Nausea and Vomiting Medications in Pregnancy

• May be taken with or without food.

• Generally well tolerated.

Bonjesta®

(Contains doxylamine and pyridoxine)

• Take half to one hour before food, on an empty stomach.
• Swallow tablets whole, do not chew, crush or split.
   

• Drowsiness
  • Avoid driving or operating machineries.
• Other side effects include dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention (difficulty to urinate) and blurred vision.

• May be taken with or without food.

• Drowsiness
  • Avoid driving or operating machineries.
• Other side effects include dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention (difficulty to urinate) and blurred vision.

• Take half to one hour before food, on an empty stomach.

• Drowsiness.
  • Avoid driving or operating machineries.
• Stop and seek medical advice immediately if you experience uncontrollable movements (usually head and neck) such as shaking, twisting movement or muscle contraction (stiffness, rigidity).

• May be taken with or without food.

• Generally well tolerated but may experience constipation, fatigue and/or headache.
• This medication is usually reserved for more severe NVP, from the second trimester onwards.

Do’s 

• Drink enough fluid throughout the day to ensure you are well-hydrated (sip in small amounts so that it is better tolerated).
• Suck on ice cubes or a spoonful of crushed ice if you have difficulty keeping fluids down.
• Eat dry biscuits or toast in the morning when you get up.
• Get up slowly and do not lie down right after eating as this delays gastric emptying.
• Eat smaller but more frequent meals [i.e. every 2 hours] to avoid an overly full stomach and to ensure your stomach is never empty, as this can cause nausea.
• Eat cold or cooled food instead of hot food as cold food tends to have less smell that may trigger nausea or vomiting.
• Have a range of food on hand with different tastes and textures [i.e. sweet, salty, crunchy] as your taste may change throughout the day.
• If you are producing too much saliva, spit it out instead of swallowing it. The bitter taste of saliva may cause nausea and vomiting.
• You may take simethicone or antacid for gas, bloating or heartburn symptoms. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe medications such as famotidine or omeprazole for more severe heartburn symptoms.
• Try consuming ginger-containing foods or drinks.
• Get plenty of rest (tiredness can make nausea worse).

Don’ts

• Do not skip meals or go on for a long time without eating.
• Avoid excessive carbonated or caffeinated drinks, as it may cause heartburn or nausea.
• Avoid warm places, as this may increase the feeling of sickness.
• Avoid strong odours including cigarette smoke, perfumes and chemicals.
• Avoid cooking or eating spicy food, oily food, foods with a strong smell, as these can cause heartburn or nausea.