When a woman first gets pregnant, she may experience signs of nausea and sickness that come and go or last throughout the entire day. These symptoms can be so severe that they interrupt daily life and make it hard for a woman to work and go about her life as normal. To help release the painful symptoms, many women are prescribed Zofran, an anti-nausea drug that is said to be safe to take while pregnant.
Zofran first came on the market in 1991 after it was manufactured by GSK, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago when the drug became a mainstream option for pregnant women suffering from morning sickness and severe nausea. Once the drug was released, though, its’ popularity was fast and by 2013, about one million women were using the drug to help with their symptoms. The way Zofran works is quite simple: it blocks serotonin, a natural substance the body produces that can cause vomiting and nausea. Unfortunately, it’s been proven that serotonin also has many other roles to play during pregnancy and blocking it completely may cause a risk to your unborn child.
Since its’ popularity increased, there have been studies around the world trying to associate Zofran with prenatal risks and birth defects. Some studies found that Zofran actually passes directly to the fetus through the placenta and lingers inside the child for a long time, causing issues and defects. A major issue is heart defects, which one study found increased by 20% in mothers taking Zofran. In addition to heart defects, infants born to mothers taking Zofran have also been reported having mental deficiencies, kidney malfunctions, skull deformation, clubfoot and more.
These studies have led to women coming forward and suing the manufacturer after their child was born with a defect directly related to the use of Zofran. These lawsuits have proven that GSK knew of the potential risks to unborn babies but continued to market their product to pregnant mothers.
What Can You Do?
Today, there are other options for morning sickness than just Zofran, and while doctors will still prescribe this drug, it is usually as a last resort. If your doctor prescribes you Zofran, be sure you understand all the risks associated with it and speak with your doctor about alternative options, such as a more recent anti-nausea drug called Diclegis, which is proven to be safe for pregnant women.
If you have already taken Zofran throughout your pregnancy and have a child born with a defect, you deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering and the suffering of the child. You should contact an attorney right away, who can file a lawsuit against the manufacture on your behalf and get you and your family the help you so rightly deserve.
At Stewart & Stewart, we know how tragic a birth defect can be, and we want to fight for you every step of the way to ensure you get the compensation you need to pay for medical bills and more. If you have been hurt by the use of Zofran, contact us right away at 1-800-33-33-LAW or visit our website today.