A pregnant woman (7 weeks) received Postafen (meclozine) 1-3 tablet per day, for treating vomiting

Fråga: A pregnant woman (7 weeks) received Postafen (meclozine) 1-3 tablet per day, for treating vomiting and nausea. Is there any risk for foetus malformation?

Sammanfattning: Meclozine, as most of the antihistamines, is considered to be safe and useful for treating vomiting of pregnancy.

Svar: A similar question has been previously answered in the Drug Information Centre (1) and there is support (2-3) for lack of teratogenic effect by the drug. At least three studies involving large numbers of patients have concluded that meclozine is not a human teratogen (2).

Most of the cases of vomiting during pregnancy can be managed without drug treatments. Small frequent carbohydrate meals, as well as avoidance of fatty and greasy foods. In those cases in which a more serious alteration is present, antihistamines are considered safe as a first-choice drug (4-8). 1 Drugline nr 05534 2 Briggs, Drugs in pregnancy and lactation. 1986; 2nd ed: 261-263 3 Shapiro S, Kaufman DW, Rosenberg L, Slone D, Monson RR, Siskind V, Heinonen OP: Meclozine in pregnancy in relation to congenital malformations. Br Med J 1978; 1: 483

4 Gibbs D: Diseases of the alimentary system. Nausea and vomiting. Br Med J 1976; 2: 1489-1492
5 Howden CW: Treatment of common minor ailments. Br Med J 1986; 1549-1550
6 Biggs JSG, Vesey EJ: Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders of pregnancy. Drugs 1980; 19: 70-76
7 Avery, Drug treatment. 1987; 3rd ed: 493

8 Walters WAW: The management of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Med J Aust 1987; 147: 290-291