Ondansetron for Pregnancy-Associated Nausea and Vomiting

As many as 8 in 10 women experience debilitating pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron, which has emerged as the most common therapy for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting, also appears to be the most effective drug during pregnancy — but is it safe? In a systematic review and a separate in-depth commentary based on a literature search, two groups address this question.

In the systematic review of potential malformations following first-trimester exposure to ondansetron, researchers identified some 4000 exposed infants in eight studies. Overall, no excess risk for major malformations was seen, although risk for septal heart defects was slightly increased in two studies; in addition, risk for cleft palate was increase…