Nausea, Vomiting in Pregnancy Decrease With Diclectin

Delayed-release formulation may improve quality of life during pregnancy

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A delayed-release formulation of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride can help lessen symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Gideon Koren, M.D., of the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, and colleagues investigated the effects of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride in a double-blind study analyzed by intention to treat. One group of pregnant women received up to four tablets of Diclectin, a delayed-release formulation of doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine hydrochloride 10 mg, while another group received a placebo over 14 days. The women quantified the duration and severity of their nausea and vomiting according to a pregnancy unique quantification of emesis (PUQE) score and answered a quality-of-life questionnaire.

The researchers found that Diclectin use significantly lowered the women's symptoms of nausea and vomiting compared to the placebo. The results were based on both the PUQE score (−4.8 ± 2.7 versus −3.9 ± 2.6) and quality of life. After the trial, 48.9 percent of women receiving Diclectin asked to continue compassionate use of their medication, compared to 32.8 percent of placebo-treated women.

"Diclectin delayed-release formulation of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride is effective and well tolerated in treating nausea and vomiting of pregnancy," the authors write.

Diclectin is approved for use in Canada but is not available in the United States. The study was supported by Duchesnay Inc., makers of Diclectin.

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