cutting back on metoclopramide (Reglan)?

[Ally_C]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to cut down on my prescription of metoclopramide (aka Reglan in the US) since I read long term use can cause involuntary tremors, but I want my meds to last through this trimester (1st). I still vomit 1-2 times a day on it (am morning sick), although usually during the period before I'm due for my next pill (and thus have an empty stomach- oops). Has anyone taken this for morning sickness? I'm thinking about cutting it down to 1 pill a day and am unsure of the best time of day to take it. I don't tend to be horribly sick in the morning; midday is harder, and sometimes at night. Last Friday I tried not taking my evening pill and it went fine until I went to bed and had to throw up. "Normally" I vomit spit (sorry, TMI) but that time my dinner started to come up.

I crashed too much weight (~12 pounds in a week) when I first got morning sick and have not gained any back, so I can't afford to lose more. Without the meds I'm in the bathroom all day, sprawled out on the couch, or napping. I'd prefer not to take meds, but home remedies don't work. I'm hoping it will be over soon (I'm 10 weeks today and am entering my 4th week of morning sickness. Blech. I have so much sympathy for hyperemesis sufferers.).

Thanks for your advice in advance!

[NicoleW09]

I took reglan four times a day with zofran. I took it before expected meals an snacked in between an I still had problems. I literally counted how many times I vomited from morning until I went to bed one day. 18 times an only managed to keep down one pickle that day. If it gets worse, inquire harder or think about switching doctors if you can. My midwife did everything to try to ease my hyperemesis.

[Ally_C]

Thanks, that made me feel better! I'll ask about Phenergan but I think the dr is reluctant to put me on anything else if I'm keeping down food & fluids. I find that the Reglan is a little hard to take because you have to wait until you have an empty stomach before ingesting it, then it gives you hunger pangs, but you can't eat right away. I usually throw up right before taking the pill since I'm having a sugar low. But at least it's just spit and I feel a little better (unlike a true sugar low which I've also learned to live with!).

Thanks again!

[Ally_C]

Nope, there are no alternatives in the UK, my dr scolded me for getting worried and said the risks are minimal...well. I tried cutting back to 1 pill a day, either in the morning or at night, and that didn't work very well! I'm now trying morning & evenings only. I like the way I feel in the afternoon, better not on the meds because I can eat little amounts more frequently, but there comes a point where my stomach stops processing it and around dinnertime it's all over. So I guess it's necessary.

[Ally_C]

Thanks! To clarify, I'm not really worried about weight gain, I'm worried about too much loss and ending up in the hospital  :P   I've heard of others going on Zofran. I'll talk to my dr to see what alternatives there are to metoclopramide since I've been on it for a few weeks already.

[NicoleW09]

I had hyperemesis an I took reglan and zofran daily until 20 weeks, an just cut down to zofran. It never took it all away, but it helped considerably. Dont worry about weight gain at this point. I only gained 10q pounds my pregnancy, an it was due to swelling. I didn't gain it til the  last few weeks. Lexi's perfectly fine an healthy despite being so sick an my reglan an zofran use.