Doxylamine succinate–pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overview

Nina Nuangchamnong; Jennifer Niebyl

doi:10.2147/IJWH.S46653

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Doxylamine succinate–pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overview

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Doxylamine succinate–pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overview

Nina Nuangchamnong and Jennifer Niebyl

International Journal of Women's Health, Vol.6(1), pp.401-409

2014

DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S46653

PMCID: PMC3990370

PMID: 24748822

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Abstract

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is common and often undertreated, in part due to fears of adverse effects of medications on the fetus during early pregnancy. In April 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved doxylamine succinate 10 mg and pyridoxine hydrochloride (a vitamin B 6 analog) 10 mg as a delayed-release combination pill called Diclegis for the treatment of NVP. Diclegis is currently the only medication that is FDA-approved for the indication of NVP. This review addresses the historical context, safety, efficacy, pharmacology, and practical role of doxylamine and pyridoxine for the management of NVP. The reintroduction of this doxylamine–pyridoxine combination pill into the American market fills a therapeutic gap in the management of NVP left by the removal of the same active drugs marketed over 30 years ago in the form of Bendectin. The substantial amount of safety data accumulated over the years makes it one of the few drugs that qualify for FDA Pregnancy Category A status. In the hierarchical approach to pharmacological treatment of NVP, the combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine should thus be first-tier.

Pregnancy

doxylamine

pyridoxine

vitamin B6

Review

nausea

vomiting

Details

Title: Subtitle: Doxylamine succinate–pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overview
Creators: Nina Nuangchamnong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa, IA, USA
Jennifer Niebyl - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa, IA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International Journal of Women's Health, Vol.6(1), pp.401-409
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S46653
PMID: 24748822
PMCID: PMC3990370
NLM abbreviation: Int J Womens Health
ISSN: 1179-1411
eISSN: 1179-1411
Publisher: Dove Medical Press
Language: English
Date published: 2014
Academic Unit: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Record Identifier: 9983930230902771

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