Treatment of morning sickness

Thalidomide was developed by the German pharmaceutical company Griinen-thal for treatment of morning sickness in pregnant women, and it was stated to be extensively tested [100]. The molecule has a chiral center and can be produced in its pure (R)- or (S)-enantiomeric forms. The compound was originally sold as racemic mixture even though initial animal studies indicated that the enantiomers have different biological properties. 

First sold in the United States in 1956, Bendectin is a combination drug consisting of a vitamin, an antispasmodic, and a sedative. It is the only pharmaceutical ever approved in this country for the treatment of morning sickness ... 

Comment For the treatment of morning sickness, this decoction can be given by drops on the tongue throughout the day. 

Pyridoxine has been proposed a treatment for elevated levels of homocysteine, which is believed to be involved in the aetiology of coronary artery disease. There is some evidence that it promotes turnover of homocysteine. There is evidence that it can improve immtme function in the elderly when administered at levels about 2-3 x RDA. There is some evidence that pyridoxine supplementation may improve cognitive function in the elderly although not mood. There is some evidence that pyridoxine may reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. Pyridoxine has been used for many years in the treatment of morning sickness and there is some evidence that it is effective when used at levels of 25 mg every 8 hours. It has been used in treating premenstrual syndrome and there is some evidence that it is effective. It is recommended that pyridoxine supplementation is used with dmgs such as isoniazid and penicillamine that deplete its levels. Lar doses (0.1-1 g) have been used in the treatment of schizophrenia and it has been found that pyridoxine can interfere with the actions of LDOPA and phenytoin. 

Examples of teratogens include thalidomide, ethyl alcohol, and o-benzoic sulfim-ide (the artificial sweetener saccharin). Thalidomide is a drug that was used in the 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness in pregnant mothers. However, the toxic effects were discovered too late for 10,000 babies who were bom with various malformations. In Japan, where fish is a staple food, mothers ate fish contaminated with mercury compounds, causing children to be bom with cerebral palsy. 

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