A Missouri Zofran lawsuit may be an option for mothers who gave birth to children with birth defects after taking the drug for morning sickness. Many patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment for cancer take the drug Zofran to help with side effects such as vomiting and nausea. Patients who receive radiation treatments, or who have surgery for cancer, may also be prescribed Zofran. While the drug is not approved to treat conditions such as morning sickness, some formerly pregnant women accuse its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, of promoting its use for exactly that purpose. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation with the help of a Missouri Zofran lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Missouri Zofran lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Zofran and How Does It Work?
Zofran is most commonly used to treat cancer patients who suffer from the nauseating effects of chemotherapy. Zofran works by blocking serotonin, the release of which often results in nausea and vomiting. For many patients who have cancer and their doctors, the possible benefits of Zofran outweigh the potential side effects.
Zofran Side Effects
Common side effects of Zofran include:
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Fever
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Rash
- Blurred vision
- Muscle spasms
Other serious side effects may occur as well. Patients are advised to get medical help immediately if they experience chest pain; slow, fast or irregular heartbeat; severe dizziness; or fainting. In rare cases, Zofran may cause a very serious condition known as serotonin syndrome, which may be fatal if left untreated.
Zofran and Morning Sickness
Pregnant women with serious morning sickness who constantly vomit may end up with troubling issues such as dehydration and malnourishment. Many women who suffer from a severe form of nausea during pregnancy known as hyperemesis gravidarum are often hospitalized for their condition. They may receive IV treatments, and in some cases, medications such as Zofran. Hospitalization occurs only after approaches such as dietary changes and drinking more water have been tried.
In some instances, Zofran has been prescribed “off-label” to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. Off-label use of any drug means that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the drug for that particular use. Pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to promote and market off-label use of drugs. Lawsuits allege that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the drug maker, marketed Zofran off-label as safe and effective for the treatment of morning sickness.
Zofran Birth Defects
According to Zofran lawsuits, the drug maker started to receive reports of birth defects associated with the use of Zofran by pregnant women as early as 1992. At least 32 reports of birth defects arising from Zofran treatment in pregnant women had been reported to GSK by 2000.
Possible birth defects alleged in lawsuits to be caused by Zofran include:
- Kidney malformation
- Congenital diaphragmatic anomaly
- Congenital musculoskeletal anomalies
- Orofacial anomalies
- Congenital heart disease
- Dysmorphism
- Intrauterine death
- Stillbirth
According to an article published in the Canadian Family Physician, ondansetron should be used cautiously only after drugs with better safety records that have been labeled for use in pregnancy, such as doxylamine-pyridoxine, have been tried.
Zofran Lawsuit Claims
A Kansas lawsuit filed in 2015 gets to the heart of two Zofran issues for many women who took the drug and had children with defects. First, plaintiffs allege that GlaxoSmithKline strongly promoted the use of Zofran for morning sickness, although there is no FDA approval for such use. Equally important, they claim GlaxoSmithKline does not warn of the risks of taking Zofran. In fact, it is possible that GlaxoSmithKline has never done studies on Zofran for pregnant women and yet allegedly markets it for use in them. Zofran lawsuits in many states are pending.
How a Missouri Zofran Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
