Pregnancy can be a trying time for many women and the side effects can range from mild to debilitating. One common symptom of pregnancy is nausea and vomiting, which can make it difficult to lead a normal lifestyle. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available, including the medication Zofran. However, there is some debate about whether pregnant women can take Zofran, so it is important to understand the risks and benefits before deciding if it is right for you. This blog post will discuss the potential risks and benefits of taking Zofran while pregnant, and provide information to help you make an informed decision.
Researchers at the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, examined 608,385 pregnancies involving both Zofran-exposed and non-exposed pregnant women.
And their findings were anything but obvious: among the 608,000 women they examined, there was no rise in the frequency of miscarriage, still births, or newborns with birth defects. Researchers also discovered that women who took Zofran at the beginning of their pregnancy did not experience an increased risk of preterm labor or low birth weight.
Please be aware that The Bump and the materials and information contained therein are not intended to be, and do not constitute, medical advice or diagnosis of any kind. Always talk to a licensed doctor or other health care provider about your individual situation.
Morning sickness during the first few weeks of pregnancy is common among women. Most recently, Duchess Kate Middleton, who was experiencing severe morning sickness, spent days in the hospital at the beginning of her pregnancy. Ondansetron, also referred to as Zofran, is used to treat motion sickness.
Although Zofran was developed in 1984 to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients after chemotherapy, pregnant women now use it most frequently. It has a shelf life of five to seven hours and is metabolized in the liver. Headaches and occasionally constipation are frequent side effects of the medication.
Want to feel even worse about the doctors recommending using Zofran when pregnant?
The Justice Department ordered GSK to pay $3 billion in July 2012 for illegally marketing a number of medications off-label, including Zofran to expectant mothers experiencing morning sickness. This indicates that despite the lack of available safety information, the Zofran manufacturer deliberately, knowingly, and actively sought out pregnant women to purchase this medication. Profit over people.
GSK also paid kickbacks to doctors who prescribed Zofran. Be aware that other medications can cause similar side effects, including the vaccines your child will receive.
Zofran, the most popular morning sickness medication in the US, has never been authorized for use during pregnancy.
No research has been done to determine whether ondansetron might affect male fertility or raise the risk of birth defects in people. Animal studies have not shown any effect on male fertility. In general, fathers’ and sperm donors’ exposures are unlikely to raise pregnancy risks. Please visit the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.com for more details. org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/pdf/.
In one study, 78 newborns who were exposed to ondansetron at any point during pregnancy were examined. There were no reported unusual behaviors in those who were examined between the ages of 7 days and 2 months. The parents sent in a single follow-up survey for approximately 25 of these kids. The children were between 1½ years to 5½ years old. The survey asked about behavior. The surveys found no behavioral differences between these kids and kids whose mothers did not take ondansetron during pregnancy. There are no additional investigations into the long-term effects of ondansetron use during pregnancy.
When a person learns she is pregnant, they may consider altering how they take their medication or stopping it altogether. Before making any changes to the way you take this medication, you should consult your healthcare providers. Your healthcare professionals can discuss with you the advantages of treating your condition and the dangers of leaving an illness untreated while pregnant.
Following surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, nausea and vomiting are treated with the drug ondansetron. NVP (nausea and vomiting in pregnancy) symptoms have been treated with ondansetron during pregnancy. NVP is also referred to as “morning sickness”. Ondansetron is administered orally, intravenously (IV), or intramuscularly (IM). Ondansetron is sold under the brand name Zofran®.
OTIS/MotherToBaby encourages inclusive and person-centered language. Although mothers are still mentioned in our name, we are updating our resources to use more inclusive language. When the terms “mother” or “maternal” are used, they refer to a pregnant person. When the terms “father” or “paternal” are used, it refers to a sperm donor.
FAQ
How much Zofran can you take while pregnant?
The dose of Zofran for hyperemesis gravidarum requiring hospitalization is a maximum of 10 milligrams via intravenous therapy (IV) every 8 hours. More typical pregnancy nausea is managed by a much lower oral dose — 4 to 8 mg every 8 hours.
Can Zofran cause birth defects?
What nausea medicine is safe while pregnant?
Does Zofran increase risk of miscarriage?