Treatment
Date: 2001-01-08

Question:
I was taking regular doses of Diclectin from 8-11 weeks (4 tablets/day). However the dosage did not appear to be strong enough to curb my NVP. My physician recommended I take 6 tablets a day as the regular 4 were not working. I did this for 3 weeks. My NVP has settled down now (at 16 weeks) and I have stopped taking Diclectin altogether. I am concerned with the fact that I was taking a dosage beyond the recommended dosage (4 tablets). Do you have any information about the increased effects of taking a dosage beyond the maximum recommended dosage?

Answer:
We are pleased to hear that at 16 weeks your NVP symptoms have stopped, as is the case for most women. Diclectin is known not to increase the baseline risk of malformation of 1% to 3% present in any pregancy. Four pills per day is the dosage commonly used by most women, not taking their body weight into consideration. However, women with severe symptoms (or heavier weights)who are not relieved by 4 pills daily have been taking larger doses. We recently completed a study with women who were taking up to 8 pills per day. There is no difference in birth defect rates in this group when compared with the group that took 4 pills per day, or any increase in the baseline risk of 1% to 3%.