What is Unisom/doxylamine?

Doxylamine is a first-generation antihistamine. It blocks histamine H1 receptors and readily enters the brain, which is why it causes significant drowsiness and is sold OTC as a sleep aid.

Interestingly, its use in pregnancy isn't primarily about sleep. Doxylamine + vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy used by many providers. 

So when someone is told to take “B6 + half a Unisom,” the therapeutic ingredient they're after is doxylamine; it's a synthetic, lab-made pharmaceutical compound. It is not a naturally occurring substance isolate from a plant, food, or mineral. Which is why I did NOT take it during pregnancy. 

What is actually in a Unisom SleepTab?

The current U.S. label lists:

Active ingredient: doxylamine succinate 25 mg per tablet.

The inactive ingredients include dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate, FD&C Blue No. 1 aluminum lake, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate. Some current labeling/formulations also list anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate. 

Therefore, the standard blue Unisom tablet isn't simply doxylamine by itself. It contains pharmaceutical excipients and an artificial blue color. I politely declined through all three pregnancies because there are so many better natural options.

If you want a more natural/low-intervention approach

There are several non-drug approaches worth trying for nausea and sleep issues during pregnancy:

• Vitamin B6 alone is my logical first step. The one I recommend is HERE. 
• Ginger has evidence for reducing pregnancy nausea in some women. This didn't help a TON for me, but it was mildly helpful to have THIS on hand.
• Small, frequent protein-containing meals and avoiding an empty stomach can help; keeping something bedside and eating before getting up works for some people. This helped me significantly and I focus on high fat as well like full fat yogurt.
• Acupressure/acupuncture (P6/Neiguan point)  help many women and avoids medication exposure. (see the List for my approved providers).
• Fluids/electrolytes in small frequent amounts can be easier than trying to drink a full glass when nauseated. Adding minerals will help significantly with sleep, morning sickness, nausea, and overall wellness in pregnancy and postpartum. My favorite one HERE.

Favorite Herbs and Supplements for Nausea/Morning Sickness:

• Illicium Supreme found HERE
• Black Cumin Oil found HERE
• PFP found HERE
• Tulsi found HERE
• Scutellaria found HERE

Friendly reminder that I am not a doctor and this is my own personal research and what I have done personally during my three pregnancies.