Duchesnay Release: Diclegis For Morning Sickness Now Available Through Humana Pharmacy Solutions

ROSEMONT, Pa., July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Duchesnay USA today announced that Diclegis® (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) Delayed-Release Tablets for the treatment of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP) in women who do not respond to conservative management [1] are now available through Humana's Commercial Prescription Drug Program. Women suffering from NVP who have prescription drug coverage through Humana will now be able to receive Diclegis, subject to the specific terms of their prescription drug benefit.

Diclegis is the only FDA-approved medicine for NVP, and is safe and effective. The FDA granted Diclegis Pregnancy Category A status, the best rating available.[1],[2]

"With Humana coverage, we see this as a further confirmation of the safety and efficacy of Diclegis, and its benefit for pregnant women. We are pleased that Humana's members will now be able to access this one-of-a-kind therapy. It remains our goal to continue to expand coverage of Diclegis," said Dean Hopkins, General Manager of Duchesnay USA.

Humana is the third-largest health insurance provider in the United States. The addition of Diclegis coverage through Humana significantly increases access to Diclegis for women who suffer from NVP.  This news also follows recently improved coverage by Aetna. Diclegis is now covered by the majority of health plans across the United States, and is available to over 70% of women with commercial coverage. Additionally, in some of the influential State Medicaid programs like California, Texas, and Tennessee, Diclegis has received preferred status, indicating that special authorization is not required, thereby improving the ease of access for women suffering with NVP.

For more information about Diclegis, visit www.Diclegis.com. For more information about Humana prescription drug benefits, visit www.Humana.com.

Important Safety Information for Diclegis

Indication  
Diclegis^® is indicated for the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in women who do not respond to conservative management.

Limitations of Use
Diclegis has not been studied in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Important Safety Information
Do not take Diclegis if you are allergic to doxylamine succinate, other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients in Diclegis. You should also not take Diclegis in combination with medicines called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, as these medicines can intensify and prolong the adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects of Diclegis. Use of MAOs may also prolong and intensify the anticholinergic (drying) effects of antihistamines.

The most common side effect of Diclegis is drowsiness. You should avoid engaging in activities requiring complete mental alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, while using Diclegis until cleared to do so by your healthcare provider.

Do not take Diclegis with alcohol or sedating medicines, including other antihistamines (present in some cough and cold medications), opiates, or sleep aids, because severe drowsiness can happen or become worse, causing falls or accidents.

Diclegis should be used with caution in women who have: (1) asthma, (2) increased pressure in the eye, (3) an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma, (4) a stomach problem called stenosing peptic ulcer, (5) pyloroduodenal obstruction, or (6) a bladder problem called bladder-neck obstruction.

Fatalities have been reported from doxylamine overdose in children. Children appear to be at a high risk for cardiorespiratory arrest. However, the safety and effectiveness of Diclegis in children younger than 18 years have not been established.

Diclegis is a delayed-release formulation; therefore, signs and symptoms of intoxication may not be apparent immediately. Signs and symptoms of overdose may include restlessness, dryness of mouth, dilated pupils, sleepiness, vertigo, mental confusion, and tachycardia. If you suspect an overdose or seek additional overdose information, you can contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

The FDA granted Diclegis Pregnancy Category A status, which means that the results of controlled studies have not shown an increased risk to an unborn baby during pregnancy.

Women should not breast-feed while using Diclegis because the antihistamine component (doxylamine succinate) in Diclegis can pass into breast milk. Excitement, irritability, and sedation have been reported in nursing infants presumably exposed to doxylamine succinate through breast milk. Infants with apnea or other respiratory syndromes may be particularly vulnerable to the sedative effects of Diclegis resulting in worsening of their apnea or respiratory conditions.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For full prescribing information, please visit www.diclegis.com.

About Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP)
NVP, commonly referred to as morning sickness, affects up to 70 to 85 percent of pregnant women.[3],[4],[5],[6] NVP can present differently for each woman; however, the most common symptoms include nausea, gagging, retching, dry heaving, vomiting, and odor and/or food aversion.[7] For most pregnant women, symptoms generally cease at approximately 16 to 20 weeks.[6] However, some women can experience symptoms throughout their pregnancy.[8]

About Diclegis
Diclegis (doxylamine succinate 10 mg, pyridoxine hydrochloride 10 mg) Delayed-Release Tablets are the only FDA-approved prescription treatment for NVP in women who do not respond to conservative management.[1] Diclegis has proven to be a safe and effective treatment option for NVP and received a Pregnancy Category A status, which means the results of controlled studies have not shown an increased risk to an unborn baby.[1],[2] 

About Duchesnay USA
Duchesnay USA is a unique healthcare company devoted to safeguarding the health and well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn babies. Its affiliate company, Duchesnay Inc., was founded in 1970 in Canada. The family-owned company realigned its business in 1992 to focus specifically on pregnant women after a family member experienced a very difficult pregnancy. Duchesnay USA was established in Rosemont, Pennsylvania in 2011 to pursue that same mission. Realizing a lack of sufficient information on medications for use in pregnancy, Duchesnay USA strives to ensure that expectant women who require pharmacological treatments have access to evidence-based medical information and therapies that are safe for them and their unborn babies. Duchesnay USA's mission is to develop pharmacological solutions to reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). For more information on Duchesnay USA, please visit www.DuchesnayUSA.com.

Contact
Laney Cohen
Makovsky
lcohen@makovsky.com
212-508-9643

2015-0052-01

[1] Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration. Content and format of labeling for human prescription drug and biological products; requirements for pregnancy and lactation labeling. Federal Register. 2008; 73 (104):30831-68.
[2] Jewell, D, Young, G. Interventions for Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy. The Cochrane  Library. 2002; 1.
[3] Medalie, J. Relationship between Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy and/or Abortion. The Lancet. 1957; 117-119.
[4] Whitehead, SA, Andrews, LR, Chamberlain, VP. Characterisation of Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A Survey of 1000 Women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1992; 12: 384-369.
[5] Gadsby, R, Barnie-Adshead, A, Jagger, C. A Prospective Study of Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy. British Journal of General Practice. 1993; 43: 245-248.
[6] Clark S, Costantine M, Hankins GDV. Review of NVP and HG and early pharmacotherapeutic Intervention. Obstetrics and Gynecology International Volume. 2012.  
[7] Jarnfelt-Samsioe, A, Samsio, G, Velinder, G. Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy A Contribution to Its Epidemiology.  Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. 1983; 16: 221-229.

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SOURCE Duchesnay USA