just some reglan questions

[newmominct]

my doc just put me on reglan...
anyone here taken it?
if so, any side effects? anything i should know?
i only have a 2 week script, has anyone found they had even less milk than before after the effects wore off?

[Amy_G_]

watch for signs of depression, and have your dh watch too

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/prescript_galactagogue.html

[kohlby]

I did not take it but I had a prescription filled for it. (Mine was due to hyperemesis, not milk supply). I researched it and decided I didn't want to try it. I asked on several boards and depression was quite common, even in people who didn't usually have a problem with depression. Also, my grandmother ended up with something like Parkinson's from Reglan. It's a very rare side effect. And it is much more common in the elderly. However, it still scares me that she had this. And though I read that it's reversible when you go off of Reglan, it was not in my grandmother's case. According to a neurosurgen who looked into it, it does make sense that it was not reversable despite what I've read on-line. I'm probably being overly cautious. I'm hardly elderly. I don't have weird reactions to meds in general, though my grandmother, mother and brother do. But I didn't want to risk it.

[KerryS]

You might consider taking domperidone instead.

What's going on that makes you think you need a drug to boost milk production?

[newmominct]

You might consider taking domperidone instead.

What's going on that makes you think you need a drug to boost milk production?


i just went back to work...
and although ive been pumping regularly for a while now, i'm sill not pumping enough to feed him during the day while i'm away...i pump at work when i know its time for him to eat at home, i have a medela pis so i know its not the pump...
ive tried everything... massage, warm compresses, pictures of my ds, smelling his clothes, thinking about him, etc... i was pumping after he ate for a while too...
he eats 3-4 oz at a time and i only can pump 2 if i'm lucky...
i refuse to give in and give him formula
so my dr suggested reglan...

[sweetsaranade]

Have you considered going herbal first? Fenugreek? Or Mother's Milk Tea? Or brewer's yeast? Fewer side effects to worry about that way. ;)

[Amy_G_]

there is a lot of advice on the pumping board here, I think in the archives and at kelly mom how to get more milk out. I would always start with the "home remedies" before reglan, and would consider dom before reglan because of the depressive properties. Most of the time dr's will only give you 2 weeks of reglan to avoid the side effect of depression, but then that means in 2 weeks you may have to find another solution.

also check out kelly mom on bottle feeding a breastfed baby for ideas to make sure baby is not overeating when you are away from him.

[jodibug]

Did your doctor explain that Reglan is NOT approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for breastfeeding mothers?

Reglan is really an awful drug, no one should be taking it IMO. I tried it for three days and had horrible, vivid nightmares. I was also horrible to be around (as my Dh and children can all attest to!) My supply also dipped while I was taking the Reglan.

After I quit taking it and ordered some domperidone, my LC told me that she wished I would have talked to her before trying the Reglan because she would have warned me NOT to take it.

Domperidone is the ONLY drug that is approved by the AAP for increasing milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. It does not enter the brain and therefore does not have the horrible side effects that the Reglan has.

First I would try the Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. For many women these herbs are enough to get your supply up. If those do not work then I would order some domperidone ASAP. It can take up to two weeks to arrive. You may want to contact an LC or your local LLL to see if anyone knows where you could get some until your order comes in. (My LC loaned me enough to last until my order came in and then I just gave it back to her when I got mine.

Good luck..... and please be careful if you do take the Reglan. It is wicked stuff!

[kohlby]

Another vote for fenugreek. It worked super well for me. My DD was a distracted nurser so I had to take fenugreek for three days nearly every month for a while. I know it doesn't work for everyone but it worked far better than I expected for me.