NVP Counselor
Date: 2005-03-25

Question:
Hello, I'm looking for information on possible side effects of Diclectin in it's current form available in Ontario. A family member was on Diclectin to control her nausea for two pregnancies; the first one for approx 6.5 months, the second for approx 8 months. She is one of the unlucky few that suffered "morning sickness" and all day/night and did for the full 9 months. She has just had her second child and both children, at birth where normal full term babies (7 lbs, 9 lbs 5 oz)both children suffered the same symptons after birth, apnea, difficulty breathing, the second child worse then the first child. Is there any known side effects for the drug? Side effects that she as an individual, either genetically, enviromentally, in connection with gestational diabetes/insulin dosage? If she's the "one in a million" that could be affected as a side effect...knowledge is vital for future pregnancies (if they choose to have more). The only factors constant between the 2 pregnancies: parents, Diclectin, gestational diabetes (2nd pregnancy-higher dosage of insulin); different factors: residence, employment. If there is anything that you see can listed above that may be more indicative of the where a possible cause might be, please suggest them, they will happily investigate all of them with their doctors in a hope of better understanding why it is happening and what they might avoid in future. Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide.

Answer:
Diclectin has been used for NVP for over 40 years, ie., millions of exposures including the second generation of women by now, with no increase to the 1 percent to 3 percent baseline risk for birth defect. There are also no known or reported side effects to the babies after birth.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in itself is also seen now, as indicated by studies, as a protective effect, and sign of a healthy, strong pregnancy. Thus both NVP and its treatment would not be predictors of the symptoms experienced by both babies after birth. On the contrary, gestational diabetes is in itself associated with complications for the babies. Please consult your doctor or call the Motherisk line at (416) 813-6780 for more information.