Has Anyone Taken Methylprednisolone (A Steroid) for Extreme Morning Sickness?

Why your doctor is suggesting a steroid instead of very effective but much safer drugs, such as Zofram or Reglan, is beyond me. I strongly suggest that you find a different doctor.

Just like you, I had hyperemesis with both of my pregnancies, and had to take Zofram for both. For my latest pregnancy, my hyperemesis was so severe that I was put on a Zofram pump 24x7. This is a pump that slowly but constantly injects the medication (Zofram or Reglan, depending on which works best for you) subcutaneously. While this option is not pleasant, it was the only thing that kept me out of the hospital and kept me from losing my baby.

I also do recommend getting acupuncture, as it can really help. Keep in mind, however, that while it may alleviate regular morning sickness, for real hyperemesis, it will not be enough. You'll still need medication.

I also found this website to be very helpful:

http://www.helpher.org/hyperemesis-gravidarum/

It has a lot of support and information for sufferers of hyperemisis.

God luck and I really hope things get better quickly!

Don't do it. Take Zofran---works great and will help you! I hope you feel better soon.

M

I had Hyper Emesis 16 years ago when pregnant with my daughter (after 3 miscarriages in the year before getting pregnant with her and uterine surgery following tests done after that 3rd loss). I was an OB/GYN mess and considered High Risk, even tho I was only 24/25 during this time frame.

At the worse, I lost 10 pounds in 11 days. I could not suck on an ice cube and keep it down and didn't go into a grocery store for several months (bakery and deli smells..No way!). I was down (total) more than 10% realy quickly.

I was on home IV's until about my 6th month. I would go to work (I was a FT live out nanny for 2 Dr's so that helped..but I worked 12 hour days with travel time). I had an IV shunt in my arm somewhere, would work, then come home and "hook up" all night long. The IV site was changed about every 3 days. My hubby got good at injecting vitamins to the bag and changing bags in the night when we were doubling. Every so often I had to stay home a day or so when things got real bad. They would not central line me as it was surgery and considered to stressful. I couldn't even get dental work or cleanings..too stressful.

I did end up doing the Scopalamine patch. But in the end, when we weaned me off of it (after I could eat again), I went thru drug withdrawl...blindness for about 24 hours, shaking and the whole thing. I got a feel for what junkies go thru I guess. It was awful. They didn't have the drugs they do now I suppose.I wish I had skipped that part and just stayed with the IV fluids and vitamins.

Once that was over..I did well, was able to eat, gained weight and had a chunky, healthy baby (breech position so a scheduled C section). Accupuncture was next on my list..I was a week away from trying it, but my weight went up, so I backed out of it.

Good luck in your choices.

Zofran was my my best friend for both my pregnancies...I also lost a lot of weight during my first pregnancy, IVs in ER, home IVs..I was actually admitted for 4 days for fluid replacement...Zofran is the way to go.

I have not used that for morning sickness but have used Reglin. It was safe and worked great!

I would not take it.
I wouldn't be a guinea pig while pregnant.

I had Acupuncture for my morning sickness with both my pregnancies. I had BAD morning sickness coupled with migraines.
Acupuncture got rid of it. Period.
It was recommended by my OB/GYN.

I had severe morning sickness for all 9 months during my first 2 pregnancies. Towards the end of the first trimester of my third, I tried acupuncture and it helped dramatically. At first I went every other day, then we stretched it out to every third day, then twice a week, then once a week, etc. After a while we went to whenever I thought I needed it, and it kept the morning sickness down to a little occasional mild nausea. Please -- go find a good acupuncturist and give it a try. I see you're in Seattle -- someone from the Seattle School of Midwifery ( http://www.seattlemidwifery.org/ ) should probably have a reference for you for someone who does a lot of work with pregnant women.

When my daughter was pregnant she was morning sick the entire time. She had a post nasal drip it turned out that caused her to be so sick and to puke every morning. If her doctor had discovered it he could have given her a antibacterial medicine that would have freed her from suffering for so long.

Updated

When my daughter was pregnant she was morning sick the entire time. She had a post nasal drip it turned out that caused her to be so sick and to puke every morning. If her doctor had discovered it he could have given her a antibacterial medicine that would have freed her from suffering for so long.

I took something similar, I can't remember what it's called, but its commonly given to patients going through chemo. At least I'm pretty sure that isn't what I took.
What I'm worried here is why is it not safe during the 1st tri but not the 2nd or 3rd? What defines the stopping point at which the baby will be considered safe? I personally wouldn't take it just because if it's not safe during the 1st, I wouldn't trust it in the later weeks.
I know your pain though. I was throwing up daily, sometimes hourly till labor. It sucks. So I hope you can find something that works for you!!!

Hi J., I am so sorry about what you are going through, it sounds so miserable. I haven't tried this treatment for morning sickness, however, I had a terrible c-section and have had a lot of scar tissue pain at the incision sight. I went to the pain clinic at the hospital for trigger sight injections for the pain. I was worried about all the horrible side effects you hear about when using steriods. My doctor assured me the dose was so low that I wouldn't be a risk for them. It did work but the pain will never fully go away but it is better The only side effect I did have is one day a few days after I felt really angry and on edge but thankfully it lasted one day. I really hope you get to enjoy your pregnancy soon. I will keep you in my prayers. Let us know how you are doing. God Bless you.

Do not take steroids during your pregnancy. Don't even use topical steroidal creams. Steroids should only be used for extreme life threatening issues. for instance if you are not breathing.... There's nothing theoretical about it. It will hurt the baby.

There are so many things you can do for morning sickness.I wish I knew during my pregnancies what I know now. I was sick from conception to birth with my first and thought I was going to lose my mind.

Good, absorbable prenatal is your first line of defense. (Most don't absorb worth a toot.)
Upper cervical Chiropractic care
Ginger supplements- can have ginger lozenges, natural ginger ale, ginger snaps, etc.
Acupressure wrist bracelets

Make sure you are avoiding fatty and fried foods. Eating organically will help as well, mostly fruits and vegetables. Nibbling on bland crackers can help and moving slowing as to not exacerbate it. Also avoid getting hot. Heat seems to make nausea worse.

I KNOW you are miserable. Hang in there. You're head's on straight!!

Congratulations!
M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

did your dr give a reason for selecting a steriod treatment vs other drug options available? i cant remember the name of what i took but it it was a common one and low risk. it may have been the zofran rec. below.

i only took it in the mornings so i could work during the day and tried to manage w/out it the rest of the day/night. i didnt want to take a drug, but i was pretty much throwing up or waiting to around the clock and it lasted most of the pregnancy. i tried most of the natural methods first but didnt work ( except i didnt try accupuncture and would try that early on if it happened again).

i would really recommend trying other drug options first.

good luck, and hang in there!

I had to take it after a brown recluse spider bite. I took it one other time as well after a surgery. I think it is very harsh medication and can wreak havoc on your body. I would avoid it and try really hard to find something safer. I would hate for you to be one of the ones to cause the "theoretical" problem to become a "documented" problem. I do understand your suffering, though, and I hope you can find something soon!

I've never taken a steriod. I did have hyper emisis, in-home IVs with my second child. I took many anti-nausea drugs and zofran seemed to work the best for me (at the time very expensive but now I hear there's a generic). I'm now pregnant with my third and had very bad morning sickness but I'm think I'm over the worst of it. I've been doing acupuncture (something I wish I knew about with my second pregnancy), I've seeing a chiro that specializes in pregnancy, I'm taking homeopathic herbs (from acupuncture) for nausea, wear sea bands/magnets on my wrists and I'm also focusing on getting 70 grams of protein per day. I know right now eating is the last thing you can do, and even now, meat is the last thing I want - when I'm not throwing up, I use soy milk (I'm dairy free) and protein shakes, protein bars to up my protein intake and it's helped immensely!!! When you are throwing up, you get dehydrated, and it's a viscious cycle - I know first hand!! But if you can stay hydrated then try to get some protein in you, it should help. good luck!!

Zofran was a lifesaver for me. Even with our great insurance, the co-pay was $50 for 30 little pills. I almost left the phramacy w/o the prescription, but then thought I was going to vomit right then and there so paid for it and scurried out. Turns out it was worth its weight in gold. It melts on your tongue so you don't have to worry about swallowing a pill w/ water only to have it come up again. I don't know anything about the steriod, but whatever you choose, I hope you find some relief!

Have you tried the drug zofran? It is safe in pregnancy and works pretty well. I have taken it during two pregnancies.

Take Care.

Have you tried zofran? It is pretty effective....not a sure fire cure but keeps vomiting and nausea suppressed. I would definitely try that before doing steroids. (BTW this is the same drug that MegandOllie was talking about) This is what they gave me when I was visiting E.R. for Hyperemisis .

By the way...it was the same miserable experience with my second child...just in case you believe the lie that the next one will be easier.

I would highly recommend trying acupuncture before starting on any medications. Acupuncture really helped to control my nausea and fatigue during pregnancy.

My opinion is you have a short term problem now even though I know you feel absoultely miserable. Taking this drug could cause life long issues for your baby and alter your life if you had a special needs child. Maybe you could take it and everything would be fine but you just don't know. Personally, there is no way I would take it. I hope you feel better soon!