Expectant mothers may soon find some relief from morning sickness after an Indian pharma company made significant strides in formulating a pill to address the symptoms. Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals was recently granted a patent for its breakthrough ‘tablet in tablet’ technology — designed to address nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
The company said in a recent release that it had developed a “ground-breaking patented formulation that offers a solution designed to provide longer-lasting relief”. The new technology ensures an extended-release of doxylamine and pyridoxine once ingested — with a double-layered tablet. The combination can improve treatment outcomes as well as enhance patient compliance. Akums also said that its formulation had been “validated in terms of efficacy and safety” following a rigorous bioequivalence study and successful approval from the Drug Controller General of India.
“This unique dosage form combines an outer layer that provides immediate drug release for rapid relief from nausea, with an inner core designed for sustained release, ensuring a longer therapeutic effect. The outer layer provides rapid relief from nausea, while the inner core maintains a prolonged action, reducing the need for frequent dosing,” it explained.
What causes nausea during pregnancy?
According to the British National Health Service website, the symptoms are common in early pregnancy. Often called morning sickness, it can affect expectant mothers at any time of the day or night but typically clears up by week 16 to week 20. There is currently no no hard and fast treatment that can ‘cure’ morning sickness.
Studies suggest that these symptoms are caused due to a hormone produced by the foetus — a protein known as GDF15. The impact on the mother however depends on the level of hormones produced by the foetus and how much exposure the mother had to this hormone prior to the pregnancy.