Hi all! so I recently discovered that i am expecting my first child!! Im about 5 weeks pregnant now and worried about the gabapentin i take and also just being pregnant in general with neuralgia! Anyone here been taking medication and been pregnant at the same time? I asked my doctor about it and he admitted that he just didnt know what the risks were or what was the best thing to do!!!!
I really want this child but im finding it so hard to enjoy being pregnant as im worried about this and also terribly worried about miscarrying!
Small Study by Gov Shows that there was no increased risk of gabapentin in pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic shows that there are no significant studies, so this is a Class C catagory drug.
Question then becomes for me, what do epilpetics do for pregnancy? I would imagine that this problem presents itself in that condition as well.
Thank you for your fast reply!!!! and thanks for the congrats! Im so excited, i swear this must be the most wanted and loved baby ever (although im sure every pregnant woman who's been trying says that. I got so lucky :) )
My orofacial pain doctor said he's seen many women go into remission during pregnancy, for both TN and ATN. So if you start feeling a lot better than normal, you might want to consider talking to your doctor about lowering your dose.
My facial pain specialist is against any meds during pregnancy, but my Neurologist says that he's treated many epileptic patients who were pregnant, who couldn't go off their meds, and they delivered healthy babies.
My partner and I want to get pregnant, but I'm afraid due to the pain, meds, etc. I hope you continue to share your experience of having TN/ATN while pregnant. I'm sure many other women out there are interested as well. There is a group here for Pregnancy and TN, though it only has a few members. Please feel free to join and get some dialogue started there.
This is an issue that might benefit from a talk with the Patient Representative at the TN Association, Cindy Ezell. She was a TN patient while pregnant with her daughter, and she's a knowledgeable former nurse. See http://www.fpa-support.org
I am so very pleased for you, this is something we have spoken about previously. Sorry it's a mixed bag of answers here. They all seem very good to me. I have known couple of severe epileptics and they could not come off their meds whilst pregnant. Whilst I am unqualified to offer a medical opinion I would just like to say their children popped into the world in perfect condition and have grown to fine adults. As long as you know I am making no promises I wanted you to know that. Some reports say it's safety has not been proven in pregnancy but try not to overreact to that, it may just mean that it has not been proven.
Mica you will be a lovely mum from what I know about you. You cannot be the worlds first woman with TN/ATN, as Red says, there is a good woman for you to talk to. give it a try. Also, why not ask your Dr to find out for you, he owes you a bit of research into such an important topic.
All the best sweetheart, I wish you as I do any mum to be the best of everything. I would not have missed it for the world. My only regret is not having more!
I would recommend asking your OB for a referral to a maternal/fetal specialist aka high risk doctor. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and elected to go off all my medication except the methadone after reviewing the risks associated with the medication. The high risk doctor will be able to outline the risk to benefit ratio for you and your baby developing. My high risk doctor is a god send with knowing all this information and without him I would be truly lost. He admitted I was his first patient with TN but has had patients on many of the medications we take to control the TN.
Thanks for your reply! I am going to look into that now.
Richard A. "Red" Lawhern said:
This is an issue that might benefit from a talk with the Patient Representative at the TN Association, Cindy Ezell. She was a TN patient while pregnant with her daughter, and she's a knowledgeable former nurse. See http://www.fpa-support.org
Hiya, thanks! I have my first appointment with the midwife on monday so i am going to ask her advice and see what she says about the gabapentine! It is hard to know what to do because if i stopped the gabapentine my attacks would start again and then the baby would be in much more danger. Its trying to decide on the lesser of two evils for me!! Im trying to make up for it by taking my folic acid and eating LOADS of fruit and veg ect (usually in terrible for eating it and would only have 1 a day!!!)
Jessy said:
I would recommend asking your OB for a referral to a maternal/fetal specialist aka high risk doctor. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and elected to go off all my medication except the methadone after reviewing the risks associated with the medication. The high risk doctor will be able to outline the risk to benefit ratio for you and your baby developing. My high risk doctor is a god send with knowing all this information and without him I would be truly lost. He admitted I was his first patient with TN but has had patients on many of the medications we take to control the TN.
This is really interesting to me as ive been wondering if the tn would go into remission. The problem is i wont know untill i have another attack. Im fourtunate that with my tn, unless im getting a full blown attack, there is no day to day pain. I am on 1200mg of gabapentin a day, earlier this year i was on 900mg but then i started getting attacks again and had to up my dose. I m worried about lowering the dose because I feel that if I do get attacks again during my pregnancy, the pain and stress would be worse for the baby!!!!
crystalv said:
My orofacial pain doctor said he's seen many women go into remission during pregnancy, for both TN and ATN. So if you start feeling a lot better than normal, you might want to consider talking to your doctor about lowering your dose.
My facial pain specialist is against any meds during pregnancy, but my Neurologist says that he's treated many epileptic patients who were pregnant, who couldn't go off their meds, and they delivered healthy babies.
My partner and I want to get pregnant, but I'm afraid due to the pain, meds, etc. I hope you continue to share your experience of having TN/ATN while pregnant. I'm sure many other women out there are interested as well. There is a group here for Pregnancy and TN, though it only has a few members. Please feel free to join and get some dialogue started there.
One day at a time, Mica. You really need to go into these issues in depth with the doctor who supervises your meds. Meantime be advised that 1200 mg per day is a relatively light dose of Neurontin. The effective range for this med in a lot of people tends to be over 1800 mg/day, and max recommended dose is 3600 mg.
Thank you!!! I know i remember us chatting, im so so so excited, im only 5 weeks but im totally in love already! I feel ok about taking the meds during the pregnancy as i know that not taking them would worse, and paul and i are strong people, i feel our baby will be strong too. Im going to talk to my midwife about it during my first booking in appointment next week. Im going to do EVERYTHING i can to make sure the baby grows strong and healthy!
Jackie said:
Hi Mica
I am so very pleased for you, this is something we have spoken about previously. Sorry it's a mixed bag of answers here. They all seem very good to me. I have known couple of severe epileptics and they could not come off their meds whilst pregnant. Whilst I am unqualified to offer a medical opinion I would just like to say their children popped into the world in perfect condition and have grown to fine adults. As long as you know I am making no promises I wanted you to know that. Some reports say it's safety has not been proven in pregnancy but try not to overreact to that, it may just mean that it has not been proven.
Mica you will be a lovely mum from what I know about you. You cannot be the worlds first woman with TN/ATN, as Red says, there is a good woman for you to talk to. give it a try. Also, why not ask your Dr to find out for you, he owes you a bit of research into such an important topic.
All the best sweetheart, I wish you as I do any mum to be the best of everything. I would not have missed it for the world. My only regret is not having more!
Mica, you mentioned you have an upcoming appt with a midwife. Are you also seeing a doctor? I'd think that with the TN and meds, you'd be considered a high risk pregnancy and a real doctor would be better. I'm not discrediting midwives, I just think that in your situation that might not be enough...
Congrats on the pregnancy! You don't need any else to worry about but enjoying this exciting time in your life!
I have also fought the battle of the lesser of two evils in trying to decide what to do so I completely understand where you are coming from. Day to day, I battle the same thoughts now that I am approaching delivery thinking how can I be a good mom and have to battle TN. It sounds like you need the gabapentin because it is providing you a great benefit. It is the worst internal struggle but you need to keep yourself healthy so you can bring a healthy baby into the world EVEN if it means staying on medication and it definitely sounds like you need the gabapentin. I also upped my dosage of folic acid to make up for what I thought was deficient as well. I believe that strongest babies come from a mother who battles TN so I know your little one will be just fine.
Talk to your midwife about seeing a high risk doctor. They are a wealth of information when it comes to medications and diseases/disorders. I absolutley love my high risk doctor. The high risk doctor will basically do extra ultrasounds and monitoring which they will report back to your midwife. It helped provide me a solid piece of mind knowing that my baby was getting the exta scans and it helps to see them often on the ultrasound :) Most have probably treated other pregnant women who were on the same medications even though it wasn't for TN. My high risk has also helped me develop my birth plan because I wanted to delivering vaginally without causing an attack with the pushing during childbirth.
Stay strong and enjoy the pregnancy because it goes way to fast. I have been through TN and pregnancy so if you need anything or just to talk I am just a click away. It isn't the easiest road to walk down but I promise its worth it, I can't wait to meet my little one shortly, hopefully less than 2 weeks now!
Jessy
Mica said:
Hiya, thanks! I have my first appointment with the midwife on monday so i am going to ask her advice and see what she says about the gabapentine! It is hard to know what to do because if i stopped the gabapentine my attacks would start again and then the baby would be in much more danger. Its trying to decide on the lesser of two evils for me!! Im trying to make up for it by taking my folic acid and eating LOADS of fruit and veg ect (usually in terrible for eating it and would only have 1 a day!!!)
Jessy said:
I would recommend asking your OB for a referral to a maternal/fetal specialist aka high risk doctor. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and elected to go off all my medication except the methadone after reviewing the risks associated with the medication. The high risk doctor will be able to outline the risk to benefit ratio for you and your baby developing. My high risk doctor is a god send with knowing all this information and without him I would be truly lost. He admitted I was his first patient with TN but has had patients on many of the medications we take to control the TN.
So lovely to hear from you sweetie. I have no idea how things are done in the US but rest assured Mica's midwife will be working through her Dr's surgery. Mica can request to be seen by the Dr at any appointment. Sorry for talking as if you were not in the room Mica! I just don't want our caring American friends thinking that because you see the midwife it won't involve a Dr. I had to see my Dr after every midwife visit. And I was low risk then.
Mica said:
Thank you!!! I know i remember us chatting, im so so so excited, im only 5 weeks but im totally in love already! I feel ok about taking the meds during the pregnancy as i know that not taking them would worse, and paul and i are strong people, i feel our baby will be strong too. Im going to talk to my midwife about it during my first booking in appointment next week. Im going to do EVERYTHING i can to make sure the baby grows strong and healthy!
Jackie said:
Hi Mica
I am so very pleased for you, this is something we have spoken about previously. Sorry it's a mixed bag of answers here. They all seem very good to me. I have known couple of severe epileptics and they could not come off their meds whilst pregnant. Whilst I am unqualified to offer a medical opinion I would just like to say their children popped into the world in perfect condition and have grown to fine adults. As long as you know I am making no promises I wanted you to know that. Some reports say it's safety has not been proven in pregnancy but try not to overreact to that, it may just mean that it has not been proven.
Mica you will be a lovely mum from what I know about you. You cannot be the worlds first woman with TN/ATN, as Red says, there is a good woman for you to talk to. give it a try. Also, why not ask your Dr to find out for you, he owes you a bit of research into such an important topic.
All the best sweetheart, I wish you as I do any mum to be the best of everything. I would not have missed it for the world. My only regret is not having more!
One caution about midwifes, most of them want you off any meds. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I went to a midwife. I am asthmatic. She wanted me to go off my inhalor totally... I was so mad because if I can't breathe, I can't get oxygen to the baby. I then switched to an OB/GYN who was fine with all my meds and explained there were risks, but minor compared to the stress and loss of oxygen to baby during an attack.
I realize that all midwifes are not like this, but just beware they can be. Also, they do have less training in pharmocology then MD's do.
So, that said, I think you need to have your regular MD or a high risk doctor review and get a plan for you, working your midwife in the loop.
Lisa's suggestion is very sound advice. Especially for chronic pain patients but for patients generally too, there is very good medical evidence that a "team" approach to managing pregnancy can generate concretely better outcomes for mother and child.
I dont have a doctor who deals with me no. When i had an appointment with a doctor to tell the i was pregnant and get advice on what to do next he told me my midwife would deal with everything....i felt rather fobbed off and he told me that he had no idea what taking gabapentin during pregnancy would do or what i should even do about it. im going to ask the midwife about it all when i see her and ask her if i should be seeing a specialist.
Jessy, Thanks for your reply that made me feel alot better. I do feel that because of how strong i have to be because of TN, surely my baby will be a strong one too!! lol. I am really going to press my midwife when i meet her that i want to work with a doctor as well. I agree that midwives arnt going to know as much about tn and the medications as other doctors so i feel that to get the best help to to do the best for the baby i need to work with nboth. I also have an appointment with my neuro surgeon december 20th (it was SUPPOSED to be about having surgery but that aint happening anymore!) and i intend to discuss it with him also.
Jackie, thanks for that reply, that made me feel a little better that i wasnt going to have to deal with just a midwife that didnt understand my condition, altough my doctor was useless when i saw him and offered NO advice.
Red, Having a team of people to all work together with me and help would be amazing but i cant help but worry that that isnt what is going to happen in my case. My doctors offered no help or advice and didnt even know he could put me on more than the avergae dose of folic acid so im still just taking the normal amount! I also live and will be seeing a midwife in a place where the is a high birth rate, and because of this i feel i will just be met, scanned ect and moved on so they can get through the huge que of people waiting to be seen. if you know what i mean? Im going to do my best to push things such as seeing specialists.
Mica, your otherwise rather incompetent British NHS system still has some competent professionals trapped in it. One of your tasks will be to find them. If your NHS primary care provider doesn't know anything about Trigeminal Neuralgia, then you can file formal request to be referred to somebody who does, claiming with considerable justification that his/their ignorance on the subject may place you and your baby at risk.
There is also a TN Association in the UK which may have somebody affiliated who is close to you in geography and familiar with the local medical infrastructure. The contact points in the UK are as follows:
TNA UK + 44 (1883) 723360 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Dorothy Power ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Please feel free to get back to me if you don't get results from an email or phone call to these people.