Hm multivitamin - Who would've thought

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) makes the following recommendations for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.of pregnancy.

The following are based on consistent scientific evidence:

• Taking a multivitamin at the time of conception may decrease the severity of symptoms.
• Taking Vitamin B6 or Vitamin B6 plus doxylamine (an antihistamine) is safe and effective and should be considered a first-line treatment.

The following recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence:

• Ginger has shown beneficial effects and can be considered a nonpharmacologic option.
• Antihistamine H1 receptor blockers, phenothiazines, and benzamines have been shown to be safe and effective in treating refractory cases.
• Early treatment of symptoms is recommended to prevent progression to hyperemesis gravidarum.
• Treatment with methylprednisolone (a steroid) may be effective in severe cases, but should be a treatment of last resort due to its potential risk to the fetus.

[Mecca]

That's really interesting. Does this only apply to pregnant women or are these things also beneficial when not pregnant or in other situations of hormonal imbalances such as periods and the like?

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

I don't know. But I would think that if it helps pregnant women, it would help with nausea associated with other hormone imbalances... like ovulation, menstruation, perimenopause. Couldn't hurt. And it stands to reason that a healthy body getting all the nutrients it needs, is healthier and feels better than a body that's either malnourished or deficient in something?

[Elski]

The anti-nausea meds I took when I had morning sickness had Vit B6 in. I was living in Canada at the time and it seemed that B6 was played up a lot in the US/Canada as a safe and successful line of treatment. It's not the same here in the UK though as I guess RCOG haven't subjected it to the same clinical trials as ACOG have. I think RCOG found that it affects the severity of nausea but makes no difference to vomiting.

The medication I took really took the edge off the nausea actually, it's a shame the same drug isn't licenced for use in the UK!