Bendectin And Birth Defects (Page 29)

I took this drug in the 1970's while pregnant. Am looking for the side effects to the babies. Drug has been off the market for many years. Not sure on correct spelling. Used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Thank you for any help you can send me. Sincerely, Dana.

REPLY

REPORT

Well said Vicki. When I read your #555 post ~10 days ago I was nearly going to say something about the "Many women of maybe inferior intelligence" bit, but I'm glad now that I didn't given that you've now explained what you really meant. It all hinges on the meaning of the word "intelligence" which can also mean "information", quite apart from how "smart" a person may be, and as far as "intelligence" [smartness] goes, I think everyone should have a good look at the *Dunning-Kruger effect* as it explains much. Charles Darwin was a pretty smart cookie and he is reported as having said: "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge."

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My mom took a morning sickness pill (I am assuming was bendictine) while she was pregnant with me. I was born in 1976 with severe club foot in both my feet. She also took it with my older brother who had mild club foot in one foot, and my aunt (father's sister) took it with my cousin who had mild club foot in one foot. They linked that to the pill.

I have just been diagnosed with Aspergers and am wondering if that may have something to do with this medication as well. Obviously I have been struggling with the Aspergers all of my life (age 38 now) but have only now been diagnosed. I also have severe anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder probably as a result of living with undiagnosed Aspergers.

I also have fertility issues, but was able to have one son. He also likely has Aspergers, according to my doctor.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Aurora. This article about "Girls with Aspergers" (link below) may be of some help to you if you've not seen it before. I note that you write very well and wonder if you have ever considered writing a book one day and/or giving talks (like Mary Temple Grandin does - I think she's amazing having designed the *Hug machine* etc.) about how you have managed to deal with the challenges life has given you.

autismdigest.com/girls-with-a/

In a 2010 'Time magazine' interview, Temple Grandin said that she no longer uses a *Hug machine* (Wiki): "It broke two years ago and *I never got around* to fixing it. I'm into hugging people now."

Although Temple never got *around* to fixing it she then very cleverly decided to get her arms *around* people instead...and we all know the benefits derived from a good hug when we're in need of one or we know of someone else who needs one.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I also took the drug BendictIne In 1972 for morning sickness for 9 months. My son was diagnosed with spastic paraplegia which is a crippling desease that your muscles tighten up and you're eventually wheelchair bound. Would like to know if this could be from the drug bendictIne

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Wow. I'm not sure how to feel right now. What other issues could I have and not know about?! I was born in 1964 and my mom took Benedictine when she was pregnant with me. I was always tired and had tummy troubles.I always had a hard time getting food to go down and still do. My ribs on the left side are kind of flat on the side and squared off instead of curving around to the front. I always had growing pains in my chins real bad and I got cramps in my feet so bad they felt like all the bones were broke and I couldn't walk till it want away. At 15 my parents took me to the hospital with sever stomach pain. After going over my history and learning that my mom took Benedictine they wanted to test my stomach acid. He said there were links to high acid production and this med. My acid level was twice what it should be but it was 3 a.m. and they didn't know at that time if the stomach was active or at rest at 3 a.m. so it could be higher when I ate. I have bad teeth because the high acid starts in my mouth eats at the enamel on them. My roots are strong but my tooth shatters when I get one pulled. He put me on prescription antacids and I had to make changes in my diet and eat smaller more frequent meals so there was always food for the acid to work on. He said if it bothers my stomach don't eat it. After I moved out I couldn't afford to keep up with my medical so I had to go with 'if it hurts, don't eat it' and' keep food in there at all times'. I've had to cut out so much from my diet over the years to the point where theres not much I can eat. The strangest thing to me is how BAD pepper is for me. It was the first thing he told me to cut out. The chemical reaction is very painful. I have not been able to find a doctor since that even believes that 'over active stomach' is actually a medical issue. At one point I was told it was an ulcer, and since the treatment was the same, I went with it just to get the meds I needed. After they came out with the blood test for ulcers I had it confirmed that I don't have one. Its tough knowing what you were told and not being able to find a doctor to help you. I don't know what the long term affects of not maintaining this is, I had to quit the antacids, they were preventing my system from absorbing my meds that I'm on now. I have other siblings that are fine, my mom didn't need anything while pregnant with them. Unfortunately for me, they have always seen things as me just looking for attention, making this all up. Finding this web site is so amazing! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one having a hard time with side affects that doctors are trying to tell us are nonexistent. I hope my information can help even one person figure out why their tired all the time for no reason and why they can't today what they just ate yesterday!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

see betty medeci at birth defects in children

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Dee. I suspect that you may have a weak or deformed *lower esophageal sphincter* like I have, and it is likely this that is allowing your stomach acid to travel back up to your mouth. Apart from having small meals regularly I suggest that you try chewing some gum when you can. Doing this [chewing gum] is called *sham feeding* because you are not actually eating anything, but your body is fooled into thinking that it is about to eat [swallow] some food and the chewing creates plenty of saliva which has calcium [and enzymes] in it, and the swallowed saliva's calcium will help to neutralize your stomach acid. Every time you swallow some saliva, apart from it helping to neutralize any acid that it encounters, it helps to wash any acid or food back down that is trying to work its way upward. You may also like to try eating some cold yoghurt blended with apple and no added sugar. I have suffered from *silent reflux* for many years [about 45 years] due to my having a very lazy [weak or deformed] *lower esophageal sphincter* and the acid reflux is far worse when lying down or swimming etc., which usually causes my nasal passages to soon become blocked/irritated as well. Long term *silent reflux* [which is what I have] can be fatal because it can cause a very nasty thing called *Barrett's esophagus*. I stopped taking *proton pump inhibitor* medication about 12 months ago and I've recently read that it is not good to take *proton pump inhibitors* long term, so I just take antacid tablets when necessary and chew gum quite regularly. You may also like to Google the *LYNX reflux management system* which is available in the U.S., but not yet I think here in Australia. It is a small device like a child's bracelet and it is made from titanium. Each bracelet bead has a small magnet inside and this clever little bracelet device is surgically [using laparoscopy] placed around the weak or deformed *lower esophageal sphincter* to help it close shut correctly. Trying chewing some gum to see if it helps [let me know if it does help] you as it does me. If you happen to run out of chewing gum then just a small soft pebble placed in the mouth and chewed carefully will help create some saliva. All the best to you from 'Down Under'.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Fred-I will look into that. Thank you!
Interlineal Peruser, I appreciate the info! At the time of my diagnosis at 15 yrs old, I was told my esophagus was burned from the acid coming back up due to the high quantity of acid my stomach was creating, causing my stomach valve to not work right. After taking Gaviscon, an antacid by prescription at that time, it controlled the acid and eventually my valve healed. I haven't had an issue with 'acid reflux' since then. My problem is Bendictine caused a chemical imbalance in my digestive system causing a high acid production and preventing my system from absorbing nutrients from the food I eat and major problems with medications, there are more that I can NOT take then what I can, side affects from sever flu symptoms to that sharp pain in my gut to they just plain don't work at all. My acid levels are twice what it should be and since digestion starts in the mouth it ate the enamel off my teeth. It also can cause numerous other problems over time which is why I'm concerned about not being able to find a doctor in my area who will take me seriously on this issue, I need to find out what, if anything, more is going on due to this. I don't have my medical records from back then to prove 'over active stomach' IS a real thing. I have controlled the acid with my diet and antacids over the years but now I'm on pain management for other issues and the antacids prevents my pain meds from being absorbed. I wasn't getting the relief I needed from them and they weren't showing up in my U.A.s. I had to quit the antacids. I have tried every 'home remedy' over the years including the apple cider vinegar (it came right back up! lol) adjusting my diet as needed and stretching my meals out through out the day to keep food in there (eating every 2 hours) has worked. I just get to where I have to quit eating things here and there as my stomach can no longer tolerate them. If I get a sharp pain like a hot knife twisting in my gut then I know I can't eat it any more, its also a sign I need to get food in my gut asap. Its been 32 years since I've had orange juice! I use to drink a big glass every morning, I still miss it! I'll have to look into the gum chewing but I'm not sure about it with the acid levels also being produced in the mouth. My teeth aren't too good due to the acid eating the enamel off them years ago. Thank you for the input! Have a great day!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Dee, It's good to see you still have a sense of humour as I've always believed that laughter is still the best medicine. I too tried the apple cider vinegar a few times but it burns my mouth and throat [I don't have any heartburn], as does anything like whiskey or mouthwash etc. Your sharp pain in the gut reminds me of when one of my brothers had a very severe bout of *diverticulitis*, and this was due to his very poor diet over the years. Have you ever taken *psyllium husks* which you can mix with some good old Blackstrap molasses [much better than apple cider vinegar lol] or just the husks on their own with some water or your favourite tipple? I'm hoping that your sharp pain is not because you have a twisted bowel or something suchlike. Have you tried diluting some fresh orange juice down to about 50/50% or more with cold water? I know that certain medications must not be taken with grapefruit juice so do beware of that. *Slippery elm* is supposed to be good for too much stomach acid so I've heard. I've not tried it because I don't think my problem is because of excess acid. For many years I did think that I had excess stomach acid but I now know my problem is the just the dreaded *silent reflux*. There's no sharp pains involved with my *silent reflux* but just a continual level of very annoying discomfort which is quite tiring at times. Have you discussed with your doctor any *digestive motility* problems that you might have? I believe that there is a surgical procedure available where certain nerves are severed in the stomach and this lessens the amount of stomach acid produced. I used to chew gum all the time when I was a kid [and oceans of soda] but then I stopped the gum at about 17 and didn't start again until about 3 years ago. Chewing all that gum could have made my digestive system dependent on chewing gum and the excess calcium from saliva. One thing my mum/mom told me is that when you're unwell you should always have a serious think about what it is [if anything] in particular that you really feel like eating and/or drinking but of course don't consume too much of it in one go. I hope to hear from you here in Perth [Western Australia] that you somehow manage to vastly improve upon your digestion and wellbeing. Stay as well as you can.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My mom took bendectin in 81-82 while pregnant, and I have symptoms of PCOS, an over active sympathetic nervous system, crooked legs, mild scoliosis, and a pronounced sternum...it's hard to believe that the combination of B-6 and doxylamine has reeked so much havoc for people!...I have to question what the inactive ingredients were and what else women may have been taking or consuming (alcohol, nicotine, aspartame) in combination with this drug; not to mention whether the pregnant women themselves had been exposed to any teratogens or endocrine disrupters while in utero. Vaccine adjuvants and baby formula also add to the "chemical soup"...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi AlieKat. Bendectin is more likely to have 'wreaked' havoc than 'reeked' it, but I know what you mean. I'd love to have the vestiges of the Debendox [Bendectin] that my mum took all those years ago so that it could be analysed by independent experts to see if there were any other surreptitiously-added [or even inadvertently-added] substances in it apart from the well-disclosed B6 and doxylamine etc. After taking only a couple of doses my mum returned the remainder of her Debendox to her pharmacist because she didn't like it, and she was hoping that he had something else available to help stop her nausea. My mum said that the pharmacist just took it from her quietly and didn't say a word, so she just decided that she had no option but to tough-out the rest of her pregnancy with me sans taking any other drugs...and she didn't take any.

If certain other substances [even quite natural substances] had been clandestinely added to different batches of Bendectin, Debendox and Diclectin over the years, in trials to see if any improvements arose in ceasing the nausea then it'd be very difficult to deduce with precision anything much at all because the permutations would be too great. Let's hope that someone hasn't cleaned out their medicine cabinet for many years [in my case 60+ years] and someone else tasked with the job of having to do it recognises the importance of what they see when they come across a few tatty old packets of only partially-used Bendectin, Debendox or Diclectin just waiting to be given to an astute researcher for some analysis.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Excellent vocabulary sir!....thanks for the correction, and the input. I agree 100% with your notions.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took the drug bendictine for morning sickness. I took it 8 months for my son in 1975 and suffered with morning sickness the whole 9 months in 1976 for my daughter, so took it the whole year that year as well. both my children grew up normal and our son has three normal daughters and our daughter has two nearly grown sons, both normal. I was verrry thankful for the drug that helped me get through those days of morning sickness.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

That's very good news indeed Patti, but one can never be absolutely certain that just because it might have said 'bendectine' on the packets that that was what you were given, as you may have been given a 'placebo'. In actual fact, for all anyone knows, all of the women who were prescribed 'bendectine' and then had babies with no known deformities (never forgetting that some deformities are internal and can't be seen), may all have been given 'placebos' as well. You may have been given genuine 'bendectine' and then again you might not have. I doubt that each and every pregnant woman who took genuine 'thalidomide' definitely had a baby with some type of deformity.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thank you Interlineal Peruser, I didn't think about the placebo possibility in Patti's case. I have been doing a lot of research online and came across a paper that talked about the dispute going on with doctors and wanting to keep Benedictine available so they were denying the effects it was having. At one point they did take one component out in the mid 70's that they were saying was responsible for the defects but it wasn't working as well so it was put back in. I can't find it now, wish I would have saved it. My issues from this are 'invisible'. I don't like to say 'chemical imbalance', people tend to think 'crazy' or 'mentally imbalanced', my stomach produces too much acid. They called it an over active stomach when I was diagnosed. They were just starting to investigate possible 'invisible' side affects in people who's moms took it later in the pregnancy, after they were fully developed. They tested my acid and it was at 5 or 6 when it should only be 3.2.
Patti, I'm glad your kids are ok. The placebo thing makes sense in your case or the possibility that you got it when they took the one component out, unless the issues are just too vague to notice. It took 15 years of my life before my symptoms had a big enough impact on me for my parents to take me to the ER. I always had tummy troubles and was always tired (still am & still do) but being the youngest every one said I was just looking for attention. It wasn't till I was 15 that the acid really started eating at my stomach and wreaking havoc on my system and caused the trip to the ER. I have had medical issues in my life that don't run in my family and no else has ever had. I believe its due to what that drug did to me. Too much acid in the stomach is carried through out your body and causes other imbalances and damage. Until the medical field admits that this drug is dangerous and has been the cause of birth defects, people in my situation, with the 'invisible' damage, will never get the help we need to try and fix our body's and put an end to the destruction its doing. Its been years since I've had a doctor who call it what it is and not 'all in my head'! I also found out that it was the cause of manic depressive disorder and bipolar in the mothers that took it. My mom was not an easy person to live with and I believe this drug was at least in part responsible. If it can do so much damage to an unborn baby, why would it not also have a devastating affect on the mothers?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Dee, here's some links to a few articles you may not have seen before:

nemechekconsultativemedicine.com/?page_id=1289

nemechekconsultativemedicine.com/?page_id=1415

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagotomy

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Placebo is used during the investigative phase of drug evaluations to see if a drug has the desired effect (decreased vomiting, decreased pain, decreased cholesterol, etc) compared to doing nothing (placebo). It makes no sense at all to imagine that Patti was sold a product that was actually placebo as it's highly against the law. Even to enter a study where you may receive placebo you have to be informed that you may receive placebo and not the drug. You are going way down the conspiracy theory pathway to imagine such a scenario to explain that bendictine didn't cause problems. Dee, you say you've been doing "a lot of research". Have you somehow missed all the research and preponderance of scientific evidence that demonstrated no adverse safety profile for the medication? That the drug is safe and does not cause birth defects, autism, acid reflux, bad temper, etc. is the likely explination for Patti's happy outcome (along with millions of other women), not that she didn't actually receive the medication for the 17 months that it was prescribed.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Same here and my baby was born partial cleft lip

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took Bendictine in 80 and 83, in 83 the doctor gAve me samples he had because it had been taken off the market. I didn't. Know then about it Causing birth defects, just that it worked great for morning sickness.
Both my boys were/are healthy and have had beautiful healthy children.
After reading the comments here I feel very fortunate.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

emtridoc-There has been a lot of coverup on the side effects to protect their drug and keep it on the market. In the 60's the dosage was much higher then in the 70's and later. They found a smaller dose gives the same relief, but its still dangerous to the unborn baby.

1). birthdefects.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Bendectin-Part-1.pdf
2). birthdefects.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Bendectin-Part-2.pdf
3). birthdefects.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Bendectin-JOP.pdf

Interlineal Peruser- no I have not come across these since they do not pertain to MY medical issues. If you clear your head and realize that you do not know everything, especially some ones medical situation that you have only read a small portion of on the internet, and maybe go back and reread my earlier posts you might see that you are reading things into what I've said that I never actually said. 'Over active', meaning producing too much acid is NOT the same a 'acid reflux'.

I was hoping to find more info on here or at least help out some one in my situation. But there seem to be more people on here that think they know it all and are out to undermine other peoples situations. Time to move on.

Susan and Deb- Its my belief, based on what I was told when I was diagnosed, my own personal experiences that I have had in living with an over active stomach and what I have found out in the years since, that the dosage and timing seem to play a part in what Bendictine may do. Again, at the time my mom took it the dose (mg) was pretty high compared to what it was in the 70's and today. Good luck and count your blessings!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

During pregnancy 40 yrs ago I was prescribed Bendectin. Caused urinary groos defects in my child. He has many physical l...

7 REPLIES

I am wondering if there are any women who have completed their suggested doses of Accutane and had children later. Have ...

10 REPLIES

My best friend is 4 months pregnant and she already took 24 tablets of primulot nor 10mg. That was 2pcs. twice daily for...

5 REPLIES

Fell pregnant whilst taking Extine what are some of the birth defects this medication can cause ? ## Hello, Marni! How a...

1 REPLY

im pregnant and hurting will it hurt the baby??? ## First, based on the imprint code which you posted, the drug which yo...

1 REPLY

I took Bendectin in 1978 for 7 months of morning sickness. My daughter has Addisons disease, an auto-immune condition, a...

15 REPLIES

nausea drug during pregancy ## I was pregnant with my daughter in 1974-75. My Dr. prescribed Bendectine because my nause...

5 REPLIES

I was born in Chicago in 1978, and my mother had taken Bendectin. Like many other pregnant women during that time, she w...

4 REPLIES

used for morning sickness. Discontinued around 1973. Why? ## I was born in1967 my left foot was severely deformed. There...

2 REPLIES

In 1970 I took Bendectin for morning sickness. My daughter developed type one diabetes at age 7. I've read a lot of ...

4 REPLIES