Study Finds No Risk of Birth Defects with Zofran During Pregnancy

Danish researchers indicate that the findings of new study failed to find any link between side effects of the anti-nausea drug Zofran and an increased risk of birth defects, contradicting prior results of a smaller study that suggested use of Zofran during pregnancy may increase the risk of cleft palate malformations. 

The new study was published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, involving data on more than 600,000 pregnancies, which found no incidence of fetal harm among the 1,970 pregnancies that involved the use of Zofran.

Researchers looked at whether side effects of Zofran during pregnancy may increase the risk of various health problems, such as spontaneous abortion or birth defects, but no such correlation was found.

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Zofran (ondansetron), which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a member of a class of drugs known as 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, which work by blocking the actions of serotonin. It is commonly used for treatment of nausea caused by cancer treatments, but it has been widely used among pregnant women suffering from morning sickness, even though the FDA has not approved it for that use.

About 10% of pregnant women suffer from nausea severe enough that doctors recommend they take anti-nausea medication. However, a prior smaller study has raised concerns that Zofran could cross the placenta and adversely affect their child’s development or health. The previous study suggested that the drug could increase the risk of oral cleft birth defects, such as cleft palate and cleft lip, but those findings were not confirmed by this latest study.

Researchers found that significantly fewer women given Zofran suffered a spontaneous abortion, compared to women who did not take the drug, and there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of major birth defects, stillbirth, preterm delivery or delivery of a low-birth-weight infant, the findings indicate.

Known side effects of Zofran have been linked to a risk of a type of irregular heart rhythm, known as QT interval prolongation.  This may predispose patients to develop Torsades de Pointes, which may lead to sudden death if proper treatment is not received. In December 2012, the FDA announced a partial Zofran recall because of the heart rhythm problems associated with the drug. The recall only affects the 32 mg, single intravenous (IV) dose, which is usually used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

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10 Comments

  • TiffanyJuly 13, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    I'm taking the zolfran now it's a 24 hours patch and now I'm really afraid because it's the only things that make me eat or keep anything how I don't want anything to happen to my baby wat do I do now

  • ChandraJanuary 6, 2016 at 3:04 am

    I took zofran thru my whole pregnancy and my daughter was perfectly healthy. I dont know how I would have made it thru my pregnancy without it.

  • LesaMay 22, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    My son was born with an atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and coarctation of the aorta. He died at 2 months of age. I NEVER used Zofran at all during my pregnancy! Sometimes defects occur that we cannot blame on drug companies!

  • SonjaMarch 20, 2015 at 6:57 pm

    I took Zofran 8 mg 3 times a day my entire pregnancy and for 3 months I did zofran through an I.V. 8 mg every 6 hours. I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum so bad that we would have died otherwise. My baby is perfectly healthy. He weighed 8 lbs 11 ounces.

  • EricaMarch 3, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    OMG.....Im taking ondansetron known as Zofran my baby due in may. I'm scared now

  • LexFebruary 19, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I took Zofran for 18 weeks during my first pregnancy because I was so sick I actually lost weight. He was born with a heart murmur due to pulmonary valve stenosis as well as atrial septial defect, both of which are known to be increased by the use of zofran. My son is now two, has been with a cardiologist since 2 weeks old and has already endured one surgery, and will have to face multiple more. I[Show More]I took Zofran for 18 weeks during my first pregnancy because I was so sick I actually lost weight. He was born with a heart murmur due to pulmonary valve stenosis as well as atrial septial defect, both of which are known to be increased by the use of zofran. My son is now two, has been with a cardiologist since 2 weeks old and has already endured one surgery, and will have to face multiple more. If I would have known the risks I would have tried other remedies to combat my nausea.

  • moniqueFebruary 11, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    I took Zofran while pregnant. My daughter was born with several defects including heart and kidney. She 6 months now

  • AshlynnFebruary 6, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    I took zofran during my pregnancy Aug(13)-April(14), my baby came out healthy. Sorry to hear your story that is so sad.

  • KimFebruary 6, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    I took zofran with both of my children. But I took them for a short period of time. I would say for like a month in my early stages speratically. As a mom I was always weary of medicine of any kind taken during pregnancy. So I would take dissolvable zofran only in emergency while pregnant for unbearable naseau. I never thought it was safe to take zofran a entire pregnancy so I took them only in t[Show More]I took zofran with both of my children. But I took them for a short period of time. I would say for like a month in my early stages speratically. As a mom I was always weary of medicine of any kind taken during pregnancy. So I would take dissolvable zofran only in emergency while pregnant for unbearable naseau. I never thought it was safe to take zofran a entire pregnancy so I took them only in the first weeks of pregnancy when I matured to the second trimester I threw them out and delt with it. 'My kids came out fine

  • LaurieDecember 3, 2014 at 11:22 pm

    I took Zofran while pregnant with my 2nd child from 8 weeks til the end of my pregnancy. Alyssa ended up being born with coarctation of the aorta which required surgery at 10 days old. If they didn't catch this she would have had a heart attack & died. Thank God they found the problem when they did.

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