How much zofran is safe during pregnancy

There have been no studies in humans looking at the use of ondansetron during breastfeeding. Studies in animals suggest that ondansetron enters breast milk, but the effects of ondansetron on a breastfeeding infant are not known. If ondansetron use is necessary, it is not usually a reason to stop breastfeeding.

A different drug may be considered, especially while breastfeeding a newborn or preterm infant. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding questions. I take ondansetron. Can it make it harder for me to get my partner pregnant or increase the chance of birth defects? There are no human studies looking at male use of ondansetron.

Animal studies have not shown any effect on male fertility. In general, exposures that fathers and sperm donor have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. Please click here for references. Media Inquiries Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer. What is ondansetron? What can I do to help control my nausea and vomiting? For ventricular septal defects, the absolute increase in risk was only 0.

Obstetricians are in a difficult position here. While these data may raise some concerns, suggesting the possibility of a very small increase in absolute risk, many women experience severe nausea and vomiting which can interfere with functioning.

Furthermore, early treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is recommended to prevent progression to hyperemesis gravidarum. From a mental health perspective, we also see that prolonged NVP, especially when severe, can lead to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms. Andrade C. J Clin Psychiatry. Free Article. Erick M, et al. Obstet Gynecol. Enter Zofran. Zofran is the trade name for ondansetron.

It was originally used to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy or surgery. But now, Zofran has also become a frequently prescribed drug to reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Morning sickness can probably be blamed on human chorionic gonadotropin hCG , a hormone released by the placenta.

When the nausea and vomiting become so bad they lead to weight loss and dehydration, your doctor may diagnose you with hyperemesis gravidarum and prescribe other medications. The general, researched-baked consensus of the past was that Zofran is relatively safe in all trimesters. However, now some people suggest otherwise. One recent meta-analysis of eight studies suggested that exposure to ondansetron in the first trimester could cause a very small increase in the risk of heart defects and orofacial malformations like cleft palate in babies.

According to the FDA, other factors could have played a role in the reported health issues. For example, people with severe nausea are more likely to have metabolic changes and nutritional deficiencies, which could put their babies at a higher risk of these issues. The increased risk was 0. Still, these risks seem to be highest in the first trimester, when the incidence of severe nausea and vomiting is also much greater. For this reason, some physicians are starting to prescribe Zofran less and less.

In addition, given that the FDA approved a new medication for morning sickness — Bonjesta — off-label Zofran is becoming less frequently prescribed due to the possible liability risk. All this points to a risk that the medical community recognizes as small but existent.

This may be due to the risk of serotonin syndrome, a condition in which serotonin levels accumulate in the body. Oftentimes, morning sickness is considered par for the pregnancy course. Still, severe cases of nausea and hyperemesis gravidarum come with their own risks.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that complications from hyperemesis gravidarum can lead to malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency, which can put your pregnancy at risk.