Just informed Ondansetron in pregnancy can cause birth defects

[Feelthefear01]

Feeling slightly panicked. Ive been prescribed ondansetron for HG since being hospitalised 2 weeks ago and finding this to be the only drug that worked. I then received a phone call from my GP on Wednesday to say there had been a small study and information has come out that this medication can increase risk of cleft pallet and heart defects. Well me having a nursing background decided to research the use in early pregnancy to find information that there is a significant increased risk if taken before 10 weeks. As I started to take this at 8 weeks I'm starting to get concerned. Has anyone else taken this medication whilst pregnant before 10 weeks, if so was everything okay with baby? Thanks in advance

I've been on ondansatron since week 7 and no heart issues or cleft lip picked up on 8 scans that I've had and 3 rounds of monitoring. Im 31 weeks.
I know @Bol87 has been on it as well as many others and said she had no issues with birth defects.
Hospitals prescribe this as the main drug for HG sufferers and been told it's safe.

That's good to know. My midwife did say it was her drug of choice so presuming she has advised it to many pregnant women. Also I'm sure it would be more of a big issue of it was deemed completely not safe. I did try to stop taking it for two days but then ended up living with the bowl yet again.

I took ondansetron from around 10 weeks in pregnancy 1 (10.5 years ago) and from 6 weeks in pregnancy 2 (7.5 years ago) for hyperemesis. No birth defects here. It was a life saver for me.

I haven't taken it as my sickness has magically started to improve a little (touch wood!) at nearly 16 weeks, but I've got it in the cupboard.

I think the royal college of midwives and gynaecology recommend it, apparently it's very popular in the London hospitals. I saw a different GP yesterday and she said it was the only thing that worked for her in pregnancy, said it's a wonder drug! My usual GP recently went to a seminar on it and seemed to think the risks weren't worth worrying about. Different areas vary so much. My area won't recommend buccastem, but lots of ladies on here seem to be on that.

It is a wonder drug. I tried about three others before the odansetron and nothing worked. Although I'm still feeling sickly I can actually eat, drink and function now. Thanks guys you have taken a load off my mind.

It certainly is a wonder drug, it was the final drug to try when I started it with dd. I’d been in hospital for 2 weeks and the doctors advised me that I’d really have to consider an abortion as my heart and liver were starting to fail. I was ill until the day I gave birth but I could keep water down once I started ondansetron.

First off, sending hugs to you as HG is utterly vile.
I was taking 3x Ondansetron per day from around 6 weeks and 3x Cyclizine too to combat the awful sickness. 22 weeks now and take maybe 1 Cyclizine a day, haven't needed Ondansetron for around 6 weeks. Had my 20 week scan and no defects picked up, I was aware of the risk (but couldn't carry on the pregnancy if the sickness continued) so asked for them to specifically check the mouth and all looks great. It is a risk, but it's a fixable defect if it so happens to affect your baby. Fingers crossed all is well for you but never ever feel guilty, it's necessary to take when you have HG!

Thanks MamaBear. It's horrible, you try to struggle on until you just can't get out if bed anymore. Then every one tells you how you should try ginger or sea bands or how rich tea worked for them. I know people are trying to be kind but it's the last thing you want to hear when you feel like death

Sending gentle hugs! It won't last forever! Don't try and be a hero though, feel free to moan about it and wallow in self pity for a bit. It's needed sometimes. Mine is pretty much gone, only to be replaced with mega paranoia over Previa Placenta! Oh my goodness this baby had better come out already sleeping through the night and changing her own nappies - she owes me big time!!

I've been on it, but from 12 weeks. From what I understand from the study, it's an association, not a proven causative link and the increase is very small. Can't remember the exact figures, but something like 20/10,000 risk of cleft for those who haven't taken it vs 24/10,000 for those who have. They haven't advised stopping prescribing in the 1st trimester, but to advise women of this link and make an informed decision.
If I had needed it before 12 weeks, I would have been happy to take it knowing this information

I used it from 6 weeks till 20 weeks baby is very healthy, no problems whatsoever.

Have a look at the information on Pregnancy Sickness Support on this, OP- there’s a really good video on their Facebook page explaining the study.

I am comfortable that the risk of taking ondansetron is far less than the risk to the baby of out of control HG. I wouldn’t hesitate to take it again in another HG pregnancy.

I’ve taken it in both my pregnancies. First pregnancy, no such study. I took it from 6 weeks - 28 weeks. Daughter is your average toddler.

This pregnancy, started at 6 weeks on a double dose compared to last time as I’ve been even more sick. Still on that dose at 33 weeks! My GP is wonderful & we’ve always sat & looked at the research & weighed up the risks. I was aware on the cleft lip risk this time. Baby doesn’t have one.

But here is the risk - 1.8 million woman’s data from the US was used. In every 10,000 woman, there is an extra 3 babies born with a cleft lip in those taking ondansetron. 11.1 babies out of 10,000 had a cleft lip in woman who didn’t take the drug. 14 out of 10,000 had one in woman who did. Cardiac defects show very similar results.

I personally chose to take the risk. It’s the only drug that stops me being extremely ill & basically living in hospital for 9 months. I would have aborted without it. I honestly thought I was dying at the height of it. It was horrific!

Had it from 8 wks dd1 and 16 weeks dd2 and it helped me so much that I was anxious at the very thought of running out. Took it until when I was in labour with both. 2 very healthy, happy daughters. Would be asking for it again if I was pregnant again, the dehydration and malnutrition was pretty severe without it.

I’m surprised you was not told before taking it. My GP went through the risks with me before prescribing, I decided to sick to cyclizine as I’d be too worried. I was 11 weeks at this point.

You poor thing worrying about this on top of the HG and general pregnancy! I took ondansetron with my DS4 and DS2,I’m currently 15w pregnant and was prescribed ondansetron by my doctor for HG but when I was hospitalised they refused to give it to me because of this recent study. Despite having had two healthy pregnancies on it previously I moved to Cyclizine this time but, had it but worked for me I wouldn’t have thought twice about moving back to it. HG is beyond debilitating,you’ve got to do whatever works for you mama

Hi OP, how are things now? 💐