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Avatar universal

zofran? linked to birth defects?

I'm just hoping to hear a few options!

So this is my third pregnancy.  I am 7 weeks and 5 days. My first 2 pregnancies ended in miscarriage.  I have horrible nausea and sickness. I can't keep even water down. I'm just miserable constantly.  I've even lost weight from it since I found out I was pregnant.  

My first 2 pregnancies I was prescribed zofran for nausea.  I was told it's very safe, very few side effects.  And it did actually take away my nauseousness. But as I said I lost both those pregnancies,  one at only about 6 weeks one at about 14 weeks.

However I saw on the TV that zofran causes birth defects!  So of course I did more research.  Zofran is a class C drug. Meaning they don't really have proof either way [as to if it does or does not affect babies] it was originally made for people who get nausea while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

So here's my question.  Is it safe? I'm not saying my 2 miscarriages were because of Zorn but who knows!

Is there any other med you ladies have been prescribed? Did it help? Any other ladies on zofran
17 Responses
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Avatar universal
I took it in tge begging of my pregnancy and was given it through iv everytime i ended up in the hospital i beleave you should only take it in very bad cases if i wouldnt have tooken it i would have lost my son and could have lost my own life and so far i have a healthy baby boy and everything has came back normal and im due on the 28th of this month, so only take it if you really need it and cant keep any water down ,dont just take it cuz you dont wanna feel like your gonna through up
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The pharmacies and doctors both are like really pushing this Zofran on us preggers i feel like. I got a script for it in my first trimester, found out about all the lawsuits linking it to deaths and deformities and stopped taking it after 4days and just tried all the natural remedies i could find. Now im 37wks and went to er about a week ago for severe nausea bc i hadn't kept so much as a drink down in 48 hrs and had even been dry heaving and the staff in labor and delivery absolutely refused to give me anything other then Zofran which i politely declined and refused to take. I was then informed by a doctor and nurse both that yes, it is in fact being linked to multiple birth defects and even stillborn cases but only if taken during the first trimester and that since my baby is already fully formed and only putting on weight it would be totally safe to take it again. :-\ i again politely brought up that between wks 34-37 the lungs are still developing and that i would not be taking it so if thats all they could offer me i would simply go home and hope the sickness stopped on its own to which i was told thats fine bc as long as i stay hydrated food is not a must as the baby will just start taking what he needs from me...although i felt this was out of line and very rude i did in fact leave and go home and just doubled up on my prenatal gummys and tried small amounts of water and the b.r.a.t. diet until i could eat again. Point being, i am a firm believer in not taking it and still dont understand ehy they act like it is our only option.
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Avatar universal
I would NEVER take zofran again if I was pregnant. With my first two pregnancies I took maxalon and things were fine. with my 3 rd pregnancy I didn't take anything as the morning sickness was just in the mornings and not an all day thing. With my last pregnancy, I had severe all day sickness and vomiting and my ob gave me zofran. I had some strange symptoms, such as shivering (needing warm showers to warm up), extreme thirst (especially at night times) and waking up with an odd lump in my throat that I couldn't get rid of. I miscarried at 10 weeks (foetus died at 9 weeks) and I am blaming it on the zofran as it is the only thing I did that was different to my last three pregnancies.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello I just recently lost my baby due to a "missed miscarriage" at 14 weeks pregnant. I had two previous ultrasounds and the baby was healthy with a strong heartbeat.. At 14 weeks no heartbeat!!! I was shocked and devastated especially since I have no history of miscarriage  and 4 healthy children! The only thing done differently this time around is my Dr prescribed me zofran for my morning sickness I took it for about a week before I saw the commercial warning about birth defects. I stopped taking it right away after seeing that commercial not understanding why my Dr would prescribe me something that could cause harm to my unborn baby!! Not long after I had the missed miscarriage and then I connected the two .. I don't know for sure but my Dr said the miscarriage was due to chromosomal defects and if this drug puts u at higher risk then it all makes sense!! I wish all u women the best of luck n would advise against it for the safety of our unborn baby!
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Avatar universal
Hey ill try to make this short.. I've only been pregnant twice both ended in missed miscarriages.. First at 19 weeks second at 23 weeks.. Neither showed any signs of any problems. They just died. I've has test in every single area ran on me for anything any of my 3 Drs could think of.. They can't find one single answer. It's broken my husband and I as well as our whole families hearts. I've lost hope because there is no answer. My husband mentioned on tv he saw a commercial about zofran causing issues... I took zofran DAILEY both pregnancies! Please help me find out if that may have been the reason?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am currently on zofran and if i wasn't taking it i probably wouldn't get out of the first trimester with a healthy baby at all. Drs prescribe this medication because the benefits outweigh the risks and if you don't trust your dr then why are you even still going to them? The pharmacist is the one you need to ask if you're so terrified to take it since all these women in America are ignorant to the fact that it is a CLASS B DRUG. I'm sorry but I've seen this everywhere lately and my pharmacist even spoke with me before i took it to make sure i was okay with it. The birth defects they talk about are some of the most common ones of ALL BABIES born, regardless of family history or not. So maybe everyone should read their facts before just placing blame on something that you have no case for. They did a study  2 years ago in denmark on the drug and it was perfectly safe.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ive been taking Zofran since 2008 because i have pseudo tumor cerebri and found out i was pregnant at 7 weeks. Which my neurologist and medical doctors wouldnt allow me to continue the zofran while in the hospital because its a class c . promethazine is a class b,and there is a class a,which is completely safe for your baby but insurance doesn't cover it and its 60$ a pill...bug if you ask your OB they can tell you the few ingredients thats in it and you can buy it over the counter and make it yourself. So even though i have been taking it daily for years alot of my doctors didnt want me taking it,so i couldnt hold anything down water or any of that. Im now 12 weeks and finallllly!! The nausea has calm down in the past week.I HAD A 5% CHANCE OF CONCIEVING A BABY, AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO RISK LOSING IT OR ALLOWING MY BABY TO POTENTIALLY HAVE LOTS OF ISSUES THAT IM AWARE COULD HAPPEN JUST SO I COULD HAVE AN EASIER PREGNANCY. So if i can do it and off of my pills such as seizure meds pain meds and nausea meds that im supposed to take daily for the constant pain my body is under daily where my head tells my body i have a brain tumor so thats how my body feels 24/7...if i can do it for the insurance for my babies health, i did everything i could to protect my baby..even as hard as it is i got Faith you can too!!! Good luck and just keep pushing through.. i dont drink soda pop but i drank gingerale and saltines just a couple.. and sometimes it helped n sometimes i threw up..but i was throwing up constantly for weeks. ..and it does go away!! Just be patient n be strong for you and your little one.. SORRY FOR MY BOOK LOL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ive been taking Zofran since 2008 because i have pseudo tumor cerebri and found out i was pregnant at 7 weeks. Which my neurologist and medical doctors wouldnt allow me to continue the zofran while in the hospital because its a class c . promethazine is a class b,and there is a class a,which is completely safe for your baby but insurance doesn't cover it and its 60$ a pill...bug if you ask your OB they can tell you the few ingredients thats in it and you can buy it over the counter and make it yourself. So even though i have been taking it daily for years alot of my doctors didnt want me taking it,so i couldnt hold anything down water or any of that. Im now 12 weeks and finallllly!! The nausea has calm down in the past few week.I HAD A 5% CHANCE OF CONCIEVING A BABY, AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO RISK LOSING IT OR ALLOWJNG MY BABY TO POTENTIALLY HAVE LOTS OF ISSUES THAT IM AWARE COULD HAPPEN JUST SO I COULD HAVE AN EASIER PREGNANCY. So if i can do it and off of my pills such as seizure meds pain meds and nausea meds that im supposed to take daily for the constant pain my body is under daily where my head tells my body i have a brain tumor so thats how my body feels 24/7...if i can do it for the insurance i did everything i could to protect my baby..even as hard as it is i got Faith you can too!!! Good luck and just keep pushing through.. i dont drink soda pop but i drank gingerale and saltines just a couple.. and sometimes it helped n sometimes i threw up..but i was theowing up constantly for weeks. ..and it does go away!! Just be patient n be sttong for you and your little one.. SORRY FOR MY BOOK LOL
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Avatar universal
I'm in the same boat.  I can't keep anything down and the dr prescribed zophran and I'm scared to take it. But I need to be able to eat and drink so I'm not sure.
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Avatar universal
My mom took zofran with me the whole time and I'm 100% normal and healthy. I'm sure if there were no commercials about it then no one would accuse it of doing anything. Every pill has a side effect, if your that worried about it then don't take it. Common sense right?
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Avatar universal
I had 2 miscarriages as well. Back to back same about 6 weeks only a week after they gave me Zofran. I went to the ER for severe dehydration at supposedly 9 weeks but the baby past at 6 weeks without me knowing or having any symptoms of miscarrying at all. The second time, I saw my doctor around 6 weeks and the baby was fine. Again, he prescribed me Zofran and when I went back for my 12 weeks checkup, I found out my baby had past away at around 7 weeks. Coincidence, I think not. I have had a total of 7 pregnancies.  My first five I gave gave birth too perfectly healthy and fine. No Zofran, no miscarriages nor complications. The lawsuit is certainly worth looking into. Not only for yourself but also the future of other expectant mothers to make them aware also. Just in case.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have a friend that took it while pregnant, her son now has a lot of medical problems, mostly his heart and kidneys. They are not 100% sure that it is a result of the medication or if it's hereditary, but you can never be too careful. If you are concerned then go with your gut, ask your doctor if there are other options. I've never had nausea that bad from pregnancy but I have had two previous miscarriages and I know that you want to do everything possible to prevent any problems. I have taken phenergan and it helped for nausea, but I wasn't pregnant at the time and I'm not sure if it is considered safe during pregnancy or not. Just do what you think and feel is the best for yourself and your baby. You do need something so that you can keep nutrients in your body, just see if your doctor can suggest something else, or get a second opinion elsewhere.
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Avatar universal
I don't take it because it makes you constipated and that is no fun but I got a sample called diclegis I like it totally helps me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have seen on the news lately about some lawsuits about zofran. Apparently there has been a connection with birth defects and the use of that medication. I am 9 weeks and so nauseous but i refuse to take it. My doc told to me take 1 unisom and 50 mg vitamin B6 at night to help with it and it has helped some. I can actually eat now. I would just talk to your doctor and see what othe options he can suggest so you can have some relief. Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Zofran is a class B drug which is safe for humans. It does not cause birth defects. I am on it and looked it up just to make sure. Major study in denmark with 600,000 pregnant women and not one caused birth defects
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Avatar universal
Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I'm a nurse lookup Phenergan not sure it's class with pregnancy but I know it's a comparable anti-nausea drug similar to zofran
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I'm in shock right now after not only having a miscarriage I found out about last week but knoeimh I was carrying a dead baby around for a month. Breakdown of events I have had 3 healthy no bleeding full term children. Now at 37 on August 2nd I got an ultrasound being told the baby was perfect my blood levels were perfect & EVERYTHING WITH MY CHILD WAS PERFECT AT 7 WEEKS PREGNANT. this was August 2,2016 & I started having horrific morning sickness on August 3rd & my doctor called in Zofran for me on August 3rd (late afternoon)  & it took the edge off and so I went upon my life assuming I was expecting a girl because I have only gotten previously nauseous with girls and then I started bleeding last Tuesday morning & went to the ER.  They did an ultrasound and the doctor came in and told me my baby had no heartbeat and that due to the size it had died on August 4, 2016. I was absolutely devastated having never had a complication with pregnancy in my life nor miscarriage and I wanted answers I wanted to know why and I still want to know why. So only finding out today as Im still in pain and bleeding  I seek answers. Today I heard about the Zofran and the complications with it and I find it very ironic that on August 2 I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy with a great strong heartbeat then the next day August 3 I started taking Zofran and then on August 4 is when the baby died. Could this be because of Zofran? please anyone with answers or similar stories respond!!
I'm sorry this happened to you. I've never needed to take anything for morning sickness so I'm afraid I can't help you there, but I have had a miscarriage before and know a lot of people who have even after having several pregnancies. It could be the drug but it could also have been a problem with the baby (which is why a lot of misscarriages happen) unfortunately you may never know why you misscarried. I wish I could console you more, misscarriage is so hard to deal with, but it does get easier over time. you have amazing children to look after so please try not to concentrate on the negative and concentrate on the positives x
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