New study finds one morning sickness medication safe

NEW YORK (WABC) -- There haven't been a lot of options for women dealing with morning sickness.

But there is new research out which looks at a drug to help women and its impact on the baby.

This should be reassuring for women; it's a drug that's already used a lot during pregnancy.

So it's thought to be safe, but there's wasn't a lot of research to back that until now.

For women who are pregnant, a large new study finds no link between a commonly prescribed nausea medication and birth defects.

The drug is called metoclopramide, also known by the brand name: Reglan.

Researchers in Denmark looked at 1.2 million pregnancies.

About 28,500 of the women are thought to have taken metoclopramide in the first trimester, but results show no increased risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations like cleft palate, or neural tube defects.

"I think that's good data and that might help somebody who is really experiencing nausea to take a medication and feel comfortable with it," said Dr. Joanne Stone, Mount Sinai Hospital.

Obstetrician Dr. Joanne Stone was not involved in the research but says it is added reassurance for a drug that's already prescribed a lot during pregnancy.

"Not only does it help with the nausea, but it also helps to increase the gastric emptying time so people don't feel so full," Dr. Stone said.

"I was cautious about what medications I took," said Emilee Palmer, a mother of four.

Emilee Palmer was lucky, she didn't have morning sickness, but more than half of all pregnant women will experience first trimester nausea and vomiting.

10 to 15% of those women take medication.

But it's hard not to worry you'll harm the baby.

Metoclopramide is approved for nausea, but last April, the FDA approved the first medication in decades specifically for morning sickness.

Diclegis is a combination of vitamin b6 and doxylamine, an antihistamine.

Both have been available over the counter as supplements or sleep aids and recommended by doctors for years.

"Sometimes one works for one patient and doesn't work for another so we'll switch it up," Dr. Stone said.

It's impossible to feel completely comfortable with any medication in pregnancy, but it's thought that this latest study was so big, that even if there was a slight increased risk of birth defects, it would have been picked up.

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pregnancy, baby, health news, dr. sapna parikh

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