Anti-Nausea Medication Zofran and Cerebral Palsy
A mother-to-be can be provided a wide assortment of medications during her pregnancy. Whether intended to supplement low levels of iron or vitamins for nutritional deficiency, many recommendations are intended to bolster the pregnancy and the health of her unborn child. Others, though, have to do with the mother’s health more directly. Unfortunately, one common medication used to limit a woman’s nausea, Zofran, has recently discovered links to Cerebral Palsy and other complications impacting the development of an unborn child.
Potential connections between the anti-nausea prescription drug and children being diagnosed with CP should trouble doctors nationwide. Due to the emerging data suggesting a connection between Zofran (Ondansetron) usage and Cerebral Palsy, it is critical for pregnant women to understand the potential risks involved. For those women who have already given birth to a child diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, it’s therefore extremely important to review your medical records to determine whether Zofran was prescribed.
There are a wide number of causes of Cerebral Palsy that are unavoidable. However, prescription drugs can impact brain development in a fetus and result in a CP diagnosis. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), also known as anti-depressants, have similarly received significant attention due to the rise of Cerebral Palsy cases in children whose mothers took this medication during pregnancy. The important issue here is that the prescribing doctor is expected to always serve the mother and her unborn child. Taking prescribed medication is certainly not mom’s fault. Instead, the ongoing awareness and vigilance required by medical professionals charged with keeping mother and child healthy is our focus here.
Possible side effects suffered by children due to the use of Zofran include, but are not limited to:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Musculoskeletal abnormality
- Cleft lip
- Cleft Palate
- Jaundice
- Club foot
- Heart Defects, including septal defects resulting in holes in the heart
- Skull deformities
As Zofran continues to be considered for its role in Cerebral Palsy in children, there are a number of steps parents must take. One of those steps is preserving your child’s legal rights. Statutes of Limitation exist in a number of states that can limit the action a parent can take on behalf of their child; unfortunately, vigilance on the part of parents is critical. Rather than waiting to see if a child’s symptoms will improve or milestones will no longer be missed, parents must take charge to ensure that future legal options are maintained. This is most definitely the case when it comes to mothers who were prescribed Zofran and now have a child who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
You may be thinking ‘what’s done is done’ when it comes to a child being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. There’s no going back. However, there most definitely remain options to pursue on behalf of your child. Lifetime Benefits are awarded in cases where a child’s CP is deemed to have been preventable. In the case of improper prescriptions, there are a number of parties who can be at fault for the resulting diagnosis. With Lifetime Benefits, a child’s future expenses, including therapy, housing, adaptive equipment, education, medical procedures and more will be fully paid for the lifetime of the child. As such, Lifetime Benefits represent a bridge to as many options as the future can hold for your child.
For information on symptoms of Cerebral Palsy, please click here to see the portion of our website dedicated to increasing awareness about the condition. To speak with a team member regarding your concerns surrounding a CP diagnosis, including if you were prescribed Zofran at any point in the pregnancy, fill out our online form or call 800-462-5772 today.
