UCLA Study Says Using Antihistamines to Combat Morning Sickness May Increase Risks to Babies

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles found that pregnant women who take antihistamines to help them combat nausea and “morning sickness,” are significantly more likely to experience premature births or to have low birthweight babies. Premature birth and low birthweight can lead to developmental problems for infants.

The six-year study compared pregnancy outcomes in a group of 562 women. About half the women experienced morning sickness during their pregnancies. The women with morning sickness were four times as likely as women who did not have morning sickness while pregnant to have premature or low birthweight babies. For the group of women who had morning sickness and had premature or low birthweight babies, the study found that half had taken antihistamines to combat their symptoms.

The lead author of the study, Marlena Fejzo, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology research at UCLA, states, “It was surprising to find the link between antihistamines and adverse outcomes as these are over-the-counter medications that are used commonly by women with morning sickness during pregnancy. Women and their healthcare providers should be aware of the risk for adverse outcomes when deciding which medications to take to treat their symptoms.”

The research was published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. It may be accessed here.