Still, if and when any study links a drug to a fetal anomaly—even if it’s tiny, from years ago, or questionably conducted—it can be tough to change people’s minds or get rid of the stigma it fuels. “It’s really hard to unring that bell, even if studies come out later suggesting it’s not a real association or a significant association,” says Dr. Cassidy.
Plus, as Dr. Cassidy told me, people have always been a bit nervous to take any type of medicine—or putting anything foreign in their bodies—when pregnant. There’s a solid chance that in recent months, that reluctance has only grown—thanks to RFK Jr.’s war against Tylenol, as SELF previously reported.
Another reason this may be the first you’re hearing of Zofran for pregnancy: “People may feel embarrassed that they’re so sick they need a medication or, perhaps, they might be judged for exposing their baby to something,” Dr. Kohari suspects. So they keep it to themselves.
When to ask for—and take—Zofran safely
When I asked Dr. Cassidy if she offers Zofran to her patients, she said, “Yes, absolutely.” If you can get by without taking a pharmaceutical intervention, that’s great—go that route. “But many people can’t, so I prescribe Zofran frequently,” says Dr. Cassidy. Dr. Kohari felt the same: “I have no hesitation, for patients who really need it, of giving someone Zofran.”
Depending on how diabolical your nausea is, you can have four to eight milligrams of the drug, taken up to two to three times a day. It works best to pop it in right when your nausea hits, and not when you’re already in total misery, advises Dr. Kohari. “That’s when it’s harder to break those symptoms,” she says.
There are a few safety concerns to be aware of—as there are with any medication. People with underlying cardiovascular conditions, like long QT syndrome, should avoid Zofran as it can impact electrical signaling in the mother’s heart. It also interacts with certain medications, including some psychiatric medications and various antibiotics, that, when taken together, further increase the risk of cardiac complications. In these instances, there are alternative options, like Reglan, a prescription drug used to treat GERD plus nausea and vomiting, or rectal suppositories like promethazine, that may be a better fit.
This is all to say: If you’re gagging up a storm, especially when your roommate or partner cooks chicken (truly, how dare they?), it’s worth asking your doctor about this pill. It changed my life, and who knows, maybe it’ll help yours too.
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