Jan. 9, 2001--
Morning sickness is sometimes joked about as "one of the curses of pregnancy."
But it can actually be a very serious, even life-threatening condition.
And, even worse, doctors don't know what causes it, so it's difficult to treat.
Now, an old morning sickness drug is poised to be reintroduced to millions of pregnant women.
Lisa Conley explains.
Prior to 1983, it's estimated that 35 to 40 million pregnant women in the U.S. were given a drug called Bendectin to treat their morning sickness.
Then, Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals voluntarily removed the drug from pharmacy shelves, a move some say was unwarranted.
Now, almost two decades later, the "miracle morning sickness pill" could be available once again.
LYNNE SANDERSON/EXPECTANT MOTHER:"I LAYED ON THIS COUCH WITH MY HEAD BURRIED IN THE CORNER AND I TRIED NOT TO MOVE BECAUSE I WAS SO SICK. AND WHEN I WOULD EAT SOMETHING IT WOULD JUST COME BACK UP SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE TIMES A DAY."
Lynne Sanderson is eight months pregnant and suffers from morning sickness, a condition that affects two out of every three pregnant women.
A condition obstetricians find difficult to treat.
Dr. Stephen Voss/Ob-Gyn: "IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS GO AWAY IN A VERY TIMELY FASHION, AND THERE CAN BE A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY WITH IT TO THE POINT WHERE THE USE OF EXTERNAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS IS VERY NECESSARY."
But now, l7 years after it was voluntarily removed from the American market because of legal problems, the morning sickness drug known as Bendectin could be making a comeback.
The drug has been used in Canada for years under the name Diclectin.
A Canadian pharmaceutical company that produces drugs just for pregnant women is now seeking approval from the FDA to bring it back to the states, a move that could dramatically improve the way women feel during their pregnancies.
Lynne Sanderson/Expectant Mother: "I AM VERY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT HAVING ANY MORE BABIES BECAUSE I DREAD THE NINE MONTHS I GO THROUGH TO GET TO THAT POINT, SO YEAH, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP ME, I WOULD LOVE THAT."
Bendectin is by many accounts, the safest and most widely tested morning sickness treatment with more than 200-thousand women participating in more than 20 controlled studies.
Many physicians say removing it from the market was a bad move, and they look forward to having it available again.
