The decision to take medication during pregnancy is difficult. However, chronic dehydration and malnutrition due to Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) carry risks that may be greater than the tiny possible risks of ondansetron or other medications.
Ondansetron (Zofran) is a Class B serotonin antagonist. This class of medication is found to improve symptoms in > 80% of women.
Tips For Taking Ondansetron
- lasts about 6 hours
- take with a daily stool softener
- take on a strict schedule
- dose: 4 mg every 3-6 hours OR 8 mg every 6 hours
- maximum 32 mg throughout the day
Routes For Taking Ondansetron
- Tablet (oral)
- ODT (oral or vaginal)
- Compounded
- Subcutaneous pump
- IV
More To Know About Ondansetron
If you have pre-existing medical conditions (diabetes, heart disease, etc.), a history of medication reactions, or are a smoker, please inform your physician before taking these medications.
Often effective in patients who have multiple triggers (smell, motion, etc.), a history of hormone sensitivity, and/or moderate to severe vomiting.
If a patient has a history of HG that responded to serotonin antagonists, it should be considered as a first line drug to minimize symptom severity.
Dosing throughout pregnancy may prevent relapse or stabilize symptoms.
Avoid use with other serotonin antagonists (e.g. SSRI’s, antidepressants) to prevent serotonin syndrome.
More common side-effects: Headache, mild/moderate (reversible) liver function test abnormalities, constipation*, diarrhea
GET INVOLVED
- Participate in HG research.
- Become an advocate.
- Make a gift to the HER Foundation.
- Share your story and support other HG moms.
- Become a HER Foundation volunteer.
- Blog about HG and show support for HER.
- Share resources with local health professionals and hospitals.
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