Nifedipine question

I started having lots of contractions at 34weeks1day, 90% effaced, but my cervix was closed. I was put on Nifedipine 10mg every 6 hours, they wanted me to take them until I got to 36 weeks. I had another episode last night (at 34weeks5days) so I returned to L&D and was told I need to double my dose and cannot come off the med until 36 weeks. I feel like these babies are ready to be born, they are big in the 90th percentile and I'm not a big person. I really believe they are going to be strong healthy babies. I'm very frustrated with my dr. I would like to know if any of you were put on meds this late in your twin pregnancy?

 

Actually, I was taken OFF my Nifedipine at 34 weeks (when I was 4cm dilated & 70% effaced, babies in the 40th percentile).

GL to you!

 

I was also taken off of the Procardia at 34 weeks. I was having heartrate problems on it, but would have been taken off at 34 weeks regardless.

 

What I forgot to mention also was that I had started to to see a cardiologist because my heartrate was high, he wasn't too concerned about that, but my BP was all of a sudden high too. I had an echocardiogram in the morning the same day I went into the hospital (I started intense contractions at night). So my results weren't even in yet and my OB wanted to put me on Terbutaline (which increases your heartrate) and I refused it. My BP has still been high (no protein in urine though) even though I'm now on Nifedipine (which should lower it). My peri was the one to suggest to my OB to put me on this med. I've had a very uneventful twin pregnancy until now. I'm very frustrated and confused. I feel like just stopping them on my own.

 

Strange that they would want to put you on the Terb if your heartrate is already high. Mine was in the 140's resting towards the end. I had an echo and some other tests done. Have they done a 24 hour urine on you? I was told after I was taken off of the Procardia(at a little less than 34 weeks), if I were to come back in PTL, my only option would be mag. But they wouldn't stop labor after 34 weeks anyway.

 

I'm surprised your dr. has you on it until 36 weeks. I spent most of my time from 30-34 weeks on hospital bedrest. I started out with terb shots and then ended up on mag sulfate. I was taken off the mag at 34 weeks and delivered the next day. My dr. would only "prevent" labor until 34 weeks. After I was taken off the mag, they said they would give me terb shots to help with all the contractions...after 3 shots of terb after coming off of mag, the contracts were REAL labor and I had my c-section.

 

I was put on procardia at 30 weeks, instead of the terbutaline, also due to the heart rate issues. I was told they would not try to stop labor after 34wks, and I delivered at 34w 3 days.

 

I wonder if they will do an amnio too see if the lungs are ok and then let you stop the meds and let nature take it's course. If they are the correct weight then I think the only concern would be the lungs.

 

I was still on nifedipine and everything else in my 34th week. My doc was planning on keeping me on the meds until 36 weeks, although he would not have tried to stop labor after the 34th week (like using mag sulfate, etc.). I ended up delivering at 34w4d.

 

I was put on nifedipine at 22w and came off them at 35w. They wouldn't have tried to stop labor after 34w, but the peri kept me on them anyway. I had 12 trips to L&D from 20-30w. I was given terb a number of times and it was just frustrating because it would only stop the contrax while I was in the hospital on the medicine. As soon as my contrax stopped, they would send me home and I would contract like crazy again. So, at 31w, I just stopped going to L&D. I do not recommend this, but for me contractions were just a way of life. I had no cervical changes the entire time.

Just as a side note, I have been off the meds for over a week and have not had any more contractions than when I was on them. Still, I would try to do as my dr. said because everyday they are inside you counts, but still talk to him about why you have to continue the meds.

Good luck!

m.

 

I was on Nifedipine until the middle of my 35th week. Just a word of caution, there are many who think stopping cold turkey is very unhealthy so if the concept of taking yourself off is even a random thought please please please use caution and wean off, do not go cold turkey (I am NOT recommending you stop without consulting a doc so please do not read my thoughts that way but I am scared for you if you were considering stopping cold turkey!).

 

Dianne,

What have you heard about stopping Nifedipine cold turkey? I have not stopped it, but the doctors want me to just stop taking it on Saturday, no weaning down. Now I'm concerned.

 

QUOTE(kristen3525 @ Jul 24 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]343020[/snapback]
Dianne,

What have you heard about stopping Nifedipine cold turkey? I have not stopped it, but the doctors want me to just stop taking it on Saturday, no weaning down. Now I'm concerned.


Hi Kristen,

I was on nifedipine after delivery of my girls and was able to just stop taking it once my BP got under control again. If your docs haven't mentioned weaning you should be all set. Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker (class of bp med) and it's usually the beta blockers that you need to wean off of.

HTH!

Good luck to you!

 

I was told by my doc it was better to wean than to go cold turkey, over the time I had been taking it I had doubled my dosage. My doc thought it would not be healthy for me to go from highly medicated to not medicated in one day so I followed the instructions and weaned down first from two pills every 6 hours to alternating one pill then two pills until I was down to one pill every 6 hours then skipped one so I was at one every 12 hours then 1 in 24 hours then completely off.

 

QUOTE(Dianne @ Jul 25 2007, 01:23 AM) [snapback]343402[/snapback]
I was told by my doc it was better to wean than to go cold turkey, over the time I had been taking it I had doubled my dosage. My doc thought it would not be healthy for me to go from highly medicated to not medicated in one day so I followed the instructions and weaned down first from two pills every 6 hours to alternating one pill then two pills until I was down to one pill every 6 hours then skipped one so I was at one every 12 hours then 1 in 24 hours then completely off.



Probably one of those dose dependent things then! My dose wasn't particularly high...