Nexium & Pregnancy

[Rachel]

I was hoping for some information about Nexium and it's effects on an unborn baby. I have Barrett's Esophagus (2 years) and am wanting to start a family but as Nexium is categorised B3 and it's effects on unborn babies are relatively unknown, I was hoping for some information from any other sufferers who have faced this situation. Did you continue on medication and, if so, did your baby suffer any deformities as a consequence? I have tried going off the medication but my symptoms return almost immediately and are quite unbearable. My GP and gynaecologist are both strongly against me staying on Nexium whilst trying to conceive and during the pregnancy. Any information would be most appreciated.

[Jasmine]

Hello Rachel, it would seem we have some things in common! I have had GERD for two and a half years. It is very bad and I have been taking 40mg Nexium daily - any less and the symptoms are not bearable (nausea, vomiting and bad pain). Even with the Nexium I have some pain.

Like you, I wish to start a family. I have had to postpone this while the illness is investigated; I am now 32 and really wanted to start a family before now. I am in the UK and National Health Service waiting lists for tests and treatment are extremely long. I can't afford to go private.

The doctors have continually said to me that Nexium is not recommended during pregnancy. It has been suggested that I try 600mg Zantac per day (this is 8 times higher than the over-the-counter dose) plus large quantities of Gaviscon Advance. If I can manage with this I will be able to try for a baby, because my doctor says no problems have ever been attributed to Zantac in a pregnancy. Perhaps you could try this for a couple of months, as there is nothing to lose.

I am waiting for an endoscopy and possibly a barium swallow and PH test. The barium swallow involves X-rays so can't be done when pregnant. I want to know what's wrong with me before I get pregnant, and if I don't go through with these tests now I might have to go back to the start of the NHS waiting list again. The GERD has been so painful and distressing that I could not bear to wait another 2.5 years to get it properly investigated or treated.

Have you been offered surgery (the Nissen Fundoplication) or perhaps another procedure such as Endocinch? The doctors are steering me away from these because it is major surgery with a number of potential side effects. But I would not rule it out if the medication isn't enough.

Please let me know how you get on. I have not come across anyone else in this same situation apart from yourself!

[daw]

I found some articles on Gastroenterological treatments during pregnancy on a web site called "Motherisk"
<http://www.motherisk.org/drugs/gastrointestinal.php3 >

One of the articles has to do with Prilosec (omeprazole) during pregnancy.

[TomCarv]

Hi Ladies,

You might want to go to ye old Message Board, and take a look at Lisa from Australia's post. I think you'll be interested!! Good Luck!! :)

Prayers,

Tom

[Rachel]

Hi Jasmine,

Thankyou for your response. I have not been offered any type of surgery at this stage. My GP wants me to try and control the symptoms with large quantities of Gaviscon also. This provides me with temporary relief but I still suffer from reflux and nausea despite extensive changes to my diet. I am currently 31 and have been putting off trying for a family for the past 2 years but don't really want to wait any longer. I have only been able to find very limited information about the effects these drugs have on babies. If I find anything informative I'll certainly let you know.

Thanks also to Daw & Tom for your postings.

Kind Regards,
Rachel.

[Jasmine]

Rachel, you say your doctor suggests large quantities of Gaviscon. Gaviscon alone is nowhere near enough for me either. But combining this with very large doses of Zantac would definitely bring the symptoms to a lower level than with just Gaviscon, so I am going to try it. Would you consider discussing the Zantac idea with your doctor?

[Rachel]

Hi Jasmine,

I have discussed Zantac with my Doctor and she advised that that was not safe for use during pregnancy. She said it would probably be OK to use during the last trimester (only if absolutely necessary) but definitely not during the first 6 months. Has your Doctor advised that it's safe to use?

[Jasmine]

Hi Rachel,

Yes, my doctor says I can take a large dose of Zantac during pregnancy, plus lots of Gaviscon. This is the "lesser of two evils" as the only other way I can get by is with Nexium. Like you, I definitely cannot manage on no medication at all, or on lower doses. Zantac is not as effective as Nexium, but you can take large doses (my doc said 600mg is the max) and it is considered relatively harmless in pregnancy.

He says that no medication can be considered 100 per cent safe (I think they have to say that to cover themselves!) but that there is no record of Zantac causing a problem in any human pregnancy. He would not be happy for me to take Nexium in pregnancy. As I'm sure you know, Zantac is a class B drug whereas Nexium is class C.

[Jasmine]

Here's what one site has to say about Zantac:

http://www.accessiblemedicine.co.uk/medloc/dos1384doc6.htm

"For Ranitidine hydrochloride, no clinical data on exposed pregnancies are available. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonic/foetal development, parturition or postnatal development. Caution should be exercised when prescribing to pregnant women."