Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Vit B6)
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.
Last Reviewed: May 05, 2025
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Drug Details (Generic)
Therapeutic Class:
Antihistamine and dietary supplement
Forms:
Delayed-release tablet, extended-release tablet
Administration:
By mouth
Therapeutic Uses:
To treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (morning sickness)
Controlled Status:
Not a controlled substance
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Drug Class
Doxylamine-pyridoxine (dox-il-ah-meen peer-aye-dox-een) is a combination of two active ingredients. Doxylamine is an antihistamine. Pyridoxine is vitamin B6, a dietary supplement.
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Age Range
Doxylamine-pyridoxine is approved for use in adults. The safety and efficacy of this medicine have not been established in people under 18 years of age.
Diclegis Drug Details (Brand)
Generic Name:
Therapeutic Class:
Antiemetic and Antinauseant Combinations
Availability:
Rx
Common Brands:
Form:
Oral tablet, gastro-resistant
DOXYLAMINE; VITAMIN B6 (dox IL a meen; VAHY tuh min B6) treats nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It works by blocking substances in your body that cause nausea and vomiting. It is a combination of an antihistamine and vitamin B6.
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Uses (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Uses
Doxylamine and pyridoxine are used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (morning sickness). This combination medicine is prescribed to pregnant women who have not responded to conservative management (dietary changes and other measures such as avoiding nausea triggers).
There may be other uses of doxylamine-pyridoxine—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Mechanism of Action
Doxylamine is an antihistamine. It works by blocking the effects of certain natural substances in the body that play a role in nausea and vomiting. Pyridoxine is vitamin B6. It is included because studies have shown that vitamin B6 deficiency can contribute to nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Doses
Doxylamine-pyridoxine comes in the form of delayed-release tablets 10 mg/10 mg (Diclegis) and extended-release tablets 20 mg/20 mg (Bonjesta).
The recommended dose is as follows:
- Diclegis (delayed release tablets): 2 tablets once a day at bedtime. The dose can be increased to 4 tablets per day (1 tablet in the morning, 1 tablet in the afternoon, and 2 tablets at bedtime) if needed.
- Bonjesta (extended-release tablets): 1 tablet once a day at bedtime. The dose can be increased to 2 tablets per day (1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet at bedtime) if needed.
The maximum daily dose is 4 delayed-release tablets (Diclegis) or 2 extended-release tablets (Bonjesta) in 24 hours..
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Directions (Generic)
How To Use Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
Take doxylamine and pyridoxine by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1-2 hours before meals. If you are taking the delayed-release doxylamine-pyridoxine (Diclegis), your doctor will start you on it once a day at bedtime and may increase the dose to 2-3 times a day if your symptoms are not adequately controlled. If you are taking the extended-release tablet (Bonjesta), your doctor will start you on it once a day at bedtime and may increase the dose to 2 times a day if your symptoms are not controlled with the initial treatment.
Swallow the doxylamine-pyridoxine tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablets.
Read the prescription label and patient information leaflet carefully and take doxylamine-pyridoxine exactly as advised. Do not change the dose or dosing frequency without talking to your healthcare provider.
Missed dose: If you miss a dose of doxylamine-pyridoxine, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take additional doses to make up for a missed dose.
Storage: Store doxylamine-pyridoxine at room temperature (storage temperature ranges between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in the original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.
Unused medicine: Unused doxylamine-pyridoxine should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to it. Do not throw doxylamine-pyridoxine in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to properly discard expired or unneeded doxylamine-pyridoxine is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal.
NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on doxylamine-pyridoxine. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about doxylamine-pyridoxine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.
Discounted prices for doxylamine-pyridoxine (Diclegis)
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Diclegis Directions (Brand)
How should I use Diclegis?
Take this medication by mouth with water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Do not cut, crush, or chew this medication. Swallow the tablets whole. Take it on an empty stomach. Do not use it more often than directed. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of Diclegis contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: Diclegis is only for you. Do not share Diclegis with others.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Side Effects (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Side Effects
Common side effects of doxylamine and pyridoxine are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or the symptoms persist.
- Dry mouth, dry nose, dry throat
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
- Muscle pain or muscle weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Rash
Some of the adverse effects of doxylamine-pyridoxine can be more serious. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop the following symptoms:
- Vision problems, such as blurry vision or night blindness
- Dilated pupils
- Urinary retention (difficulty urinating, pain with urination, decreased urine volume)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
- Confusion
- Seizures (convulsions)
The above list may not include all the potential side effects of doxylamine-pyridoxine. Contact your healthcare provider if your side effects are unusual or severe or do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Overdose: In case of an overdose of doxylamine-pyridoxine, call your doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center, provincial poison control center, or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 or emergency services if a person has collapsed, cannot breathe, has had a seizure, or cannot be awakened. Signs and symptoms of an overdose may include dry mouth, dilated pupils, restlessness, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty urinating, muscle pain, fluid retention, fast heartbeat, seizures, and dark or cola-colored urine.
Source: FDA
Diclegis Side Effects (Brand)
What side effects may I notice from receiving Diclegis?
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
-Trouble passing urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Confusion
-Constipation
-Dizziness
-Drowsiness
-Dry mouth
This list may not describe all possible side effects for Diclegis. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Source: FDADoxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Warnings (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Risks, Warnings, and Complications
Doxylamine-pyridoxine may cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before other treatments for nausea and vomiting if you are at an increased risk of adverse effects. Some of the risks of taking doxylamine-pyridoxine include:
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Precautions Before Starting Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to doxylamine (Unisom), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), any of the active or inactive ingredients in doxylamine-pyridoxine formulations, other antihistamines, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients. Examples of other antihistamines include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), promethazine (Phenergan), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), clemastine (Tavist), and carboxamide (Arbinoxa).
Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. This can help avoid possible interactions between doxylamine-pyridoxine and your other medicines.
Give your doctor a complete medical history before starting doxylamine-pyridoxine. This medicine may not be safe for people with certain health conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory syndromes, increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, stomach ulcers, intestinal blockage, or urinary problems.
Do not nurse an infant on breast milk while on this medicine.
Precautions During Use of Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
Keep all your medical and lab appointments. Follow the dosing instructions carefully, and do not take a higher dose or more frequent doses than prescribed.
Doxylamine-pyridoxine can make you drowsy and dizzy. Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.
Avoid drinking alcohol while on doxylamine-pyridoxine. Alcohol can make side effects like drowsiness and dizziness worse, increasing your risk of falls and accidents.
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Drug Interactions
Other drugs can affect how doxylamine-pyridoxine works. Possible drug interactions with certain medications can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Some of the medications that should not be taken at the same time as doxylamine-pyridoxine include:
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Examples of monoamine oxidase inhibitors include phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements.
Diclegis Warnings (Brand)
What may interact with Diclegis?
-Alcohol
-Atropine
-Antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold
-Certain medications for bladder problems, such as oxybutynin, tolterodine
-Certain medications for stomach problems, such as dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
-Certain medications for travel sickness, such as scopolamine
-Certain medications for Parkinson's disease, such as benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
-Ipratropium
-MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
What should I tell my health care provider before I take Diclegis
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Glaucoma
-Liver disease
-Pain or trouble passing urine
-Prostate disease
-Stomach ulcers, other stomach or intestine problems
-An unusual or allergic reaction to doxylamine, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Breast-feeding
What should I watch for while using Diclegis?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. See your care team right away if you get a high fever or have problems breathing.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.
This medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating eye drops may help. See your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.
This medication may cause false positive urine tests for certain medications like methadone, opiates, and PCP.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
Where should I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep bottle tightly closed and protect from moisture. Do not remove desiccant canister from bottle. Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Pros & Cons (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Pros and Cons
- Doxylamine-pyridoxine is one of the few medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
- It combines two medications, doxylamine and pyridoxine, in one tablet for convenience.
- The dose can be adjusted based on response.
- You may need to take doxylamine-pyridoxine 2-3 times a day if your symptoms are not adequately controlled with once-daily dosing.
- It is only for women who have not responded to conservative management (dietary changes and avoiding nausea triggers).
- Doxylamine-pyridoxine is not for severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum).
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Pharmacist Tips (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Tips from Pharmacists
Take doxylamine-pyridoxine on an empty stomach with a full glass of water.
Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablets. The extended-release and delayed-release tablets are designed to release the medicine slowly over time in your body or in a delayed manner in the intestines.
Read the labels of other over-the-counter medications carefully. Do not take other products with the same active ingredients (doxylamine and pyridoxine), as this can increase your risk of severe side effects and overdose.
Other ways to manage morning sickness include eating dry crackers before getting out of bed in the morning, staying well hydrated, and eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Rx Savings Tips (Generic)
Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) Rx Savings Tips
Doxylamine-pyridoxine is a generic medication and is available at significantly lower prices than the brand names. Brand names Diclegis and Bonjesta, and generic doxylamine-pyridoxine contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx doxylamine-pyridoxine coupon can result in big savings on the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Doxylamine-Pyridoxine may be under $86.00 for 60 tablets of the 10 mg dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on doxylamine-pyridoxine, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx doxylamine-pyridoxine discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions at the pharmacy counter.
Lowest Price for Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis) | |
| Brand $161.16 | Generic $85.98 |
VIEW DISCOUNTS Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing. | |
Doxylamine succ-Pyridoxine Hcl Common Questions (Generic)
Common Questions about Doxylamine-Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
Is Diclegis just Unisom and B6?Yes, Diclegis contains doxylamine (the active ingredient in Unisom) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6). However, while Unisom and vitamin B6 are available over-the-counter, Diclegis is a prescription medicine that is used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (morning sickness) in women who have not responded to conservative measures like dietary adjustments. |
Can I take doxylamine and pyridoxine separately instead of Diclegis?Yes, you can take doxylamine and pyridoxine separately instead of Diclegis. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) practice bulletin recommends pyridoxine (vitamin B6) alone as the first-line therapy for morning sickness, with the addition of doxylamine if needed. |
What is the best time to take doxylamine-pyridoxine?The best time to take doxylamine-pyridoxine is at bedtime. This medicine comes in delayed-release and extended-release formulations that take 6-8 hours to work. Therefore, taking the medicine at bedtime provides relief from morning sickness. If nausea and vomiting last through the day, your doctor may prescribe additional doses. |
Can Diclegis cause birth defects?Diclegis has not been found to cause birth defects and is safe to take during pregnancy. |
What is the price of doxylamine-pyridoxine without insurance?Without insurance, doxylamine-pyridoxine can be as high as $372.60, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $85.98 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs, whether you have insurance or not. |
What is the price of doxylamine-pyridoxine with insurance?Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on doxylamine-pyridoxine. Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and whether you have a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins. You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for doxylamine-pyridoxine. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions, whether you have insurance or not. |
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