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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Is emetrol safe during pregnancy?

Assigned clinical reviewerMatt Stahl· PharmDDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

What does the evidence say about emetrol during pregnancy?

  1. Emetrol is dextrose 1.87 g, levulose (fructose) 1.87 g, and phosphoric acid 21.5 mg per 5 mL, labeled for upset stomach associated with nausea from overindulgence in food and drink, and its label states the drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective. 1
  2. Nausea and vomiting affects about 8 out of 10 pregnancies, usually starting between 4 and 9 weeks, peaking between 7 and 12 weeks, and resolving between 12 and 16 weeks, with lifestyle measures including small meals every 1 to 2 hours and cold or partially frozen fluids. 2
  3. By contrast, the doxylamine succinate plus pyridoxine hydrochloride combination has been studied in hundreds of thousands of pregnancies without an increased chance of birth defects. 3
  4. A systematic review and meta-analysis of complementary approaches for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy pooled 14 ginger trials, 12 acupressure trials, and 6 acupuncture trials, finding acupressure had a higher effective rate than conventional medicine (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.86). 4
  5. For prescription options, ondansetron has been studied in thousands of pregnancies with most studies reporting no increased chance of birth defects, and a few reporting a less than 1% increase in cleft palate or heart defects that other studies did not confirm. 5

Is emetrol safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. This is when people reach for it, since nausea and vomiting of pregnancy usually begins between 4 and 9 weeks and peaks between 7 and 12. It is also when the absence of pregnancy data matters most, because the studied options are readily available.
  • Second trimester. Symptoms resolve between 12 and 16 weeks for most people. If nausea is still constant, the useful conversation is about the options with trial evidence rather than about a sugar syrup.
  • Third trimester. The sugar load is the practical issue late in pregnancy. Each 5 mL carries 1.87 g of dextrose and 1.87 g of fructose, and the label tells anyone with diabetes to ask a doctor before use, which is directly relevant with gestational diabetes.

What the Emetrol label says

ItemWhat the label states
Active ingredients per 5 mLDextrose (glucose) 1.87 g, levulose (fructose) 1.87 g, phosphoric acid 21.5 mg
Labeled useUpset stomach reliever, for relief of upset stomach associated with nausea due to overindulgence in food and drink
Adult directionsOne to two tablespoons, repeated every 15 minutes or until distress subsides, no more than 5 doses in an hour without consulting a doctor
Regulatory statusListed as an unapproved drug: this drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective, and the labeling has not been approved by FDA
Warnings that matter in pregnancyContains fructose and should not be taken by people with hereditary fructose intolerance; ask a doctor before use if you have diabetes; if pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use

Frequently asked questions

What is actually in Emetrol?

Three things: dextrose 1.87 g, fructose 1.87 g, and phosphoric acid 21.5 mg per 5 mL. That is sugar syrup with an acid. It is listed as an unapproved drug, and its own label carries the line that FDA has not found it to be safe and effective.

How often can you take Emetrol?

The label says one to two tablespoons repeated every 15 minutes until distress subsides, with no more than 5 doses in an hour without consulting a doctor. It also says not to dilute it or drink fluids immediately before or after, which is awkward advice when the goal is staying hydrated.

Does Emetrol help with morning sickness?

The label is written for upset stomach from overindulgence in food and drink, not for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, and we found no pregnancy trial supporting that use. Absence of evidence is not proof of harm, but it is a poor reason to choose it over options with data.

Is Emetrol better than ginger for nausea?

Ginger has 14 pooled trials in a pregnancy-specific systematic review. Emetrol has none we could locate. That is the whole comparison. If you want a non-prescription route, the reviewed complementary options are the ones with numbers attached.

Is the sugar content a problem in pregnancy?

It can be. Each 5 mL delivers 1.87 g of dextrose plus 1.87 g of fructose, and the dosing schedule allows up to 5 doses an hour. The label tells anyone with diabetes to ask a doctor before use, which applies directly if you have gestational diabetes.

Related in the library

References

  1. EMETROL CHERRY, phosphorated carbohydrate solution label

    NIH DailyMed · https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a8469128-592a-4682-82c7-4d2a6f97a998

  2. Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP): MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/nausea-vomiting-pregnancy-nvp/

  3. Doxylamine Succinate/Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Diclegis/Diclectin): MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/doxylamine-succinate-pyridoxine-hydrochloride-diclegisdiclectin-pregnancy/

  5. Ondansetron (Zofran): MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/ondansetron-zofran-pregnancy/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.