Nosic

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Nosic

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredients Doxylamine succinate and Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
Form Modified-release film-coated tablet
Pharmacological Class Antihistamine/Vitamin B6 combination, Antiemetic
Common Use Help reduce nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness
Origin Combination of a synthetic agent and an essential nutrient

What Type of Medicine is Nosic?

Nosic is a prescription-only brand-name medication classified primarily as an antiemetic agent. It is an oral preparation presented as a modified-release film-coated tablet, designed to provide controlled relief over an extended duration. Nosic is an Antihistamine/Vitamin B6 combination product, which places it within the drug class known as Miscellaneous antiemetics. As a fixed-dose combination product, the medication is consistently manufactured with both active components together in a single pill. The specialized design as a delayed-release tablet is a differentiating feature, ensuring the ingredients are absorbed in the small intestine over a longer period, providing a sustained effect.


Nosic's Composition: Synthetic Agent and Essential Nutrient

The medication is composed of two active ingredients: the synthetic compound Doxylamine succinate and Pyridoxine hydrochloride, the pharmaceutical form of Vitamin B6, an essential nutrient. Doxylamine succinate is a piperidine derivative antihistamine and the component that helps to block specific neural pathways associated with the nausea reflex. Pyridoxine hydrochloride supports the formulation, functioning as a coenzyme crucial for various metabolic processes and the normal operation of the central nervous system. This combination is a standard component of first-line treatment for these symptoms.


General Purpose: How the Combination Provides Relief

The general purpose of the Nosic combination is to help reduce the feelings of nausea and the incidence of vomiting associated with morning sickness, representing a typical use scenario. The medication achieves this through a synergistic effect, where the anti-nausea action of the antihistamine component is combined with the metabolic support of the Vitamin B6 component. The combined formulation has a recognized safety and efficacy profile for these specific symptoms. This means that medical consensus supports the use of this specific dual-component approach to help mitigate the daily discomfort caused by persistent nausea.

Regulatory References

  1. Doxylamine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
  2. Doxylamine succinate-pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) - MotherToBaby - NCBI - NIH

What side effects are possible with Nosic?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for this doxylamine succinate/pyridoxine hydrochloride combination is formally established by regulatory bodies, with adverse reactions categorized by frequency and physiological system. The most commonly documented adverse event is somnolence (drowsiness), which is classified as Very Common in official labeling. Other Common effects include dizziness, dry mouth, and fatigue.


System-Organ Classes and Less Common Effects

Adverse reactions documented in postmarketing reports (frequency Not Known) involve multiple System-Organ Classes. These include Nervous System Disorders (such as headache and vertigo), Psychiatric Disorders (including anxiety and insomnia), and Gastrointestinal Disorders (e.g., constipation and abdominal pain). Anticholinergic properties may also lead to ocular and urinary disturbances like blurred vision and urinary retention.


Specific Safety Considerations and Restrictions

Official regulatory texts include specific safety statements and limitations. The medication is not recommended for co-use with alcohol or other Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, as this significantly increases the risk of severe drowsiness and potential falls. It is contraindicated in individuals taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), which can intensify adverse effects.

Caution is advised in patients with certain pre-existing conditions that can be aggravated by anticholinergic action, such as narrow-angle glaucoma, asthma, or pyloroduodenal obstruction. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy have not been established in the pediatric population (under 18 years of age), and the medication is not recommended during breastfeeding due to the potential for infant sedation.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and when to seek help

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Overdose with Nosic (Doxylamine succinate and Pyridoxine hydrochloride) is primarily associated with Central Nervous System (CNS) toxicity and anticholinergic effects. Manifestations documented in regulatory labeling include extreme drowsiness, somnolence, mental confusion, restlessness, dizziness, and tachycardia (rapid heartbeats). Anticholinergic signs, such as dry mouth and fixed and dilated pupils (mydriasis), are also reported. Due to the tablet’s delayed-release formulation, the signs and symptoms of intoxication may not be apparent immediately.

Severe Outcomes and Emergency Action

Severe systemic outcomes officially documented include seizures, acute psychosis, coma, rhabdomyolysis (leading to muscle pain and acute renal failure), and cardiorespiratory arrest. Fatalities have been reported, particularly in the pediatric population, which is noted to be at a high risk for cardiorespiratory arrest.

Immediate medical attention is required for any suspected overdose. Emergency services must be contacted immediately if the individual has collapsed, experienced a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened.

In the context of overdose, management involves symptomatic and supportive treatment, including monitoring of vital signs and laboratory tests. Procedures such as activated charcoal administration and gastric lavage are described in the official guidance for managing the acute overdose situation.

Therapeutic Uses of Nosic

Nosic is commonly used for the treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP), which includes symptoms that create noticeable physiological strain. The medication is commonly used in women who do not respond to conservative management, applied in clinical settings that involve unstable symptom patterns.


Management of Persistent and Recurrent Nausea

This antiemetic combination is used for managing symptom clusters that may become intense or disruptive, specifically is applied in addressing the ongoing sensations of sickness and recurrent vomiting episodes. This supportive action helps address symptom clusters and contributes to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms.


Reducing the Burden of Vomiting Episodes

“It is a recognized component of symptomatic management for conditions where sickness and emesis create noticeable functional strain.”

The medication is used for managing symptoms related to physical discomfort, specifically may assist with easing the frequency and intensity of recurrent vomiting episodes. By addressing symptoms that create noticeable physiological strain, Nosic supports the patient during difficult episodes and assists with maintaining functional stability.


Pharmacological Support When Lifestyle Changes Are Insufficient

Nosic is commonly used across conditions presenting with acute episodes when symptoms have become difficult to tolerate and have not been adequately managed by non-medicine treatments. It is applied during phases of increased distress or discomfort and is considered relevant when supportive symptom management is appropriate, applied in scenarios where additional management of discomfort is required to help patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations.


Quick Fact: Relief for Pregnancy Symptoms Description
Primary Indication Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP)
Symptom Focus Persistent nausea, recurrent vomiting episodes
Context of Use When non-pharmacological support has proven insufficient
Patient Benefit Supports maintenance of functional stability and daily comfort

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who Can and Cannot Use Nosic?

This section describes the officially documented population eligibility rules for using Doxylamine succinate and Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Nosic), based strictly on regulatory labeling.


Populations Permitted and Contraindicated

The medicine is primarily intended for adult pregnant women (18 years and older) whose Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP) symptoms have not responded to conservative management.

Nosic is contraindicated and must not be used by patients with a known hypersensitivity to its components or to other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines. It is also absolutely prohibited for patients who are concurrently taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).


Age and Condition Restrictions

Pediatric use is not recommended in children under 18 years, as safety and efficacy have not been established. Use in lactation (breastfeeding) is also not recommended due to potential risk to the nursing infant.

Caution is required for use in patients with certain pre-existing health issues, including hepatic (liver) or renal (kidney) impairment, asthma, narrow-angle glaucoma, and conditions causing obstruction in the stomach, intestine, or urinary tract. The medicine has not been studied in women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum and is a restriction noted in official labeling.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The official regulatory documents define a restrictive interaction profile for this combination product, primarily related to pharmacodynamic reinforcement and specific constraints on co-administration.

Documented Interaction Restrictions

Classification Interacting Product or Class
Contraindicated Combination Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Use Not Recommended Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants, Alcohol (Ethanol)
Caution Advised Anticholinergic Agents, Potent Cytochrome P450 Inhibitors

Co-administration with MAOIs is formally contraindicated because these agents intensify and prolong the adverse anticholinergic effects of the doxylamine component. The concurrent use of Alcohol or other CNS Depressants is not recommended due to the risk of severe additive sedation and increased CNS impairment, which can lead to accidents.

Pharmacokinetic and Procedural Constraints

The absorption of the active ingredients is altered by food; co-administration with meals is documented to reduce the extent of absorption and delay the onset of action. Furthermore, the doxylamine component may cause false positive results in specific urine screening tests for substances including methadone, opiates, and phencyclidine phosphate (PCP). The use of Potent CYP450 Inhibitors may lead to a potential reduction in doxylamine metabolism, increasing drug exposure, which is an interaction caution noted in prescribing information.

Mechanism of Action

Nosic functions as a selective modulator of the PTH1 R receptor (Parathyroid Hormone 1 Receptor), targeting key molecular pathways involved in bone remodeling. Its catabolic modulation is achieved by inhibiting RANKL-mediated NF-kappa B activation in pre-osteoclast cells. This intracellular process decreases the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Furthermore, Nosic exerts an anabolic effect by modulating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway signaling. This interaction influences osteoblast differentiation and activity via the modulation of GSK-3beta activity. The resulting biochemical cascade alters the downstream phosphorylation of SMAD proteins, influencing the transcriptional regulation of Runx2 and Osterix. This dual action dictates cellular activity in both osteoclasts and osteoblasts, resulting in system-level physiological modulation of bone turnover.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Nosic: Administration Guidelines

The usage of Nosic (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) follows a specific administration route and structured dosing regimen.


Administration Protocol and Dosing Schedule

Nosic is administered via the oral route as a modified-release tablet, which dictates specific conditions for its intake. The tablets contain 10 mg of each active ingredient.

Treatment is initiated with two tablets (20 mg/20 mg total) taken at bedtime. This is a scheduled daily dose and the medication is not intended for as-needed use. The dose may be adjusted (titrated) according to a predefined schedule if symptom control is insufficient, up to a maximum recommended dose of four tablets (40 mg/40 mg) daily. The maximum regimen is divided into three separate intervals: morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime.


Key Administration Instructions

The modified-release tablets must be swallowed whole and should not be crushed, chewed, or split to preserve the designed release mechanism. The medication must be taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water.

For age groups, Nosic is not indicated for use in children under 18 years. If a dose is missed, the next dose is taken at the regular scheduled time; the patient should not double the dose to compensate for the missed one. The overall use should be periodically reassessed, and the recommended approach involves a gradual reduction (tapering) of the daily dose when discontinuing treatment. This structured approach ensures adherence to the established usage pattern.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Nosic

Evidence for Use in Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP)

The evidence base for the doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride combination includes Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). These are studies used in research exploring how symptoms change over time and are a recognized type of clinical evaluation. For this combination, RCTs were applied in studies examining patient-reported experiences of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. This is supplemented by large-scale Systematic Reviews and Observational Studies that monitor health outcomes in women who were observed in research settings during pregnancy.

These research scenarios explored outcomes related to physical discomfort and outcomes reflecting daily functioning or activity level. Specifically, studies explored how symptoms evolved in the observed populations by tracking changes in the severity and frequency of nausea, vomiting, and retching using standardized measurement tools.


Short-Term Trial Scope and Symptom Assessment

Studies were conducted during periods of increased symptom activity, primarily focusing on women with mild-to-moderate symptoms that had not been adequately addressed by non-medicine approaches. The main clinical evaluation studies typically lasting about 14 days and monitored patient statuses over defined time intervals. Findings describe patterns observed in the studies where the group receiving the active combination showed scores that were measured as being lower on the symptom scales compared to the group that received a placebo. This type of research provides context but not individual predictions, describing group patterns, not personal outcomes.


Long-Term Studies and Fetal Outcomes

Beyond the short-term symptom assessment trials, extensive research has been conducted to examine long-term health outcomes. Large epidemiological studies were designed to track maternal and fetal health throughout the full duration of pregnancy. Findings describe patterns observed in these large observational settings, indicating that the use of the combination was not associated with an increased risk of birth defects compared to the expected background rate in the general population. This long-term evidence provides context regarding how patients reported their experience during pregnancy.


What is Still Uncertain About Nosic

Evidence highlights what is known—and what is still uncertain—about the combination's role. One key limitation is that the follow-up durations were limited in the core clinical evaluation trials. While 14-day trials are relevant in trials assessing short-term or episodic symptom patterns, there is limited information for long-term outcomes, such as the full duration of symptom management needed across all trimesters. Furthermore, some regulatory and scientific analyses have noted that the reported measurements of symptom change observed during the study period, while consistently favoring the active treatment group, were modest in size.

Key Studies & References

  1. Doxylamine succinate-pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis®) (NIH/MotherToBaby Fact Sheet summarizing long-term safety/fetal outcomes data)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Nosic (FAQ)


Q: Can I take Nosic if I'm already taking multiple medicines for other conditions?

A: Official prescribing information describes specific drug classes and products that should be avoided or used with caution, such as certain antidepressants (MAOIs) and medicines that cause drowsiness (CNS depressants). The regulatory label includes a statement that a healthcare provider should be informed of all other products being used, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal products.


Q: Is it normal to feel [general symptom] when starting Nosic?

A: The most commonly documented adverse event in official labeling is somnolence, which means drowsiness. Other common effects documented include dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue. Experiencing these effects is described as common based on the evidence presented in official safety information.


Q: What happens if I stop taking Nosic suddenly?

A: Official recommendations suggest a gradual reduction, or tapering, of the dose when discontinuing treatment. These discontinuation procedures are based on the possibility that the underlying condition may return or worsen if treatment is stopped suddenly.


Q: Why do some people need a higher dose of Nosic than others?

A: The dose may be adjusted, which is a process known as titration, according to a defined schedule. This adjustment is typically based on the initial response to treatment and symptom control.


Q: Can Nosic be crushed or split?

A: No. Official administration instructions state that the modified-release tablets must be swallowed whole and should not be crushed, chewed, or split. This is a requirement to preserve the controlled-release mechanism of the medication, which allows the ingredients to be absorbed over an extended period.


Q: Can Nosic affect my ability to drive?

A: Because this medication's most common adverse event is somnolence (drowsiness), official warnings advise that activities requiring complete mental alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, should be avoided until safety is confirmed.


Q: Does Nosic affect mood or energy levels?

A: Adverse events identified in official labeling include fatigue, which affects energy levels, and dizziness. Postmarketing reports have also documented psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and insomnia.


Q: Is there a risk of dependency or withdrawal with Nosic?

A: Regulatory documents recommend a gradual reduction (tapering) of the daily dose when discontinuing treatment.


Q: Is Nosic the same as [Name of similar OTC drug]?

A: Nosic is a prescription-only, fixed-dose combination product containing doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6). The regulatory indication for this specific combination and its unique modified-release form is specific for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy in women who have not responded to conservative management.


Q: How quickly should I expect Nosic to start working?

A: Nosic is a modified-release tablet designed to release the medication in the intestine, not the stomach. The modified-release design results in the delayed onset of action compared to immediate-release drug formulations.


Q: Does Nosic stay in the body for a long time?

A: The medication is manufactured as a modified-release tablet, which is designed to provide controlled relief over an extended duration. This type of formulation is intended to provide a sustained effect.


Q: Can Nosic affect my sleep schedule?

A: The medication is typically taken at bedtime because drowsiness is the most commonly reported adverse event. Postmarketing reports from users have also included insomnia.


Q: Are there any common foods that interact with Nosic?

A: The absorption of the active ingredients is altered by food; co-administration with meals is documented to reduce the extent of absorption and delay the onset of action. The medication is typically advised to be taken on an empty stomach to avoid these effects.


Q: Is there a link between Nosic and weight change?

A: The FDA label does not list weight change as a common or less common adverse event. Furthermore, studies conducted to examine fetal outcomes have not found an increased chance of low birth weight.


Q: Does Nosic interact with common supplements like Vitamin D or magnesium?

A: The prescribing information advises caution with certain drug and supplement classes, such as Potent Cytochrome P450 Inhibitors, as they may affect the metabolism of the active ingredient. Patients should inform their doctor about all supplements, vitamins, and herbal products being taken.


Q: Do you have to take Nosic forever, or is it short-term?

A: The medication is indicated for a condition that may resolve on its own over time. Official guidelines state that the overall use should be periodically reassessed by a healthcare provider. Clinical trials for symptom relief have primarily focused on short-term use, such as 14-day periods.


Q: Are there any known severe side effects associated with Nosic?

A: Official documents list adverse events reported in postmarketing use that involve multiple organ systems, including blurred vision, anxiety, and urinary disturbances. Information is also documented regarding the symptoms that may occur in the event of an overdose.


Q: Are there any long-term effects of using Nosic?

A: Long-term epidemiological studies have been conducted to examine maternal and fetal health throughout pregnancy, indicating the combination was not associated with an increased risk of birth defects. However, the core clinical evaluation trials that assessed symptom relief had limited follow-up durations.


Q: Can Nosic show up on a standard drug test?

A: Regulatory documents warn that the use of this medication may cause false positive results in specific urine screening tests. This possibility is noted for substances including methadone, opiates, and phencyclidine phosphate (PCP).


Q: Why do people sometimes say Nosic 'didn't work' for them?

A: Scientific analyses of the core clinical trials have noted that the reported measurements of symptom change observed in the studies were modest in size. This regulatory finding provides context for patient reports on the perceived level of symptom relief.


Q: Is Nosic considered a high-risk medication?

A: Official safety reviews and extensive research indicate that the use of the combination was not associated with an increased risk of birth defects compared to the expected background rate. It is indicated for use in adult pregnant women whose symptoms have not responded to conservative management.

How should Nosic be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Nosic?

The official regulatory guidelines define specific storage and disposal requirements to ensure product integrity and safety.

Storage Conditions

Nosic must be stored at controlled room temperature, typically between 20 C and 25 C (68 F and 77 F). The product must be kept from freezing and protected from excess heat and moisture. The tablets should remain in the original, tightly closed container. It is a mandatory requirement to store this medication out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Nosic must be disposed of in accordance with local regulations. It is recommended to use drug take-back programs if available. Regulatory documents specify that the product should not be flushed into the sanitary sewer system or released into surface water.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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