Kim Kardashian: Morning Sickness Drug

I remember my first pregnancy was a breeze, nothing was worse than my second. I was sick all of the time, I actually lost over 25lbs. and toward the end I was scheduled for stress monitor tests like every week. There was no drug available to help with overzealous morning sickness. Now, there is! According to Kim K, Diclegis, is the best thing since sliced bread! Me being the person I am, I take myself over to the website (diclegis.com) for the drug and immediately hit the side effects. This drug is a control-release substance, that has some side effects that makes me put it in the same categories as 'molly' or 'xstacy'. The company offers that they have done controlled studies and the drug has not shown any harm to unborn children. Although, this drug has not been studied on women with hyperemesis gravidarum; a severe case of nausea and vomiting that can lead to weight loss and dehydration amongst pregnant women, it should have been, right along with women who suffer from preeclampsia. Get into the 'side effects' of the drug that a currently pregnant Kim K is telling women is safe for symptoms of pregnancy;

Photo Credit: NY Times

Do not take Diclegis^® if you are allergic to doxylamine succinate, other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients in Diclegis^®. You should also not take Diclegis^® in combination with medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as these medicines can intensify and prolong the adverse CNS effects of Diclegis. Use of MAOIs may also prolong and intensify the anticholinergic (drying) effects of antihistamines.
The most common side effect of Diclegis^® is drowsiness. You should avoid engaging in activities requiring complete mental alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, while using Diclegis^® until cleared to do so by your healthcare provider.
Do not take Diclegis^® with alcohol or sedating medicines, including other antihistamines (present in some cough and cold medications), opiates, or sleep aids, because severe drowsiness can happen or become worse, causing falls or accidents.
Diclegis^® should be used with caution in women who have: (1) asthma, (2) increased pressure in the eye, (3) an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma, (4) a stomach problem called stenosing peptic ulcer, (5) pyloroduodenal obstruction, or (6) a bladder problem called bladder-neck obstruction. Fatalities have been reported from doxylamine overdose in children. Children appear to be at a high risk for cardiorespiratory arrest. However, the safety and effectiveness of Diclegis^® in children younger than 18 years have not been established.
Diclegis^® is a delayed-release formulation; therefore, signs and symptoms of intoxication may not be apparent immediately. Signs and symptoms of overdose may include restlessness, dryness of mouth, dilated pupils, sleepiness, vertigo, mental confusion, and tachycardia.The FDA granted Diclegis^® Pregnancy Category A status, which means that the results of controlled studies have not shown increased risk to an unborn baby during pregnancy.
Women should not breast-feed while using Diclegis^® because the antihistamine component (doxylamine succinate) in Diclegis^® can pass into breast milk. Excitement, irritability, and sedation have been reported in nursing infants presumably exposed to doxylamine succinate through breast milk. Infants with apnea or other respiratory syndromes may be particularly vulnerable to the sedative effects of Diclegis^® resulting in worsening of their apnea or respiratory conditions.
Now, with all of the complications that can occur during a pregnancy, it doesn't seem logical that something that can make you extremely drowsy, is time released, and should not be given to children (even through breastfeeding), would be absolutely harmless to an unborn child, lawd, I guess. My advice to my readers is this; People are people, just because Kim K ALLEGEDLY uses this drug does NOT mean that you should. Quit jumping on the celebrity drug bandwagon and see your primary care provider for any discomfort that you may be feeling during pregnancy. I can honestly say that I believe Kim K is just a promoter for this drug brand, and doesn't actually use this product. I don't think anyone that is pregnant should. Maybe this should be marketed toward cancer patients, it seems they would benefit from this drug better than someone going through pregnancy symptoms. If you have ever seen a person sick from chemotherapy and/or radiation, I'm sure you would agree.