Compazine

Updated on October 09, 2009
H.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
11 answers

O.k. so I have been suffering from severe nausea and just got back from the ER with a prescription for Compazine. I am not a huge drug fan I had both of my first two children with no drugs at delivery that is how much I am against it. But it took 2.5 IV bags before I even had to pee in the hospital I was so dehydrated. So have many of you needed to take this medicine for nausea...I worry that it may harm the baby. 8.5 weeks so a long way to go and don't want to go through the dehydration and lake of food in the system again.

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone. The ER doctor prescribed Compazine and my OB preferred me to take Zofran and I tried it twice beyond the hospital and the headaches I get from the medicine are crippling I will be going in to see my OB on Monday to see what else I can do or try. Thank you all for your information. I am trying to remember that this isn't my fault and that each pregnancy is truly different even though it frustrates me that I never got like this with my first two.

More Answers

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L.R.

answers from La Crosse on

I had a horrible reaction to compazine. I can only describe it as an out-of-body experience. The doctors call it cognitive disturbance or something ridiculous. I was very happy with Zofran, however. I took it during both of my pregnancies, and now have bright, happy 4 and 5 year old children. Good luck and at least try the drugs. If you have any reaction or just don't feel right, don't be afraid to call and ask for something else. I think they just usually start off with Compazine because it's cheap.

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S.K.

answers from Eau Claire on

Hi H.,
I too am not a huge drug fan either so I know how you feel and that is doubled with the fact that you are pregnant and many drugs even if they are prescribed by a doctor to be safe are sometimes not right for you. My suggestion is that if you are questioning it think about some natural options of nutrition. You have the prescription so you could get it filled at any time if you feel that it is time to go that route or possibly do a combination of both. Read this article from a nutritionist I know that describes the effects of pregnancy and reasons for nausea it has helped a lot of people I know. Try some of the foods she suggests and see if this feels more like the right option for you. http://www.karenhurd.com/concern_morning_sickness.html
I also suggest keeping a journal of what and how much you are eating, what you are able to keep down (or vice versa), and how often you are using the bathroom with guesses as to the amount expelled. With 2 kids already it is often easy to forget to take care of yourself. You can recognize trends of particular times of day and foods that made you feel less nausiated and be able to make a schedule to help. It would also help you recognize a lack of intake before it becomes incredibly serious. Also take into account smells - cooking for small children can take time and those smells were something that often caused me nausea so I would have a snack or mini meal before making supper then put a fan in the kitchen and a while after the kids were finished I felt like eating again - usually left overs from the night before. (Ha!) Anyway I wish you the best! Good Luck!

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi H., as long as you take it as prescribed and only take it when you really need it and have no allergic reactions, it's fine. I had to take it with my first child and that was a shocker and worry for me, because a new mother and now I have to take some drug no one has every heard of??? But my first 4 months of pregnancy and I had only gained 5 lbs and I was not over weight to begin with! So it was a huge concern. It really will make your baby healthy (not dehydrating yourself) as well as yourself so you can keep the nutrients that both mommy and baby need down to get you through the day. You really have to look at this from more than what is right for you. If you're still not sure, don't be afraid to ask another doctor and get a second opinion. I sure did and I felt better about it. Good luck!

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C.D.

answers from Omaha on

Normally pregnancy induced nausea only lasts the first tri-semester but some people have it for longer. Although you dont like drugs.. compazine has been shown to have no or little effect on your baby. Look at this way.. If you are so dehydrated you can loose your baby. Which do you want?

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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

If you have questions or concerns talk to your pharmacist. They can tell you any information you need to know about compazine and how it may affect the baby. My husband is a pharmacist and one of his co-workers had terrible nausea and vomiting through most of her pregnancy. I know she took compazine and it helped her a great deal. Dehydration can cause preterm labor and other problems with your pregnancy. You definately don't want to deal with that.

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D.V.

answers from Green Bay on

I was given compazine in the ER and ended up having a severe alergic reaction. It was much like a massive anxiety attack-to the point where I was thinking about pulling out my own IV and running out the door, blood pressure and heart rate spiked to a dangerous level-very unlike me, I'm not alergic to anything else!! They quickly figured out it was an alergic reaction and gave me some benadryl and I was fine. Very scary and strange!! Be very careful when taking this. If you start to feel strange, like you want to crawl out of your skin or feel anxious, get some benadryl-if that's safe while pregnant??- or to an ER. Did your doctor warn you about any of this?? I hear this reaction can be fairly common...

A better medication for nausia, and safe while pregnant, is Zofran. I was on this nearly my entire pregnancy and it worked like a charm! Good luck!

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J.J.

answers from Bismarck on

The Docs know you are pregnant-take it!!!! Why worry about the malnutrition and comprimise your ablity to care for the children you do have if there is a safe drug available. I dry heaved for nine months. The stain is worn off of my kitchen table leg where I sat to distract myself while I tried to swallow. It was midnight everyday before I got the last fruit or vegetable in. I would dry heave mid-sentence in public, no warning-count your blessings and take the meds!!

A little about me:

Was induced b/c of mild toxemia, had unwanted-very clear in birth plan epis., 30 surgeries later, including 8 pelvic reconstructions, radical hysterectomy, double radical mascectomy, 7 breast re-constructions and now divorced for 2 years I have a brilliant 11 1/2 year old son and beautiful 8 year old daughter from Korea-was left unable to have more children of our own. Take the meds and enjoy this gift!!!!

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S.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

I am sorry you are suffering. I suffered with hyper emesis with all of my pregnancies, very badly. I started with Compazine, but went through a lot of different meds before finding Zofran to work for me. With my last pregnancy, they just went from Reglan to Zofran. Zofran is very expensive, so insurance makes you try something else first. Anyways, yes, I would recommend taking it. I did not have any side effects from it, neither did my babies. You and your baby can suffer side effects from nausea.vomitting too much, though - and your other children can suffer as well. Don't be afraid. I am a very anti-med person, too, but sometimes you have to do what is best and that can be taking the meds. If you feel like you need to chat with someone who has been through this, feel free to email me at ____@____.com
S.

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C.T.

answers from Milwaukee on

I happily took Zofran for 6 months during both of my pregnancies. Wouldn't have survived without it and both of my girls are fine. Also, I had to drink 4-5 bottles of water per day to avoid dehydration. In case no one told you, kidney stones are VERY common during pregnancy due to lack of water. Kidney stone pain is equal to labor pain, so drink lots and lots of water!!!

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T.D.

answers from Dallas on

Hi H.,

Yes it just so happens that I suffered for hyperemesis (extreme nausea) during this last pregnancy. My daughter is 3 months on the 9th which is in about 2 minutes. I would not have survived without Compazine, literally. I was violently ill, I got so tired of cleaning up the toilet and losing bladder control because of the strong heaves, not to mention not being able to enjoy even a simple \\car ride or conversation ( if I spoke too loud I would get nauseous ).

I lost thirteen pounds in about three weeks thats when they quickly wrote the prescription.

I am glad to report that it helped tremendously,and that there was NO damage to the baby because of the drug.

My humble opinion is that you should give it a try at least. If you can bear it and you really don't like the drug maybe you can take the absolute minimum or skip doses, but sister I took it faithfully and it made a big difference.

Best of luck. Let us know what you do?

T.

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

There are a lot of herbal and holistic things that work great on nausa. Ginger and cinnamon work great and are completely safe for the baby. You can get candied ginger at the grocery store and keep a piece in your mouth all day to stave off the nausa. You can also eat cinnamon toast or cinnamon in applesauce it really helps with nausa. Don't buy the pre-made cinnamon applesauce it often has artificial cinnamon. Chamomile tea or mint tea would also help and be completely safe.
If you need any more ideas message me. I have been studying herbs for over 15 yrs.

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