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Unisom is the brand name of doxylamine, a drug used for short-term treatment of insomnia. It is manufactured by Chattem, Inc., and is available at several local pharmacies without a prescription. It can also be used to relieve allergy symptoms by blocking the action of the chemical histamine. Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role fighting infections and maintaining nerve function 23. It can be obtained from foods such as avocados, bananas, legumes, nuts, meat and synthetic supplements. Unisom in combination with vitamin B-6 may help manage nausea and vomiting 23.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
About Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is the urge to vomit, while vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up and out of the mouth; these ways the body responds to invaders and irritants. Apart from avoiding the triggers, certain medications may also help prevent the conditions.
Unisom and Vitamin B-6 for Nausea and Vomiting
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Taking vitamin B-6 supplements along with doxylamine is a safe and effective way of reducing nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness and should be considered first-line of treatment, according to the guidelines issued by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 23. An article published in the October 2010 issue of the “New England Journal of Medicine” states that this combination can reduce nausea and vomiting by almost 70 percent.
Side Effects
Doxylamine and vitamin B-6 were earlier sold together as a combination 23. However, it was discontinued as some earlier studies indicated that this combination increased the risk of birth defects. ; 2000')23.
Precautions
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Although both vitamin B-6 and Unisom are available over-the-counter, it is best to talk to a doctor to see if they are right for you 23. Your doctor may also help determine an appropriate dose. Inform your doctor about any other medications or pre-existing conditions to avoid possible drug interactions and complications.
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References
- "Twenty Common Problems in Women's Health Care"; Mindy A. Smith, et al.; 2000
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin B-6
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin B-6
- Holick MF, Gordon CM. Patient Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(7):1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a
- Sunyecz JA. The use of calcium and vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552
- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(11):1174-1180. doi:10.1001/archinte.168.11.1174
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- American Academy of Dermatology. Position Statement of Vitamin D. 2010.
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- Carrillo AE1, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, Markofski MM, Jiang Y, Donkin SS, Teegarden D. Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation During a Resistance Training Intervention on Body Composition, Muscle Function, and Glucose Tolerance in Overweight and Obese Adults. Clin Nutr. 2013 Jun;32(3):375-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014. Epub 2012 Aug 31.
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- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: a Prospective Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:1174-80.
- Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. Optimal Vitamin D Status for Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Quantitative Meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Mar;32(3):210-6.
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- Salehpour A1, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, Vafa M, Razaghi M, Dehghani S, Hoshiarrad A, Gohari M. A 12-week Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D₃ Supplementation on Body Fat Mass in Healthy Overweight and Obese Women. Nutr J. 2012 Sep 22;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-78.
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Writer Bio
A freelance writer and blogger since 2007, Shamala Pulugurtha's work has appeared in magazines such as the "Guide to Health and Healing" and prominent websites like Brain Blogger and NAMI California. Pulugurtha has a postgraduate degree in medical microbiology from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India and has completed course work in psychology and health education.