Drug Warning -- Tigan -- side effects caused seizures, etc. for an 18-month daughter of a friend

Oklahoma State Senator | Feb 1, 2006 | PhiKapMom

[PhiKapMom]

Message with a TIGAN DRUG WARNING from my friend and State Senator:

Thank you so much Sharon!!! I believe very strongly in the power of prayer and God's grace.

The medication was Tigan and was administered as an anti-nausea medicine to stop her vomiting. Three hours after the administration of Tigan, Rachel had her first seizure, and then two hours later, she had her second more severe seizure during which she stopped breathing...

Prayers were answered, Rachel is now home and recovering.

Sharon, please send this message out to all concerned (and post on this website) so that parents can be aware of this possible side effect of Tigan, and so that all will know how very much I am thankful for their prayers. Thank you, Jonathan.

[PhiKapMom]

All -- I posted a thread asking for prayers for Rachel and found out from her Dad tonight that the problems were caused by the drug Tigan -- thought all of us should be forewarned of the dangers of the drug. I was told this afternoon that as many as 1 in 2000 children could have an allergic reaction to this drug. Because of the seriousness of the side effects, I felt everyone needed to see it on its own thread.

Rachel is 18 months and I wanted all of you to be aware of what could happen. God answered everyone's prayers and she is home and getting better by the hour.

Please keep in mind if anyone in your family or friends are prescribed Tigan what the side effects could possibly be -- seizures and Rachel stopped breathing from a severe alergic reaction.

[PhiKapMom]

Please pass this on to anyone you know to alert them to the dangers of the drug Tigan especially in a young child.

Thanks!

[netmilsmom]

Why was she treated with this med?

[PhiKapMom]

She had been vomiting for two days and was getting dehydrated so they gave her Tigan to stop the vomiting and then an IV to give her liquids.

Should have posted that as well -- thanks for asking!

[NonValueAdded]

Thank you for spreading the word.

[yatros from flatwater]

FYI, All antiemetics lower what is referred to as the "seizure threshold", the likelihood that a vulnerable individual will suffer a seizure. In young children, seizures are likely to occur in the context of a febrile illness. Any antiemetic in the presence of fever or dehydration or in the context of other risk factors, e.g. a family history of epilepsy, could aid in triggering a seizure. Absent any other risk factors, the antiemetic alone would not be sufficient to cause a seizure.

[deport]

Glad Rachel is home and doing better.....

Even controlled and prescribed drugs are never a sure thing with anyone. It always pays to be alert to what is being administered.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for that info -- she was dehydrated so she was a prime candidate for this to happen. Kind of scarey when you don't realize what could happen when medicines are administered in an emergency situtation.

Know one thing -- this has taught me to ask all kinds of questions on medication and their side effects that is given to my family.

[jammer]

If you had known of the possible side-effects, were responsible for the child's care, and knew the condition of the child, would you have refused the treatment going in? I think not, nor would any rational person.

[PhiKapMom]

Have had doctors consider me a pain for asking too questions and tell me so but that's their problem not mine.

[PhiKapMom]

If I was told the possible side effects, my daughter was dehydrated, and they wanted to give her this drug, I would have asked all kinds of questions. The problem is too many emergency rooms or doctors do not give parents the information they need IMHO to make a decision.

She was given the drug and then sent home where she had the first seizure, rushed back to the hospital, suffered a second seizure and quit breathing, was stabilized and transferred to OU Medical Center.

At least if you knew the side effects, you would be on the lookout for any signicant change in your child.

[LibFreeOrDie]

More about Tigan:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/trimethbenz_wcp.htm

[yatros from flatwater]

Very frightening indeed. It's not for nothing that the Greeks thought that seizures were of supernatural origin - the amazing thing is that with all of the electrical activity of the brain, that we are able to function at all! Another blessing is that children are unlikely to suffer any lasting harm from such events...

Psalm 91 seems a good fit.

[jammer]

Sure, you need to know what to look for, and that's a fair criticism, if they weren't told. But from your description, the child was very bad. I have seen some children given some pretty dangerous things in that type of situation because there was no choice.

[TheGeezer]

Tigan has been around for 35 years or more. Its side effects are well documented. There are risks with any med. Generally it is quite safe.

[processing please hold]

I've used Phenergan suppository on and off for years on my little girl to control her nausia and vomiting. IMO, it's the best out there.

[processing please hold]

nausia = nausea...sorry.

[steve86]

Yes, promethazine has done wonders for our little girls. I am sorry for the Rachel's seizure and am happy prayers were answered. But I have to agree with previous posters' opinions that sometimes medical staff does not have the luxury of selecting a "no-risk" treatment. Standard way of life in the ICU.

In general, Internet anecdotes of side effects aren't the best way to go about evaluation medications because you never hear from the 98% who had no serious complication. For us, this has been a very benign drug.

[steve86]

Thanks for the authoritative comment.

[processing please hold]

When my little girl is hospitalized, her doctors make way for me. I've gone head to head with quiet a few involving her treatment. Once she's had a cat scan and her neurosurgeon has determined that her shunt is working fine and the csf is normal, he tells the doctors to follow my advice on how to treat her, and get back with him if they don't agree with me. One of her anomalies is nausea and vomiting. That I know how to treat, I can do it with my eyes closed. Phenergan time. For her it's a wonder drug.