Doxylamine and pyridoxine are used in conjunction to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnant women whose symptoms have not subsided despite dietary changes or other non-medical therapy. Doxylamine belongs to the group of drugs known as antihistamines. It functions by preventing the body’s natural chemicals from acting in a way that can cause nausea and vomiting. A vitamin is pyridoxine (vitamin B6). It is administered because a deficiency in pyridoxine in the body may also contribute to pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.

Doxylamine and pyridoxine are available as oral extended-release (long-acting) tablets as well as delayed-release (releases the medication in the gut to postpone when the medication will start functioning) tablets. It is often taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal). Your doctor would typically advise you to take it once daily at bedtime at first. Your doctor may advise you to take the extended-release tablet twice daily or the delayed-release tablet two or three times a day if your nausea and vomiting symptoms do not improve. If there is anything you do not understand about the instructions on your prescription label, contact your doctor or pharmacist to clarify it. Do not alter the recommended dosages of pyridoxine and doxylamine. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less than that amount or more frequently.

Do not split, chew, or crush the delayed-release or extended-release tablets; instead, swallow them whole.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking doxylamine and pyridoxine,

• If you have a doxylamine (Unisom) allergy, let your doctor and pharmacist know; pyridoxine (vitamin B6), additional antihistamine drugs like carboxamide (Arbinoxa), clemastine (Tavist), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and promethazine (Phenergan), other drugs, or any of the components of doxylamine and pyridoxine delayed-release or extended-release tablets. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician if you are using an MAO inhibitor, such as tranylcypromine (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), phenelzine (Nardil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) (Parnate). If you are taking one or more of these medications, your doctor will likely advise you to avoid taking doxylamine with pyridoxine.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Mention any of the following: antihistamines, muscle relaxants, narcotic painkillers, sedatives, sleep aids, tranquillizers, and drugs for colds, hay fever, or allergies. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma, elevated eye pressure, ulcers, intestinal blockage, or trouble peeing. Glaucoma is a disorder in which elevated eye pressure can cause a gradual loss of eyesight.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. While taking doxylamine and pyridoxine, you shouldn’t breastfeed.
• Doxylamine with pyridoxine could make you feel sleepy, so you should be aware of that. Until you are certain of how this drug will affect you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• While taking doxylamine and pyridoxine, stay away from alcohol and items containing alcohol. The drowsiness brought on by this drug may be exacerbated by alcohol.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If, however, your next dose is almost due, skip the missed dose and carry on with your normal dosing plan. Never take more than two extended-release pills or four delayed-release tablets in a single day. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Pyridoxine with doxylamine may have negative side effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Throat, nose, and mouth are dry
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Restlessness
• Dizziness
• Aching or weakened muscles
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Rash

Some adverse effects may be severe. Stop taking pyridoxine and doxylamine and call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms, or seek emergency medical attention:

• Vision issues
• Fuzzy vision
• Dilated eyes (black circles in the centres of the eyes)
• Discomfort or difficulty urinating
• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat
• Breathing difficulty
• Confusion
• Seizures

Pyridoxine and doxylamine may also have other adverse effects. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). Keep the desiccant canister in the bottle if your medication came with one (a little canister containing a chemical that absorbs moisture to keep the drug dry).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• Restlessness
• Dry mouth
• Dilated pupils (black circles in the centers of the eyes)
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
• Difficulty urinating or painful urination
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Buildup of fluid in the body
• Dark red or cola-colored urine

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.