Although Zofran is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for morning sickness, a lot of doctors continue to prescribe the drug to pregnant women complaining of nausea and vomiting. The reasons may vary, from the low Zofran prices to the perceived effectiveness of the drug in curing nausea and vomiting.

However, recent studies may have just confirmed what many quarters feared about the use of Zofran—that it can be harmful to the fetus and mothers as well. Zofran use in early pregnancy is said to cause congenital cardiac malformations as well as oral clefts in unborn babies.

Meanwhile, pregnant women who use Zofran may be at risk of Serotonin Syndrome, a condition that is characterized by cognitive and behavioral changes like agitation, confusion, and neuromuscular changes.

So if you are pregnant and you can’t just stand the vomiting and nausea you are experiencing, what are the options you have for treating morning sickness? Here are some medications that may work better and safer than Zofran.

Reglan (Metoclopramide)

Like Zofran, Reglan is an anti-nausea medication.  It is given to treat nausea due to chemotherapy or surgery. Its other approved purpose is for treatment of heartburn due to gastro esophageal reflux. Yet it is also prescribed to pregnant women who are experiencing nausea and vomiting.

Studies have also shown that it is a safe and effective treatment for morning sickness.

One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, cleared metoclopramide from any risks of major adverse outcomes like malformations and fetal deaths. The study took into account more than 40,000 women who used the drug, and who did not face any risks of birth defects or miscarriage.

The study was conducted by Danish experts at the Statens Serums Institute in Copenhagen.

Diclegis (Doxylamine-Pyridoxine)

If you are looking for a morning sickness pill that is approved by the US FDA, then it’s Diclegis that you are searching for.

Doxylamine is an antihistamine that lessens the effects of the chemical histamine in the body. On the other hand, Pyridoxine is a type of Vitamin B. Together, these chemicals combine for a medicine that is effective and safe in treating morning sickness.

The morning sickness pill should be swallowed before bedtime on an empty stomach. For best results, it must be taken at least two hours after dinner.

Curiously, the combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine had been sold in the U.S. under the trade name Bendectin for morning sickness from 1956 to 1983. However, it was pulled out because of lawsuits on birth defects.  The maker of Bendectin has stopped making it due to the high costs of litigation, although the FDA eventually approved its use a few years ago.

As you could see, there are other alternative drugs for morning sickness apart from Zofran. There’s really no reason for you to compare Zofran prices or shop for the drug if you’re pregnant, due to recent clinical studies linking it to birth defects