Attorneys at AMA Law are currently looking into claims that Zofran, the anti-nausea medication, causes an increased risk of heart disease in women who are pregnant. A study by Swedish researchers uncovered the possibility of women who were prescribed Zofran during their first trimester delivering children with heart or birth defects. Zofran, generically known as Ondansetron, is manufactured by the global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and has been linked to serious heart problems and birth defects since December 2014. If you or a loved one was prescribed Zofran to treat nausea during the first trimester of your pregnancy, contact AMA Law today. Our attorneys are working diligently to investigate these claims and represent mothers who were prescribed the anti-nausea medication.
Surprisingly, Zofran was never tested or approved for use by pregnant women, even though it is oftentimes prescribed off-label for morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious type of morning sickness that results in severe nausea and weight loss.
What is Zofran?
Again, Zofran has not been approved by the FDA for pregnant women, however, some medical professionals prescribe the drug “off-label” to treat severe morning sickness. The drug is approved to treat nausea and vomiting in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment or who have had certain surgeries. Zofran was first approved in the United States in 1991 and the first generic versions were given the green light in 2006.
Zofran Linked to Birth Defects and Heart Disease
A 2014 report by the Toronto Star showed that the use of Zofran during pregnancy was linked to heart defects and other birth defects. Research showed that Zofran was connected to two fetal deaths, intrauterine growth restriction (UGR) in six infants, and multiple reports of heart defects and kidney malformations. The first lawsuit against the manufacturer of Zofran was filed on February 19, 2015 by a woman from Massachusetts who was prescribed Zofran and gave birth to a child was three heart defects, facial deformities, webbed toes, and numerous other birth defects. Later that same month, a woman from Minnesota also filed a lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, claiming she had two children with heart defects about taking Zofran. On March 13, 2015, a study was published in Pediatric Emergency Care state two children died from heart problems after being given ondansetron, which is the active ingredient in Zofran.
On March 18, 2015, a study published in Reproductive Toxicology by Swedish researchers uncovered that using Zofran during pregnancy could increase the risk of giving birth to a child with a heart defect by 62 percent and doubled the risk of “hole in the heart” defects.
Contact AMA Law Today
If you have delivered a child with a heart defect or other birth defect after taking Zofran, contact AMA Law today. GlaxoSmithKline has faced numerous claims by people throughout the United States, accusing the company of promoting medications, such as Zofran, for off-label uses. The use of Zofran during pregnancy could cause irreversible damage in a child, which is why it is important to stop taking the medication and contact an attorney from our law firm immediately. To learn more about your legal options and to discuss your case with one of our knowledgeable lawyers, contact us today.