in hospital on IV fluids.
I took it with a cocktail of others too - cyclazine and maxalon, and stematil suppositories when I couldn't keep the others down. Good luck! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: my2girls
Date Posted: 02 February 2010 at 2:33pm
|
Im interested in this question also....
Good luck, how did you get on at the doctors? I have heard that there is a cheaper way to get Zofran too, does anyone know about this? and how much it costs? Can you get it from the doc or do you have to go to hospital first? I had hyperemesis with my last pregnancy and am currently TTC no.3 (im in the TWW) Maxalon and Cyclizine didnt work for me either, made me anxious and feel out of control etc. Im currently preparing for the worst and hoping for the best!! |
Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 02 February 2010 at 3:04pm
|
I was able to get my Zofran as I'd been admitted to hospital for treatment for hyperemesis, so got it dispensed from the hospital pharmacy, funded by the DHB. When I needed another prescription and my GP looked into it, she discovered that she could only prescribe 12 or 18 tabs per time, and that pharmacy could only dispense six of these a time - so, for me who needed 3 per day, it would have meant lots of prescriptions and pharmacy trips. You can only get a special authority number for this medication if you are on chemotherapy. So, my GP phoned the hospital pharmacy and was told that they had a special supply, funded by our DHB (otago) - basically, the medication is cheaper than being admitted to hospital and if the medication keeps you out of hospital then this DHB will fund it. This isn't the case for all DHBs I don't think, as I spoke with a friend (and house surgeon working in O&G in Nelson) who said that she could only prescibe a very limited amount to patients who'd been in hospital there.
Another doctor friend mentioned to me that it costs about $1 per tablet...but I'm not certain on that. |
Posted By: Bayley
Date Posted: 02 February 2010 at 4:31pm
|
It cost me $36 or so for 10 tablets, and yeah - you can only get 6 at a time which isn't a great option.
Let us know how you get on with the doctor Lou. |
Posted By: Lou1972
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 5:56pm
|
Hi ladies.Well I got the Zofran for the Dr's yesterday.As I'm not having chemo,was told that it was not subsidised.I paid $38 for 10 tablets.I asked the pharmacist and she said as I'm paying full price for it.there's no limit on how many I can have at a time.
Was told to start on half a tablet a day,if that doesn't work,go up to 1 a day and see how I go.24 hours laster I still feel rotten,so will take 1 tablet tonight. |
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 05 February 2010 at 6:55pm
|
The whole subsidy thing is not entirely true. I existed on Zofran through my last pregnancy and like Emma wish I knew about it with Ollie.
It is subsidised if you get it through a specialist so ask your Dr or Midwife to refer you to the women's health clinic (or equivalent) at your local hospital. I was paying a fortune and picking up my 6 measly tablets a time from the chemist until I was referred. After that I was given a box of about 50 tablets in one hit and it was completely free. The subisdy has nothing to do with the reason you are taking Zofran - more the method in which you get it (well that's my understanding anyway)! It's a shame really and you'd have to assume that Pharmac will change it at some point because it seems that it is one of the best options for hyperemesis. It certainly literally changed my life!!! |
Posted By: my2girls
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 2:44pm
|
Wow thats great info, i will have to remember this if i get HG again.
Only 7 days till testing to see if im UTD then the wait to see if i get HG again. So would you suggest that when morning sickness/HG starts to go to the doc/midwife and ask for Zofran then? or wait to HG gets so bad you have to go to hospital for re-hydration and then get given it then?? |
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 7:28pm
|
hmmmmm....My2girls I reckon that question is an easy one - Zofran made my life bearable so I would be going to the GP or midwife as soon as I knew I was pregnant (given that I've had hyperemesis with both pregnancies) and asking for a referral immediately!!! I guess though that I never quite got to hospitalisation stage although I was very dehydrated.
|
Posted By: my2girls
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 8:11pm
|
Yeh, i was pretty sick with my first (not HG) but HG with my second so the chances are i will have HG again...My doctor has just left his practice and a new doctor took over at the begining of the month so i have yet to have met him yet, however he has just come from working at Waikato Hospital so im sure he will be pretty good.
Im hoping that i can get something to stop me from getting to the hospital stage, at least im aware of whats happening this time and to not leave it too late. I have the pantry stocked of things for the kids to eat and lots of easy things in the freezer too, So maybe once i get my BFP i will make an appointment and discuss a plan of attack!! |
Posted By: Lou1972
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 8:16pm
|
Well,been on the zofran 5 days now,and while I'm not throwing up near as much(only 2-3 times a day).I still have awful nausea.Went back to the G.P to see if I could increase the dose and was told it's probably not a good idea,they havn't done enough research.Dont want to harm bubs,so will stick with just the 1 tab.
Just hoping the MS will ease or stop soon and not go the whole 9 months like last time! |
Posted By: my2girls
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 8:43pm
Thats great to hear Lou1972, hope it keeps getting better for you! I know how awful it is 
|
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:45pm
|
Lou1972 how many mgs are your tablets? And how many were you told you could take per day? I'm pretty sure I was told I could take my 8mg tablets twice per day. And are you taking any of the other stuff you were given as well? I'm also pretty sure I could have continued to take my Buccastem or Cyclazine at the same time - although I wouldn't do that without checking with someone who knew what they were talking about (definitely not me!!!).
It's good that you're not throwing up as much but I really feel for you. MS is such an awful experience. Fingers crossed that it doesn't last!! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:53pm
|
I was taking Maxalon, Cyclazine and Zofran all at the same time (well not literally - at varying intervals throughout the 24-hour period), but I agree with Kate, it's best to check with your doctor or specialist. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 07 February 2010 at 8:00pm
| I would also say that GP's don't always know about managing significant morning sickness. Mine was good enough to admit that and phoned the hospital to discuss management with them. He did an okay job but actually my midwife just referred me straight to the womens clinic at the hospital and suddenly I was sorted. GP's are great - if they know their stuff! Otherwise, I would ask for a referral. You shouldn't need to wait until you need hospitalisation. |
Posted By: RetteSpaghetti
Date Posted: 27 February 2010 at 6:31pm
|
Hey Lou,
I've been on Zofran almost the whole of my pregnancy. I started vomiting at 6.5 weeks along was admitted to hospital at 8.5 wks for re-hydration. They tried all day to get lines into me, but I was so dehydrated all my veins had collapsed. I was discharged on Maxalon and Cyclazene (sp?), neither of which worked. In desperation, my GP called one of Auckland's top Obstetricians (Dr. VJ Boolah at NSH), and he prescribed me 8 mg's of Zofran 2x p/day. It worked a treat, and I immediately stopped vomiting, although the constant feeling of nausea never completely disappeared - I just earned to live with it. Unfortunately I ended up being on Zofran (although I did manage to cut down to 4mg's p/day at about 30 wks) until my 35th week of pregnancy. Every time I tried to come off it (about 7 or 8 tries), I'd start throwing up again within a few hours of missing my morning dose. Eventually last week I took my final Zofran tablet, and my MW put me back on the Maxalon. I'm too dodgy to not take anything, but at 36 weeks along now, I've cut down from 3, to only 1 Maxalon tablet a day. HURRAH! I went through some really horrible emotional stuff about being so chained to these drugs for so long, but around the 28 week mark, I just gave in and accepted my lot. I ave worried a lot about the long term effects of Zofran on my baby, but the only other option was vomiting so much I dehydrate and harm my baby in the short term. That's my story! Whatever path you choose, good luck! It's really hard having hyperemesis, so HUGE hugs to those of you enduring it. xxx |
Posted By: Lou1972
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 5:29pm
|
Well,I ended up in hospital for 3 days in the end.They tried me on the drip in the Dr's surgery but it didnt work like it did in my last pregnancy so they sent me up to the Waikato to be admitted.
At least now I pretty much have the medication sorted.Am not vomiting any more,just bad nausea which I can just about handle. I'm now on 4mg of zofran 3 times a day and 3 maxalon a day.Cant take the cyclazine as it makes me so groggy all I do is sleep and it wasnt doing anything for me. TMI-The one side effect of zofran I have is really bad constipation.Did anyone else have this as well? |
Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 7:10pm
|
Hey Lou - YES! I was constipated...though, for me I think it was also cos of being so dehydrated. Drink lots, metamucil also really helps, and if you need to you can have some lactulose prescribed. And of course, fruit fruit fruit...prunes...kiwicrush...all of that stuff (if you can stomach it already).
Hopefully, with meds sorted out, you'll keep on the improve. I'm feeling heaps better now (22 wks), but am still being sick most days...but it's way better compared with 1st trimester. And I'm down from the same zofran/maxalon combo (and cyclizine at night time when I needed it) to just one zofran (and sometimes none) each day. And, back functioning at work and living again. Doesn't hyperemesis stink!! |