WebMD
Font Size
A
A
A

Unisom (doxylamine) and vitamin B6 for morning sickness

If vitamin B6 alone doesn't relieve your morning sickness, talk to your health professional about adding doxylamine, a nonprescription antihistamine marketed as 25 mg Unisom Night-Time Sleep-Aid Tablets. Doxylamine is the most proven, safe, and effective medication available for reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.1

Vitamin B6 and doxylamine was prescribed as Bendectin in the U.S. until 1983, when it was taken off of the market; it has continued to be available in Canada as Diclectin. Although Bendectin was once thought to cause fetal problems, this medication is now considered to have one of the best safety profiles of all medications given during pregnancy, based on the tens of millions of women treated since 1956 with no known fetal effects.1, 2

Talk to your health professional about the right doxylamine dosage for you.

Note:

Avoid confusing Unisom Tablets with Unisom SleepGels, which contain a different medication.

Citations

  1. Niebyl JR, Goodwin TM (2002). Overview of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with an emphasis on vitamins and ginger. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 186(5, Suppl): S253–S255.

  2. McKeigue PM, et al. (1994). Bendectin and birth defects: 1. A meta-analysis of the epidemiologic studies. Teratology, 50(1): 27–37.

Author Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer Renée M. Crichlow, MD
- Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Updated November 30, 2006

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 30, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.