GP refusing to prescribe xonvea

Sorry my GP said it wasn’t widely available in Edinburgh and wouldn’t prescribe it at all! I’m on ondansetron starting from today!

Hi Hannah, I’m hoddesdon based but my drs are based in Harlow and I have this prescription. It’s the same for me - it’s made a huge difference for me. Are you at PAH? Could you ask the midwives there if they can give it to you? If not, could you try making a complaint to your drs? If it’s just “dispensing” that’s the issue, can they give you the prescription and you go to a different pharmacy?! The one in church Langley gave me my tablets with no problem.

When I started taking Xonvea it wasn't available in my postcode so I got my script from Dr's and had to ring round to see what chemist's stocked it. Eventually my local chemist did stock it but maybe you could try that?x

My gp wouldn’t prescribe it either, I was in tears on the phone but unfortunately I had no luck. I now take cyclizine and odansetron however when I ran out of odansetron my gp was hesitant to prescribe more and said it’s for short term use (2 weeks). After I explained I’ve tried 5-6 different medications, this is the only combination that works, he finally prescribed me 5 days worth 🙃 No idea what I’m gonna do when this packet runs out

Oh girls I’m sorry to hear of all of your struggles to. I called my GP back repeatedly and was told ‘their employers’ have said categorically not to prescribe it to me. It’s not a pharmacy issue I think it’s because it’s a cost. The doctor basically shouted at me saying the first gp had ‘got into a lot of trouble’ for prescribing it to me in the first place and then she hung up on me as I was crying on the phone. I actually can’t believe it I feel so let down and scared. Natalie-I’m based in Hertford and registered at Lister but I haven’t even had my booking appointment yet. I’ve no idea if it’s something I can call the EPU for?

I called 111 and have come to see an out of hours gp - am waiting to hear if he can get me the prescription. Anna - I’m so sorry for you too, I feel the same when this runs out I don’t actually know how I’ll manage

I hope 111 are able to prescribe it for you. I find it so sad that so many women are struggling and they make it so difficult. You could try EPU? I don’t know the hours for lister but I expect it’s similar to PAH 8.30-6. Although if you’ve spoken to an out of hours gp now, hopefully you’ll get someone who is super sympathetic. The only other alternative is could you ask for a private prescription? I appreciate it’s not ideal having to pay. I was on Prochlorperazine previously which I got privately which did help but I preferred xonvea. Would you possibly try Prochlorperazine instead? I paid about £10 for it privately so I expect it’s even cheaper for the nhs to prescribe!! It is also licensed in pregnancy. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this x

I had a look online, can you ladies access Unisom or another over the counter sleep aid from the chemist? You want one with purely Doxylamine succinate. Then you takd Vitamin b6 with it. That is what Xonvea is. In Australia, we don’t have it in a single tablet, we are sent to the chemist for Restavit (a sleeping pill, but just doxylamine) and B6 and told how much to take. Just don’t tell the chemist that you’re pregnant/what it’s for if they ask or have a partner get it for you (and not buy too much at once), as they can refuse to sell it to you. They will say don’t take for more than a few days (as a sleeping pill) and just say “okay.” I only had one cgemist ever ask but I had a prescription that my GP wrote just in case, but no one ever took the script because it was over the counter. It looks like it is available OTC in the UK too. I’m so sorry these doctors are making your lives so much harder.

You know I have been tempted to try and get the active ingredients separately as you suggest Robyn. In the end the out of hours GP gave me an emergency prescription for it so I have one packet left. It seems to have coincided with my symptoms getting worse, or maybe I’ve gotten used to the xonvea or something because I’m being sick a lot more again. I’m 9 weeks so maybe I’m entering peak HG mode 😭

Hey pleased to hear you got some in the end! just to say I’ve had to double my dose and I’ve gone right back to where I was beforehand. I’m 14+4 for info. It could well be that our bodies get use to it as this has suddenly happened to me too

Glad you managed to get a script! Yeah 10-14 weeks can be the hardest for many people, you may have to up your doses and stock up on a variety of safe foods and just not push yourself at all if possible—maybe you could try to take some leave if you’re working and find a craft activity/book series/show to binge watch to keep you distracted yet still a bit stimulated.