Comparison of three outpatient regimens in the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: This study compares pyridoxine-metoclopramide combination therapy to prochlorperazine and promethazine monotherapies in the outpatient treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

Study design: In total, 174 first trimester, singleton pregnancies were evaluated for nausea and vomiting. Patients were prospectively randomized into three treatment groups: pyridoxine-metoclopramide, prochlorperazine, or promethazine. Prior to, and on the third day, patients recorded their subjective responses to the given treatment and their number of emesis episodes. The three treatment groups were compared for therapy response.

Results: There were no differences in the number of emesis episodes prior to treatment. Both subjective and objective responses to treatment differed among the three groups when comparing the combination therapy to the monotherapies (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Combination therapy with pyridoxine and metoclopramide appears to be superior to either monotherapy in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.