The doctor says there are no medications to treat HG. True?

Frequently asked questions by family and friends of HG sufferers.

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The doctor says there are no medications to treat HG. True?

Postby admin » May 27, 2004 12:06 am

Due to legal risk of stating that a medication is safe for use during pregnancy, few if any drug manufacturers will say their drugs are intended for use during pregnancy or for a pregnancy condition such as HG. However, due to the misery and debility women with HG face, physicians will often treat it with medications deemed safe due to their history of being used for decades to treat pregnancy nausea and vomiting for decades (e.g. Compazine, Phenergan, Unisom).

It is unfortunate that many health professionals will only consider the older medications, as they are often found to be less effective than newer medications (Zofran, Kytril, Reglan). This is especially true for those with moderate and severe HG. Newer medications are not necessarily unsafe, they just don't have as many studies to demonstrate their safety. Treating a mother with drugs that are effective is often less risky than not treating her. Chronic dehydration and malnutrition worsen her symptoms and can adversely affect the baby.

Above all, know that effectively treating symptoms early in pregnancy can make a woman less sick and decrease the time it takes to recover. Delaying treatment until she has been vomiting for several weeks makes it harder to gain control over the vomiting cycle. You have the right to adequate health care. Consult with another health professional if needed to get the care she needs. She may need someone to advocate for her if she is very sick. If she loses more than 10% of her pre-pregnancy weight and her doctor is unwilling to give her effective medications or other treatments, it is a good idea to seek a second opinion from a high-risk obstetrician or perinatologist.

Our Referral Network lists health professionals recommended by women with HG and self-referral. You will also find information on how to find a practitioner experienced in treating HG if one is not listed in your area.
http://www.helpher.org/mothers/referral ... /index.php

More Info on Treatment Options: http://www.helpher.org/family/treatments/index.php
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