Why Pregnant Women Should Not Take Zofran to Treat Nausea
By Craig Knapp on July 17, 2016

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Zofran is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Although its original intention was to be used after surgery and for cancer patients, doctors continue to prescribe Zofran “off-label” to pregnant women to treat nausea and vomiting. In the span of five years, the number of pregnant women prescribed Zofran increased from 50,000 in 2008 to 110,000 in 2013.

This is scary given the risks that have been discovered in pregnant women taking Zofran. The top 8 most common risks associated with pregnant women taking Zofran includes the following for their child:
Heart Defects
Cleft Palate
Cleft Lip
Fetal Growth Restriction
Kidney Malformations
Musculoskeleta Abnormalities
Spina Bifida
Fetal Death

On July 2, 2012, the Department of Justice announced a $3 billion settlement with drug maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for promoting certain forms of Zofran (which is approved only for post-operative nausea), for the treatment of morning sickness in pregnant women.

As Zofran prescriptions for pregnant women continued to rise, studies started taking place across the world. In August 2013, a study of 900,000 Danish women found a “two-fold increased risk of cardiac malformation with ondansetron (Zofran), leading to an overall 30 percent increased risk of major congenital malformations.”

In December 2013, Australian researchers linked the use of Zofran in the first trimester with a 20 percent increased risk of birth defects. The team also found a possible sign of kidney defects and a 6-fold increased risk of malformations described as “obstructive defects of renal pelvis and ureter.” This can result in hydronephrosis, which can cause kidney failure. A study published in the December 2014 issue of American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed an increased risk to pregnant women taking Zofran.

Today, new studies continue as thousands of Zofran birth defect lawsuits are filed throughout the U.S. Simultaneously, pregnant mothers continue to be prescribed and take Zofran during their first trimester, causing more babies to be born with health problems. On January 2, 2016, a mother from Virginia says she was prescribed Zofran during early pregnancy, and then delivered a child with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare cluster of four congenital heart defects.

That’s why the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Knapp & Roberts do everything we can to communicate the dangers associated with pregnant women taking the drug Zofran. If you or someone you know took Zofran while pregnant and your child suffered a birth defect, contact a Zofran birth defects lawyer at Knapp & Roberts immediately for a free consultation. We work with clients who are faced with the devastating effects of personal injuries nationally and we can help. Call us at 480-991-7677 today.