Morning Sickness - Why Dextrose Therapy Should Not be Used?

Although, morning sickness is a common phenomenon in pregnant women, severe symptoms along with loss of weight and electrolyte disturbance may indicate hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition cannot be prevented from occurring. However, you can use several steps to manage the condition, but if you are thinking of dextrose for treating hyperemesis gravidarum, you should avoid using the remedy.

Causes behind it

Hyperemesis gravidarum commonly occurs when there is a rise in your hormone levels during pregnancy. The affected hormone is hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin. It is produced during pregnancy from the placenta and in early pregnancy stages, it is produced at a rapid rate. This hormone triggers severe nausea.

The symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum are as follows:

1. Intense nausea and vomiting
2. Aversion towards food
3. Loss of appetite and weight loss
4. A reduced urge for urination
5. Possible dehydration
6. Headaches and confusion
7. Extreme tiredness or fatigue that can cause fainting
8. Jaundice
9. Increased heart rate
10. Losing skin elasticity

Treatment
There are different modes of treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. Dextrose is one of the methods which should be abstained from unless the need is urgent.

1. Intravenous fluids or IV is used for restoring the hydration of vitamins, nutrients, and electrolytes.
2. Tube feeding is another treatment method.
3. Nasogastric treatment incorporates nutrient restoration through a tube, which goes into the stomach via your nose.
4. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is also applied where a tube passing through the abdomen goes into the stomach.
5. Several medications are used for treatment.

Dextrose and Hyperemesis gravidarum

Dextrose is a simple sugar made from corn. Chemically, it is identical to glucose or blood sugar. It is used for several medical purposes. It is dissolved in many solutions which are given intravenously, combined with other medicines. Solutions which contain dextrose should not be given to patients suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum. This is because dextrose increases your body’s need for thiamine. Hence, the chances of precipitating Wernicke encephalopathy gets higher in women who already suffer from thiamine deficiency.

However, dextrose infusion can be used when the patient is very hypoglycemic and oral toleration becomes difficult. In such cases, the dextrose needs to be supplemented with thiamine. IV thiamine may be used before the dextrose infusion. Dextrose is a carbohydrate and solutions which contain dextrose  provide calories. They are often given in combination with fat and amino acids.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!