Study gives pregnancy nausea drug ok - WNCT | 9 On Your Side Greenville NC & Eastern NC News

Debra Stephans knows how hard dealing with morning sickness can be.

It was so bad during her last pregnancy, doctors gave her the medication Ondansetron, also called Zofran, to relieve her nausea and vomiting.

Now new research in the New England Journal of Medicine is reassuring many women who need to take it. A study of more than 600,000 women in Denmark finds no link between taking the drug during pregnancy and an increased risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, birth defects or having a small baby.

The drug is usually prescribed to help ease nausea and vomiting for cancer patients, but doctors also recommend it for pregnant women when necessary.

Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan advises his patients first try to change their diet, supplement with Vitamin B-6 and even try anti-histamines.

Debra says Ondansetron was a life saver for her. She hopes the latest findings will ease the minds of moms who have run out of options.

The FDA is also reviewing the drug to see if it can affect a pregnant mom's heart rhythm.