Pregnant women can take certain medications to overcome nausea and vomiting if home or herbal remedies don’t seem to be working. Many medications, both in pill and suppository form, are available and considered safe for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. However, it should be noted that not all of them work for all women.
Here are some medications that can help reduce nausea:
Doxylamine with vitamin B6: Many women have experienced a reduction in nausea after taking 10 to 25 mg of vitamin B6 supplements three to four times a day. Relieves symptoms of mild to moderate nausea.
Doxylamine is an antihistamine drug. Doxylamine can cause drowsiness and therefore should not be taken before driving. Half a 25 mg tablet or just two 5 mg chewable tablets can be used to decrease vomiting. This medicine can be combined with vitamin B6 to produce better results.
A combination of Doxylamine and Vitamin B6 was already available in the US however it is now banned in the country because it was believed to cause birth defects. No such finding has been made in subsequent studies. The drug is now considered safe and effective. Consultation with a doctor is essential before taking this medicine.
Antihistamine medications are safe and effective. Some other antihistamine medications that can be used to overcome nausea are:
Promethazine: This drug is available as a solution for injection, a pill, or a rectal suppository. It should be taken every 4 hours to avoid nausea. Its common side effects are dry mouth and drowsiness; however, it can also cause a rare side effect of involuntary muscle contractions that cause jerky or twisting movements.
Metoclopramide: This drug helps overcome pregnancy-related nausea by speeding up the emptying of the stomach. It can be taken orally or by injection every 8 hours.
Ondansetron – This is one of the most effective and therefore most expensive anti-nausea medications ($ 500 for 30 pills). This medication should be taken by mouth or by injection every 8 to 12 hours.
This drug was originally designed to control nausea in chemotherapy patients.
If the cause of nausea is heartburn, heartburn-fighting medications should be used: Antacids – Many pregnant women develop acid reflux due to gastrointestinal upset that makes nausea worse. In such a case, antacids are recommended. If the nausea and vomiting are so severe that the expectant mother cannot keep down anything, such as water, food, juices, vitamins, and prenatal supplements or medications, she probably has a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. In such a case, the pregnant woman should be hospitalized and treated with intravenous (IV) fluids and medications.
Many intravenous drugs have been used to treat hyperemesis gravidarum, but the most powerful and effective drug is droperidol, especially when taken in combination with fluids, vitamins, and the antihistamine diphenhydramine. Droperidol quickly controls nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women should not take any medications without consulting their doctor.
