Kim Kardashian is cashing in on relief for her debilitating morning sickness.
The 34-year-old expectant mom posted a photo to Instagram Monday with a bottle of Diclegis and boasted of her success with the patented combination drug that relieves nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
“I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped,” wrote Kardashian.
The drug – which is a combination of vitamin B6 and an antihistamine – has been FDA approved and available in the United States since 2013. However, Diclegis was once on the market under the name Bendectin but production ceased in 1983 because it became associated with birth defects.
No proof ever surfaced that Bendectin actually caused prenatal deformities, but costly litigation forced its manufacturer, Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, to voluntarily pull the drug from shelves until Duchesnay USA reformulated the remedy three years ago.
“I can assure you it was safe,” asserts Dean Hopkins, General Manager of Duchesnay USA.
Hopkins became aware of Kardashian’s success with the drug through her mother, Kris Jenner, and saw an opportunity to spread awareness about morning sickness relief with the reality star acting as a paid spokesperson for the brand.
“Diclegis allowed Kim to get back to some of her normal activities,” Hopkins told Page Six Tuesday. “Kris explained that this really helped her get back to her commitments and busy schedule.”
Dr. Draion Burch, a board-certified OBGYN, sees Kardashian’s promotion of the drug as “kind of like Angelina Jolie having her breasts removed — afterwards a lot of patients came into the office asking questions.”
“It just raises awareness,” added Dr. Burch Tuesday.
However, the drug is not for everyone. Women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum — an extreme morning sickness that sidelined Kate Middleton during her two pregnancies — should instead be hospitalized. The drug also can cause drowsiness, so Kardashian should stick to chauffeur service while on the prescription.
“You can’t take it if you’re driving a car or you need to be alert for any reason,” explained Dr. Burch.
As for Kardashian, she says she’s just sharing her positive experience with the prescription meds.
“[My morning sickness] was so bad I talked to my OBGYN, who prescribed me Diclegis and I felt so much better after starting treatment. Duchesnay connected with me after I’d been taking Diclegis for some time,” Kardashian told Page Six Wednesday. “Since I had such good results, I wanted to work with Duchesnay to tell other pregnant women that Diclegis is a safe and effective option to treat morning sickness symptoms.”
This article originally appeared in the New York Post.
Trending
Who's making headlines in television, music, movies and more from Hollywood to the Heartland.