NVP Counselor
Date: 2004-06-03

Question:
I was prescribed Diclectin about a week and a half ago. At first it seemed to really help the severe vomiting and nausea I had but now I seem to be feeling awful again...does it lose it potencey after awhile? or what could be the cause of this?

Answer:
Why not call us at the Motherisk NVP Helpline, 1-800-436-8477 to talk about your sympotms and the optimal use of Diclectin? This medication works best if used according to a regular, daily routine. Because it is delayed release by about 4 hours and effective for 8 hours, most women take 2 pills in the late evening (around 10 p.m), 1 in the early morning and 1 in the early afternoon. That way they have constant relief of their symptoms.

Women with severe symptoms may also need to increase their dose gradually. A Motherisk study confirmed the safety of up to 8 pills per day. For women who are vomiting when they start taking Diclectin (and therefore unable to keep the pills down), we suggest that they use 50 mg of rectal Gravol half and hour before taking the Diclectin for the first few times. This may prevent the vomiting for a few hours and allow the woman to keep the Diclectin in her system.

Diclectin, the safe and approved NVP treatment, will not increase the 1% to 3% baseline risk for malformation. The same is true of the occasional Gravol (up to 200 mg per day).