Tell me about zofran

[Odonata]

My OB gave me a prescription the other day.  I've been feeling great since Monday byt my nausea came right on back yesterday pretty hard.  I had to force myself to eat dinner last night, which was oatmeal and some crackers.  I laid awake for hours swearing I would puke in bed.  I'm thinking of taking it today.

But, being the paranoid person I am, I read the possible side effects and saw headache and dizziness on there, among other things.

Anyone have these side effects and how bad were they?  I want to not feel so sick all the time but I don't want to exchange it for another symptom that'll make it hard to do everyday things.  

Also, since it's still early in the am I'm not sick now, but I usually get nausea around 11 or 12 and then it lasts all day into the night.  Should I wait until I'm feeling sick to take it or just take it now?

[Odonata]

And I'm reading that zofran doesn't stop nausea, just vomiting. (truth?) I don't vomit as frequently as I am severely nauseated so is it even worth taking if I'm actually keeping most of my food down?

[rbp]

Zofran was a miracle for me. I really can't sing its praises enough. I didn't even have m/s, but I got a stomach bug at the beginning of 2nd tri that just wouldn't go away. I was still violently throwing up a week later when I called my doctor for Zofran. He put me on 8 mg 3x/day, which I took for about four days until I was able to eat again, then I tapered off over the next few days. I had no side effects at all.

Also, if you're at all concerned about the safety for your fetus, here's a Danish study of 600,000 pregnant women suggesting no evidence of problems caused by Zofran use: www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/zofran-pregnancy_n_2776753.html

My doctor told me to take it every eight hours, period...not just when I felt sick. I did that for a few days until I could hold down real food.

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

Zofran is my hero. It definately hasn't taken away the nausea all the time but it keeps the puking at bay most of the time. The only side effect I have had is mild constipation. I take it as needed which unfortunately is all the time but I think it is fairly fast acting so I wouldn't take it until you need it but don't wait too long. I would say when you start to feel kind of yucky, take on.
I'm curious how much you got. My RXs are only for 9 pills with 1 refill. I am supposed to take it ever 8 hours as needed so they don't last me very long and apparently my insurance only covers 9 pills ever 25 days. WTF?!

[Odonata]

He started me on 4mg and said I could double up if that didn't work. I know it's safe for the fetus but I'm concerned about side effects for me. From what I'm looking up on line more people sing it's praises than complain about it.

Maybe it's worth a try today. I've been doing 25 mg B6 3x a day and thought that was why I had a lapse in sickness this week, but it seems to not be the case. But the Dr. did say I could keep taking the B6.

I've got a small trip planned tomorrow to visit an old college friend that lives 4 hours away. She's hosting a get together and I want to see everyone but they are having brunch (I'll have to miss the mimosas ) and I don't want to get all the way up there and have to sit around because I'm too sick to socialize.

[rbp]

It's definitely worth a try. Drug packaging lists every side effect that happens to a subset of people in the clinical trial. Most people are just fine.

[katinthehat]

Zofran is a wonder drug. It stopped my constant vomiting without putting me straight to sleep like phenegran. For me, Zofran stops the puking but left me feeling slightly full and a little bit of a sour stomach. I didn't have much appetite taking it. I also got headaches, but Tylenol took care of those easily. Those side effects were 100% preferable to the way I felt without it. Without it, I couldn't keep anything down.

Phenegran stopped the nausea feeling for me but not the vomiting. The vomiting wasn't as severe but I could still puke on it. Plus, Phen knocked me out. One time my husband took the kids out to the park and brought them back, the whole time I was asleep on the couch and had no idea.

If you are feeling more icky than actually throwing up, I'd try unisom + b6, ginger, sea sickness bands those kinds of things before the meds. But honestly, the meds work and are safe and really, there's no need to feel like ass if you have another option.

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 8:53:23 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

Zofran is my hero. It definately hasn't taken away the nausea all the time but it keeps the puking at bay most of the time. The only side effect I have had is mild constipation. I take it as needed which unfortunately is all the time but I think it is fairly fast acting so I wouldn't take it until you need it but don't wait too long. I would say when you start to feel kind of yucky, take on.
I'm curious how much you got. My RXs are only for 9 pills with 1 refill. I am supposed to take it ever 8 hours as needed so they don't last me very long and apparently my insurance only covers 9 pills ever 25 days. WTF?!

It says I have a 10 day supply on the paperwork for the meds but I looked in and there are maybe 20-25 pills.  Not bad.  But no refills.  I'm hoping I won't need it as often.  I did have a few great days with no sickness so maybe I'll just need them here and there.  

[rbp]

Mar 14, 2014 8:53:23 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

I'm curious how much you got. My RXs are only for 9 pills with 1 refill. I am supposed to take it ever 8 hours as needed so they don't last me very long and apparently my insurance only covers 9 pills ever 25 days. WTF?!

My doctor prescribed me 21 x 8 mg with two refills, but I only filled it once, so I don't know if my insurance would have covered refills within the same month.

That is annoying of your insurance company, but m/s is an off-label use for Zofran so maybe that's why?

[katinthehat]

Mar 14, 2014 8:53:23 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

Zofran is my hero. It definately hasn't taken away the nausea all the time but it keeps the puking at bay most of the time. The only side effect I have had is mild constipation. I take it as needed which unfortunately is all the time but I think it is fairly fast acting so I wouldn't take it until you need it but don't wait too long. I would say when you start to feel kind of yucky, take on.
I'm curious how much you got. My RXs are only for 9 pills with 1 refill. I am supposed to take it ever 8 hours as needed so they don't last me very long and apparently my insurance only covers 9 pills ever 25 days. WTF?!

This is me too.  My insurance covers 15 pills every 18 days.  My OB gave me a script for Phenegran which insurance happily covered and filled.  I'd take phen on the weekends  and at night to stretch out the Zofran which I took only in the morning.

[katinthehat]

Mar 14, 2014 8:58:26 GMT -5 rbp said:

Mar 14, 2014 8:53:23 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

I'm curious how much you got. My RXs are only for 9 pills with 1 refill. I am supposed to take it ever 8 hours as needed so they don't last me very long and apparently my insurance only covers 9 pills ever 25 days. WTF?!

My doctor prescribed me 21 x 8 mg with two refills, but I only filled it once, so I don't know if my insurance would have covered refills within the same month.

That is annoying of your insurance company, but m/s is an off-label use for Zofran so maybe that's why?

Nope, it has to do with changes in the ACA.  My previous pregnancy I took Zofran and it was covered at 3 pills a day for 30 days at a time (or something in full like that)

[Deleted]

Zofran is a wonder drug. Cured me in 20 mins flat every time. No side effects!

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 8:57:01 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

If you are feeling more icky than actually throwing up, I'd try unisom + b6, ginger, sea sickness bands those kinds of things before the meds. But honestly, the meds work and are safe and really, there's no need to feel like ass if you have another option.

So far I've tried all of those buy unisom.  What is that?

Also, I don't get the ginger thing.  It does nothing at all for me.  Actually, thinking about ginger now makes me sick b/c I would take it when I felt so sick and continued to feel sick on it.  I guess I've conditioned myself to not like ginger now. 

[Odonata]

Just looked up unisom - don't think that will work. I need to stay awake!!

[rbp]

This website says you can get ondansetron (generic Zofran; this is what most pharmacies will give you anyway unless your OB writes "brand medically necessary") for <$1/tablet: www.goodrx.com/zofran#/?filter-location=&coords=&label=ondansetron&form=tablet&strength=8mg&quantity=20.0&qty-custom=

[katinthehat]

In Canada (and now in the US, they just approved it this year) Unisom + B6 has been compounded together and given as a prescription treatment for morning sickness. The downside is, of course, it makes you sleepy. Most people take a unisom at night and b6 throughout the day. That's what got me through my first pregnancy.

www.webmd.com/baby/news/20130409/fda-allows-return-of-once-banned-morning-sickness-pill

www.diclegis.com/

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 9:03:42 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

In Canada (and now in the US, they just approved it this year) Unisom + B6 has been compounded together and given as a prescription treatment for morning sickness. The downside is, of course, it makes you sleepy. Most people take a unisom at night and b6 throughout the day. That's what got me through my first pregnancy.

www.webmd.com/baby/news/20130409/fda-allows-return-of-once-banned-morning-sickness-pill

www.diclegis.com/

I read about diclegis and apparently it's the only category A drug out there.  But I feel safe with zofran, too.  

I wanted to ask my Dr. about it but couldn't remember how to pounce it (how do you say it?) so I said nothing when he suggested zofran.

I was wondering if taking unisom at night will help out during the day?  Anything with a sleep aid in it knocks me out cold.  I can't take benadryl unless I know I can sleep for 8+ hours.  I took it once for an allergic reaction before going to work and fell asleep at my desk.  My boss wanted to send me home but I could not drive!
Anything PM also has that effect so I'm nervous to take anything during the day that makes you sleep.

[rbp]

Mar 14, 2014 9:00:09 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Mar 14, 2014 8:58:26 GMT -5 rbp said:

My doctor prescribed me 21 x 8 mg with two refills, but I only filled it once, so I don't know if my insurance would have covered refills within the same month.

That is annoying of your insurance company, but m/s is an off-label use for Zofran so maybe that's why?

Nope, it has to do with changes in the ACA.  My previous pregnancy I took Zofran and it was covered at 3 pills a day for 30 days at a time (or something in full like that)

Weird. I haven't heard of any issues with ondansetron and the ACA. Why would it make coverage worse?

[statlerwaldorf]

When I took it, it stopped the vomiting, but I still felt nauseous. I didn't have any side effects.

[litasail]

I took zofran nearly every day of my entire pregnancy (I had severe HG). My kid is totally fine and healthy. I was so bad that I pretty much had to take it 24/7 for it to be effective.

[lulu21]

Zofran= life saver

A much rather have a headache then feeling like I'm going to get sick 24/7. I don't think I would have made it through T1 without it.

[Yankees21]

I love Zofran. I'm 39 weeks and am still using it- it's not perfect as I still get sick occasionally, but has helped immensely. Just make sure to take some Colace!

[JayhawkGirl]

It was a miracle med for me. I was all day nauseous until I delivered my son. I got zofran this time and it got me upright from wk 10-17, when it subsided completely. I was able to eat healthy foods again though I couldn't buy or cook meat-DH had to. I took epochs to help with heartburn as well, daily starting around 12 wks.

Be sure to take Colace with it with each dose. Zofran will constipate you badly. Colace keeps ahead of it. If you get behind and end up constipated, you might have to take a dose of milk of magnesia.

[JayhawkGirl]

It was a miracle med for me. I was all day nauseous until I delivered my son. I got zofran this time and it got me upright from wk 10-17, when it subsided completely. I was able to eat healthy foods again though I couldn't buy or cook meat-DH had to. I took epochs to help with heartburn as well, daily starting around 12 wks.

Be sure to take Colace with it with each dose. Zofran will constipate you badly. Colace keeps ahead of it. If you get behind and end up constipated, you might have to take a dose of milk of magnesia.

Eta while I don't actually ever throw up, my nausea was bad. Lost 16 lbs between my five and twelve wk appt.

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 11:18:09 GMT -5 JayhawkGirl said:

Eta while I don't actually ever throw up, my nausea was bad. Lost 16 lbs between my five and twelve wk appt.

I feel more sick than I physically get sick.  However, I am able to eat.  Actually, it's when I'm not physically eating that I feel the worst so I pretty much haven't stopped.  I'll eat a meal and in 5 minutes feel like I'm going to lose it but if I start eating again I feel great.  I have this constant bile feeling at the base of my throat.  It tastes horrible and I feel like any second something is going to come up.  And my stomach feels like I'm on a constant free fall.

The worst is when I feel so sick I don't want to move or talk, which is hard when you're a teacher.  I really need something to ease the nausea so I can function.  Actually, feeling that sick and not puking I think is maybe worse!  

[JayhawkGirl]

Mar 14, 2014 14:29:22 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Mar 14, 2014 11:18:09 GMT -5 JayhawkGirl said:

Eta while I don't actually ever throw up, my nausea was bad. Lost 16 lbs between my five and twelve wk appt.

I feel more sick than I physically get sick.  However, I am able to eat.  Actually, it's when I'm not physically eating that I feel the worst so I pretty much haven't stopped.  I'll eat a meal and in 5 minutes feel like I'm going to lose it but if I start eating again I feel great.  I have this constant bile feeling at the base of my throat.  It tastes horrible and I feel like any second something is going to come up.  And my stomach feels like I'm on a constant free fall.

The worst is when I feel so sick I don't want to move or talk, which is hard when you're a teacher.  I really need something to ease the nausea so I can function.  Actually, feeling that sick and not puking I think is maybe worse!  

I think the zofran will help you. Poor you!

Cinnamon jolly ranchers helped me some also. They seemed to cut that awful taste in my mouth. Hang in there!!

[Odonata]

Mar 14, 2014 15:39:04 GMT -5 JayhawkGirl said:

Mar 14, 2014 14:29:22 GMT -5 Odonata said:

I feel more sick than I physically get sick.  However, I am able to eat.  Actually, it's when I'm not physically eating that I feel the worst so I pretty much haven't stopped.  I'll eat a meal and in 5 minutes feel like I'm going to lose it but if I start eating again I feel great.  I have this constant bile feeling at the base of my throat.  It tastes horrible and I feel like any second something is going to come up.  And my stomach feels like I'm on a constant free fall.

The worst is when I feel so sick I don't want to move or talk, which is hard when you're a teacher.  I really need something to ease the nausea so I can function.  Actually, feeling that sick and not puking I think is maybe worse!  

I think the zofran will help you. Poor you!

Cinnamon jolly ranchers helped me some also. They seemed to cut that awful taste in my mouth. Hang in there!!

Ohhh, I must try those.  I feel like I ate rubber cement or something. There has been this chemical taste in my mouth since the start of this whole fiasco!