In 2015, during her pregnancy with son Saint, Kim Kardashian-West was very vocal about suffering from acute morning sickness and the measures she took to combat it.
So much so, the reality TV star even tweeted and Instagrammed about one method in particular: a drug called Diclegis.
While the Instagram post has since been deleted, The Washington Post report that Kim originally wrote: “I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby.”
However, according to a worrying new study published by PLOS One by researchers in Toronto, Canada, the combination of two of this medication’s key elements – ingredients pyridoxine and doxylamine that women have been reportedly using to ward off morning sickness for more than 40 years – is being called into question.
After she spruiked the morning-sickness pills, Kim came under fire from the FDA for not warning her followers of the drugs side effects.
This shocking scientific revelation centres around the true effectiveness of the medication – one that has been long recommended by obstetricians – and if in fact it may be associated with birth defects.
One of the lead authors of this study, family GP and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital Dr Nav Persaud, says he decided to look more into the clinical research behind this drug after recommending it to a pregnant patient.
What he found was an old, incomplete body of research that determined the drug was a success, but provided limited detail as to why.
Not only that, but after digging and digging for more research, he attempted to contact the initial study’s authors – most of whom he discovered had passed away.
Plus, during the testing of the study’s test subjects – women pregnant up to the 12-week mark who were experiencing nausea and periods of vomiting – Dr Persaud uncovered that the researchers had failed to consistently report their findings, leaving critical flaws in the study.
“Everything related to this medication should be revisited,” he says.
“Until there is clear evidence this medication is effective, clinicians should stop prescribing it and the implications are that patients should stop taking it.”
If you would like to learn more, contact your local GP for more information.
WATCH what hubby Kanye gifted Kim for Mother’s Day (and just try to pretend you’re not impressed…)
