# A Serious Drug Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000 "2000-01-07T17:02:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000/1 "2000-01-07T17:02:00Z")

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A friend is trying to find the name of a drug she was given for morning sickness back in 1979 - 80. It was called something like Benedictin and it was taken off the market due to birth defects. Searches at pharm sites have not been helpful. Can the dopers come up with the correct name of the drug and any further information for her?

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**Author:** ![Songbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Songbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Songbird)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000/2 "2000-01-07T17:55:00Z")

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Your memory’s pretty good. The drug is Benedectin/Diclectin, and there are several excellent articles at this site (sorry, I’m lousy at hyperlinking here):  
[www.motherisk.org/publi/drug/naus.htm](http://www.motherisk.org/publi/drug/naus.htm)

One article at this site starts with:

> [@](#):
>
> Drug of Choice for Morning Sickness:  
> In 1983 Merrel Dow Inc. removed Bendectin (doxylamine and Vitamin B6 from the American market after two decades of this antiemetic being widely used for morning sickness by an estimated 20-40% of all pregnant women. This action was prompted by numerous court cases alleging the drug to cause congenital malformations.

Hope this helps.

SDStaffSongbird  
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board

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**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000/3 "2000-01-08T06:17:00Z")

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you are my hero - I never expected such a quick and thorough response! My friend would thank you, but she’s not on line.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2000, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000/4 "2000-01-08T06:35:00Z")

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IIRC, it was withdrawn not because it had been shown to cause birth defects, but because the manufacturer found that a cheaper alternative than defending against every lawsuit that was brought up every time someone’s child turned out to have birth defects.

I don’t think a statistically significant figures were ever shown indicating probable cause–much the same with silicone breast implants, IUD’s, and who knows what else.

Maybe there was, but I don’t recall ever having heard it.

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**Author:** ![Songbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Songbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Songbird)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-drug-question/6000/5 "2000-01-10T23:57:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> you are my hero - I never expected such a quick and thorough response! My friend would thank you, but she’s not on line.

We aim to please. Just remember to pass the word along where you got The Straight Dope!

SDStaffSongbird  
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board