Bendectin And Birth Defects (Page 3) (Top voted first)

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.

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In 67-68 I took Bendectin for nine months but held off any meds until 10 wks of pregnancy had passed to be on the safe side. I would not have survived the pregnancy without Bendectin. I subsequently lost two babies at 2 wks and 3 mths gestation due to vomiting. My son did not sit up until he was 8 mths old then he stood up and walked around the playpen. He crawled at 4 mths (!) but dragged his legs around as if they were paralised. He developed a stutter which has only just subsided at 42 yrs old and had epilepsy in his teens. I think we were lucky because I rue the day I had to take it.

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Why was there so many cases of un-bearable nausea with pregnant women between the 60's and 70's? Could this manufacturer Dow also be the same producer of agent orange and pesticides? Yes why it just so happens that they are, along with being one of the richest companies in the world.....

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The drug is bendictin. I took it in the Military for morning sickness and my baby was born with limb defects in 1981.

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Shan, I think they should pay,and this web page is a testiment of a just a small percentage of people out there suffering, how about I start a foundation for all of us. these 81 people here can be the first to join, then all of us and our foundation go after the drug company that put us here. got any name ideas for the foundation... how about "benedictine and the people who suffer" andrew

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My mother took it while pregnant with me in 1979 and she had foubd out years later that it had been pulled but the company that made it failed to tell everyone and some Doctors had no clue and alot of pharmacys still had it on their shelves due to the expiry date still showing it was ok. I was born with no muscle in my lower left side of my lip and my left nasal cavity is deformed and twisted, whole left side of my face looks as though I had a stroke or even Bells Palsy.

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Linda, I agree... I can't even talk about these issues with my own mother because of her heavy burden of guilt she's carried with her for over 32 years now. My father has always been curious about what I find out, and has been very helpful in trying to find all of us Bendectin victims some legal aid... It's been tough. We just started on this crusade. Nobody wants to take on Merrell Dow. This was already done in the late 70's-early 80's, and it ended in disaster. Most courts dismiss these cases. We may never see justice for what was done to our mothers and children, but I promise, I'm going to keep trying to get some answers.

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Thanks Jamie. If someone ever comes up with a way to take this on legally, count me in the fight. But like you, I have discovered how ineffective these attempts have been in the past, so I recognize it may never happen.

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But this problem is unheard of basically the history books will have very little documentation of this tragedy if we dont at least try to battle in court. Even if they rule against so many victims at least it will be recorded how many were affected, we need to stand up and take it to lawyers

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I have law society applications, if enough of us fill these out and send them in, at least the issue will be raised, they can choose not to help but I am also going to see if there is an ombudsman that might be able to help

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The original formulation of Bendectin contained dicylcomine hydrocloride an antispasmodic used to control the nausea and vomiting of nervous stomach; doxylamine succinate an antihistamine that had been used to alleviate nausea following radiation therapy in cancer patients; and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) which was thought by some physicians to have a beneficial effect on the nausea of pregnancy.

For information regarding history and birth defects go to:
http:/­/­www.birthdefects.org/­research/­bendectin_1.php

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If you are Canadian, keep me posted .I spoke to a reporter from the Toronto Star who was very interested, but am still waiting for feedback. What a way to sterilize an entire generation, starting in the mothers' womb.

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I think we need a representative in Canada, the US and anyone else who wants to get involved. In Canada, there's a whole other set of issues with this: the drug is BACK on the market under the name of Diclectin. In the US, there are many websites that advise women on how to make "do-it-yourself" Bendectin with B-Complex and Unisom. Australian courts will automatically throw these cases out. We need to get organized! I'm located in Denver, Colorado; who else wants to make a difference? :)

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Now, a lot of us were born with the characteristic traits of Bendectin birth defects, which include cleft lips and palates, and many other congenital deformities. It wasn't until later in life (childhood and early teens) that we developed these other issues. There are certain mental, neurological and reproductive issues that are common amongst us. While are medical issues may seem vast, there are a lot of similarities between us. A lot of us know for sure that our mothers did NOT drink or smoke when they were pregnant with us. Bendectin was the ONLY negative factor in their pregnancies.

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To softchirp [post #108]. Thank you for the heads-up to Bristol pharm's post [#95, page 5] posting concerning the link: http:/­/­www.birthdefects.org/­research/­bendectin_1.php This is the best information concerning the Bendectin saga, inter alia, that I've come across in my search for answers. I urge everyone to access the above link and even if you think you're unable to comprehend its import, give it someone who has the ability to explain it to you in layman's terms. As softchirp says, be prepared to read, not only the three [3] pages involved, but also BETWEEN the lines, as it's not always in the narrative per se. Always remember, a good 'sage' is not the person who just always provides you with answers to your problems, but someone who cleverly assists you in deepening your questions. Thank you also to Bristolpharm [post#95] for your efforts. Much appreciated. Well done indeed! We'll maintain our vigil deep in thought...no question! Warm regards to all from Perth, Western Australia. Allan.

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There's a very interesting article by Mike Stobbe entitled "Ugly past of U.S. human experiments uncovered" on: www.msnbc.msn.com/­id/­41811750 - It may appear to many folk involved with Debendox/Bendectin/Diclectin etc that not much has changed over the years within the medical/pharmaceutical fraternity. After reading Stobbe's article one does wonder as to the actual honesty and integrity of all of the so-called missionaries who have visited many out-of-the-way places in third world countries over the many past years and just what exactly they were up to whilst there...and why? And for whom? The impenetrable whom_b? [read: womb?]

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Yes many problems. My daughters born in the late 70s are both sterile. Other mothers report different ones. Read down the blogs posted before yours. It will tell you the story

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I took Bendictine in 1980. I gave birth to a girl. She was born without the tibia and was club foot in both legs. I had to get her legs amputated from the knee down. Very heartbreaking.

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I think if I read one more time that the rate of birth defects did not decrease once Bendectin was pulled from the market, I will scream. Of course there are other causes of birth defects- environmental, genetics, whatever.
The interesting thing to note here is that 99% of people on this forum whose mothers took the drug have been affected. And I'm sure there are others out there. Coincidence? I think not!!!!

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Just as an example on how we must be ever-vigilant, but more particularly prudent also, with not only this issue at hand, but amongst many another, (because the whole world doesn't revolve around the Bendectin/Debendox/Diclectin debacle) ponder this if you will: Some people [not astute ultrasonographers], and I'm not casting aspersions here, have used the term 'birth defects' in reference to the many deformities/abnormalities thought to have been caused by Debendox, and in some cases [thalidomide] been proven to cause these 'changes'.

The term 'birth' , in 'birth defects', is really only temporally applicable, if ever, because that's when most people [not these astute ultrasonographers again] actually witness the babies' putative ['birth'] "abnormalities" (although some "abnormalties" [internal] may never be known, but if they are, it may not be until many years post-birth). But is that when the 'abnormality' actually occured? At birth, and only magically at birth? Of course not! So the 'abnormalities' don't really qualify as being a veritable 'birth' defect at all!

We must start from the beginning, and if you recall from the scriptures: "In the beginning was the 'Word'...and the 'Word' was with....?

This is why we must be careful with labels. It is mere misnomers' use such as this -- which can and have presented themselves, with assistance sometimes from persons having a vested interest in fervently promulgating such 'red herrings' -- that has stymied progress in many an avenue of research for the simple fact that the researchers were just chasing their tails...and others' tales contemporaneously.

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Togal, always good to ask who funded a study. Bias can certainly be introduced by funding. The Cochrane Review is internationally recognized board that has been doing systematic meta-analysis on a broad range of topics. Their methodology (consistently applied) is aimed specifically at recognizing and eliminating bias and other study mis-steps. They are easily found on the web and you can search their library.

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