Hyperemesis and ondansetron

[HannahMassey14]

Hi, I'm new to this and a bit nervous. I've been diagnosed (at 6 weeks now 11) and I'm really struggling. I was extremely fit and active before this pregnancy and ate really healthily. Since being diagnosed I've been admitted into hospital twice and given a few different medications to trial. I found the best one by far was Odansetron. It did little to reduce nausea but really improved the number of times I was vomiting. I take 4mg every 8 hours, without fail.
However, over the last 48-72 hours I don't feel like they are working as effectively and the number of times I'm being sick is steadily rising. I'm forcing myself to eat and drink even though I absolutely don't want to, then I force myself to keep it down as long as I can.
I'm so low, I feel like I am literally losing my mind. I cry all the time. I just don't know what else to do. When I'm on my meds through an IV it's so much better but after a few days at home I feel like I'm back at square one. Currently no ketones but I feel like I just can't cope anymore.
Anyone else had a similar experience with Odansetron? I've tried Buccal and cyclizine already. I take ranitidine too. I spend all day lying down or throwing up[emoji20]

 

[Charliebump3]

Im so sorry your suffering so much. I was the same with my last pregnancy and it sucks. I wish I could offer you some advice. I know nothing helps x I had flat lemonade as it was the only thing I could keep down. I was given cyclizine but it didn't help very much. It does get better though just hold on xx sending hugs xxx

 

[HannahMassey14]

Thanks. I'm going to go back to GP tomorrow. It's relentless, every waking hour is spent feeling so illl! Just don't know what else to do to try and cope!

 

[kanga86]

Hey, I'm on ondansetron 4mg every 8 hrs too and have been since 8 weeks now 17wks. Thankfully I haven't actually been sick since about 12wks but I still get extremely nauseous even more so if I am late for a tablet. I do know you can safely take 8mg 3 times a day so maybe you need to up your dose. As far as I am aware ondansetron is the 4th strongest anti sickness meds above cyclizine, prochloprazine and metachlopromide. Fingers crossed the doc help xx

 

[RoisinC]

I'm so sorry to hear you are suffering so much my heart goes out to you I hope you get something that helps really soon xx

 

[HannahMassey14]

Thanks Kanga,

Literally going to start tearing my hair out!!! Do you know of anything that's stronger. I'm so much better on IV but don't want to be admitted a third time. I am almost 11 weeks but I have a feeling this isn't going to get any better any time soon! X

 

[Charliebump3]

Have they tested your water for infections or anything. I know water infections can male you feel really sicky. I had one 2 weeks back and I couldn't get out of bed! Xx hope your doctor can help you. I don't know of anything that is stronger than ondansatron, it is the drug of choice on my ward (heart surgery).

 

[HannahMassey14]

I frequently have protein/blood and leukocytes in my urine, especially as I get more dehydrated but then they stick me on a drip and they're gone the next day. Last time I was discharged the consultant decided not to prescribe antibiotics again as I seem to constantly have these in my urine one day then not the next. He said he'd prefer to let it clear up naturally.

 

[kanga86]

Thanks Kanga,

Literally going to start tearing my hair out!!! Do you know of anything that's stronger. I'm so much better on IV but don't want to be admitted a third time. I am almost 11 weeks but I have a feeling this isn't going to get any better any time soon! X

I don't know of anything stronger but I know a lady on here last time was on 8mg of ondansetron and metachlopromide too, so she took the metachlopromide in between the ondansetron. I love the iv ondansetron, I luckily only needed it once this pregnancy and once last pregnancy. Really hope you can get it under control, the early weeks are just horrendous and feel never ending, but suddenly you realise you start to have periods of feeling OK, and it feels so much better. Really hope you don't suffer for too long xx

 

[*glow*]

Hi I was on cyclizine and odansetrom at same time that was effective.

So sorry you are feeling so bad x

 

[HannahMassey14]

Hi Glow,

I've gone back to being on ondansetron, cyclizine, ranitidine and prochlorperazine together after a huge meltdown at the docs this morning. I've been on these 4 together before without much joy but going to give it another go! Fingers crossed x

 

[Charliebump3]

I really hope this works for you hon x I know it can be absolutely miserable when you feel this sick xxx

 

[*glow*]

Aw I hope so for you.

Sure you are going to sigh at this comment as it used to irritate me but get tons of rest!! Xx

 

[Beckyb1991]

Hi hannah I suffered until 32 weeks with hyperemesis gravidarum. I had to have almost 4 months off of work due to being unable to get out if bed and being sick up to 60 times per day. During these 4 months there was alot of trial and error with the medication I was given , it was an exhausting and stressful time where I felt extremely lonely and not listened to despite 7 hospital admissions over 4 months. On my 7th hospital admission and over 3 stone weightloss I begged my Dr's to help me they agreed to try me on ondansatron with a mixture of my other medication. I truly believe ondansatron saved my life. I am so grateful to the Dr who prescribed it. The only bad side effect I had was horrific constipation but it cut my sickness down to 5-10 times a day and I was able to return to work!! I still did feel abit sick but nothing compared to before. It allowed me to eat and drink and leave the house!!my symptoms were under control by 32 weeks and after a weeks break for no problems just a few sicky moments ... I unfortuanally developed a problem with my heart and spent the remainder of my pregnancy in hospital which was awful. Hoping you have a better time than me. So sorry your going through this it's awful xxx

 

[HannahMassey14]

Hi Becky,

Still continuing with my cocktail of cyclizine, stemetil and ondansetron. I had a week where things seemed to be improving and I was able to do a little more. However, at almost 14 weeks the last three days have been dreadful again. Back to bed, uncontrollable, unstoppable vomiting and constant nausea although trying to avoid the hospital at all costs. I'm so miserable. I just read about a drug called metrochlopramide?? That some people say works well with ondansetron. Don't think I've been offered that one so I'm going to ask my dr tomorrow. I'm at the end of the road, my stomach is so painful and I'm living in my last nerve. I've managed to halt the weight loss but I just can't cope any more. It seems to be getting worse again ☹️

 

[keeptrying14]

Hey Hannah firstly massive hug to you I know how miserable it is. I had hg with my first pregnancy and I have never felt so low in my life as I did then. I was on metricloprimide and it worked well for me it eased the vomiting but didn't stop the nausea with me. But anything is worth a go. Have u contacted pregnancy sickness support? They are on fb and have a helpline and are able to advise u of any other meds available and will offer amazing support I wouldn't have got through my pregnancy without them. Xx

 

[HannahMassey14]

I'll give them a ring. I'm tired of the GP telling me they've exhausted every option. I know that's not true. She then told me she couldn't prescribe me 8mg of ondansetron because the previous doctor had only prescribed 4mg doses. I'm not quite sure that there's nothing she could have done there either. I'm an educated person, I understand there is no magic cure but she seemed totally uninterested. X

 

[RoisinC]

My heart goes out to you Hannah I hope you get some relief soon xx

 

[keeptrying14]

Unfortunately it's a constant battle with health care proffesionals I was extremely lucky to have a great gp but I had a battle with the hospital staff to prescribe different meds. When I was on here last time we had a hg group and there was a girl who was really bad who ended up on steroids which finally helped but she fought to get the help. But def call hg helpline and leave a message if they don't answer they will get back to u they will advise u on all ur options. I know this doesn't help but I promise when the whole awful experience is over u do sort of forget what u went thro and the little baby u get out of it is totally worth it. But I know right now that seems like forever away xx

 

[Mrsbee]

I'm so sorry you're suffering as much as this :/. I'm a nurse, and although I've never seen it I mainly work with older people not pregnant ladies. Anyway I wonder if they could teach you (if you felt up to it) how to give an intra muscular injection, I've always found that IM/IV is for more effective than oral because it's straight into the blood supply rather than being processed by the liver. And if they could teach you (it's quite easy) or if they could teach your partner or something it would be better that you going back into hospital. But I don't know if they will let you do your own intramuscular injection as it's more technical than a little subcutaneous injection we let patients do themselves. But hey it could be worth an ask? I hope something helps you soon lovey xxx