Ondansetron

Ondansetron: 7 things you should know Medically reviewed by • • • • • • • 1. How it works • Ondansetron may be used to prevent nausea and vomiting. • Ondansetron treats and prevents nausea and vomiting by an unknown mechanism, possibly by a direct effect on the CTZ (the area of the brain associated with vomiting), the vagus nerve, or both. The neurotransmitter, serotonin, appears to play a role in ondansetron's effect. • Ondansetron belongs to the class of medicines known as 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. 2. Upsides • Effective for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, including highly emetogenic (a high probability of causing vomiting) chemotherapy. • May also be used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with radiotherapy - this includes total body irradiation or single or multiple high-dose or daily fractions to the abdomen. • Effective at preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Not recommended for routine prophylaxis, especially if there is little expectation that nausea or vomiting will occur; however, can be given if nausea and vomiting are best avoided. • May be administered orally, by IV infusion, or by IV or IM injection. IV infusions should be infused over 15 minutes and injections pushed over at least 30 seconds, but preferably 2 to 5 minutes. May be administered undiluted by IM injection. • Oral ondansetron is available as a conventional tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, or an oral solution. Oral disintegrating ta...

This Dry your hands before using this medication. This medication may come in a bottle or a To prevent Take any other doses as directed by your doctor. Ondansetron may be taken up to 3 times a day for 1 to 2 days after your Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. The dosage for children may also be based on age and Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens. Remember that this Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called A very serious This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Before taking Before using this Ondansetron may cause a condition that affects the The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using ondansetron, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain Low levels of This ...

This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. To use the oral disintegrating tablet: • Make sure your hands are dry. • Do not push the tablet through the foil backing of the package. Instead, gently peel back the foil backing and remove the tablet. • Immediately place the tablet on top of the tongue. The tablet will dissolve in seconds, and you may swallow it with your saliva. You do not need to drink water or other liquid to swallow the tablet. To use the oral soluble film: • Make sure your hands are clean and dry before and after using this medicine. • Fold the pouch along the dotted line to expose the tear notch. • While still folded, tear the pouch carefully along the edge and remove the film out from the pouch. • Put the soluble film immediately on top of your tongue where it will dissolve in 4 to 20 seconds. Do not chew or swallow the film whole. • Once the film is dissolved, you may swallow with or without water. If you vomit within 30 minutes after using this medicine, take the same amount of medicine again. If vomiting continues, check with your doctor. Dosing The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you ta...

Description and Brand Names Drug information provided by: US Brand Name • Zofran • Zofran ODT • Zuplenz Descriptions Ondansetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that is caused by cancer medicines (chemotherapy) or radiation therapy. It is also used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may occur after surgery. Ondansetron works in the stomach to block the signals to the brain that cause nausea and vomiting.

Ondansetron Generic name: ondansetron (oral) [ on-DAN-se-tron] Brand names: Drug class: • • • • • • • What is ondansetron? Ondansetron blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery, cancer Ondansetron may be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Warnings You should not use ondansetron if you are also using apomorphine (Apokyn). You should not use ondansetron if you are allergic to it or to similar medicines such as dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or palonosetron (Aloxi). Before taking ondansetron, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome. Ondansetron orally disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Serious side effects of ondansetron include blurred vision or temporary vision loss (lasting from only a few minutes to several hours), slow heart rate, trouble breathing, anxiety, agitation, shivering, feeling like you might pass out, and urinating less than usual or not at all. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects. Ondansetron may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Before taking ondansetron You should not use ondansetron if: • you are also using apomorphine (Apokyn); or • you are allergic to ondan...

Dosage Forms & Strengths injectable solution • 2mg/mL tablet • 4mg • 8mg • 24mg oral solution • 4mg/5mL orally disintegrating tablets • 4mg • 8mg Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis PO • Moderately emetogenic chemotherapy: 8 mg started 30 minutes before chemotherapy, then q12hr for 1-2 days after chemotherapy • Highly emetogenic chemotherapy: 24 mg started 30 minutes before chemotherapy • Zofran ODT: Using dry hands, carefully remove from blister pack immediately before use IV • 0.15 mg/kg over 15 min administered 30 min before chemotherapy, then 4 and 8 hr after first dose; not to exceed 16 mg (32 mg no longer recommended because of increased risk of QT prolongation) Postoperative Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis 4 mg IV/IM immediately before anesthesia or after procedure or 16 mg PO 1 hr before anesthesia; patients >80 kg may need additional 4 mg IV Radiation-Induced Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis Total body radiation therapy: 8 mg PO 1-2 hours before radiation therapy; administered each day Single high-dose fraction therapy to abdomen: 8 mg PO 1-2 hr before radiation therapy; administer subsequent doses every 8 hr after first dose 1-2 days after completion of therapy Daily fractions to abdomen: Administer 8 mg PO 1-2 hr before radiotherapy; administer subsequent doses every 8 hr after first dose each day radiotherapy is given Dosage Modifications Renal impairment: Dose adjustment not necessary Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score ≥10): Not to exceed 8 ...

Dosage Forms & Strengths injectable solution • 2mg/mL tablet • 4mg • 8mg • 24mg oral solution • 4mg/5mL orally disintegrating tablets • 4mg • 8mg Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis PO • Moderately emetogenic chemotherapy: 8 mg started 30 minutes before chemotherapy, then q12hr for 1-2 days after chemotherapy • Highly emetogenic chemotherapy: 24 mg started 30 minutes before chemotherapy • Zofran ODT: Using dry hands, carefully remove from blister pack immediately before use IV • 0.15 mg/kg over 15 min administered 30 min before chemotherapy, then 4 and 8 hr after first dose; not to exceed 16 mg (32 mg no longer recommended because of increased risk of QT prolongation) Postoperative Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis 4 mg IV/IM immediately before anesthesia or after procedure or 16 mg PO 1 hr before anesthesia; patients >80 kg may need additional 4 mg IV Radiation-Induced Nausea & Vomiting Prophylaxis Total body radiation therapy: 8 mg PO 1-2 hours before radiation therapy; administered each day Single high-dose fraction therapy to abdomen: 8 mg PO 1-2 hr before radiation therapy; administer subsequent doses every 8 hr after first dose 1-2 days after completion of therapy Daily fractions to abdomen: Administer 8 mg PO 1-2 hr before radiotherapy; administer subsequent doses every 8 hr after first dose each day radiotherapy is given Dosage Modifications Renal impairment: Dose adjustment not necessary Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score ≥10): Not to exceed 8 ...

Ondansetron Generic name: ondansetron (oral) [ on-DAN-se-tron] Brand names: Drug class: • • • • • • • What is ondansetron? Ondansetron blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery, cancer Ondansetron may be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Warnings You should not use ondansetron if you are also using apomorphine (Apokyn). You should not use ondansetron if you are allergic to it or to similar medicines such as dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or palonosetron (Aloxi). Before taking ondansetron, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome. Ondansetron orally disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Serious side effects of ondansetron include blurred vision or temporary vision loss (lasting from only a few minutes to several hours), slow heart rate, trouble breathing, anxiety, agitation, shivering, feeling like you might pass out, and urinating less than usual or not at all. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects. Ondansetron may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Before taking ondansetron You should not use ondansetron if: • you are also using apomorphine (Apokyn); or • you are allergic to ondan...

This Dry your hands before using this medication. This medication may come in a bottle or a To prevent Take any other doses as directed by your doctor. Ondansetron may be taken up to 3 times a day for 1 to 2 days after your Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. The dosage for children may also be based on age and Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens. Remember that this Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called A very serious This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Before taking Before using this Ondansetron may cause a condition that affects the The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using ondansetron, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain Low levels of This ...

This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. To use the oral disintegrating tablet: • Make sure your hands are dry. • Do not push the tablet through the foil backing of the package. Instead, gently peel back the foil backing and remove the tablet. • Immediately place the tablet on top of the tongue. The tablet will dissolve in seconds, and you may swallow it with your saliva. You do not need to drink water or other liquid to swallow the tablet. To use the oral soluble film: • Make sure your hands are clean and dry before and after using this medicine. • Fold the pouch along the dotted line to expose the tear notch. • While still folded, tear the pouch carefully along the edge and remove the film out from the pouch. • Put the soluble film immediately on top of your tongue where it will dissolve in 4 to 20 seconds. Do not chew or swallow the film whole. • Once the film is dissolved, you may swallow with or without water. If you vomit within 30 minutes after using this medicine, take the same amount of medicine again. If vomiting continues, check with your doctor. Dosing The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you ta...