Evaluation of a combination of meclizine and pyridoxine in the control of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
Bethea, R.C.
International Record of Medicine 173: 283-287
1960
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-0632 PMID: 13800150 Document Number: 8903
Our investigation of this drug indicates that in 88 per cent of the cases satisfactory relief of the distressing symptoms of early pregnancy was obtained without undesirable side effects, including sedation. This degree of successful therapy corresponds to that already reported. It seems reasonable to assume that the high incidence of success with this preparation is in part due to the combination of two agents. There is little reason to assume that all nausea and vomiting of pregnancy stems from a common cause. Since several physiological and biochemical mechanisms have been implicated in the etiology of the condition, therapy directed at one specific mechanism may be of little value in some patients. If meclizine acts to depress the sensitivity of the vomiting center to noxious stimuli, as has been postulated, it would be effective in those persons in whom this component was dominant. On the other hand, correction of a pyridoxine deficiency in certain patients would remove a separate etiological mechanism. Since it is practically impossible to identify the cause in a given patient, a combination therapy would be expected to be effective in more patients. Although the groups were small, it appears that 1 tablet a day may be as effective as more frequent administration. This is not unexpected since meclizine exerts its effects for 24 hours or longer. In those patients who did better on more frequent administration, it is possible that a pyridoxine deficiency played a more important role in their sickness, necessitating more frequent doses of that substance. This new combination seems to offer definite advantages in the control of the disturbing symptoms of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.
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