For details see our conditions. Ondansetron is an anti-sickness medicine. It will start to work within hours. The most common side-effects are a headache, constipation, and feeling flushed.
In this article About ondansetron Before taking ondansetron How to take ondansetron Getting the most from your treatment Can ondansetron cause problems? How to store ondansetron Important information about all medicines. Ondansetron for nausea and vomiting sickness In this article About ondansetron Before taking ondansetron How to take ondansetron Getting the most from your treatment Can ondansetron cause problems?
Very common ondansetron side-effects these affect more than 1 in 10 people What can I do if I experience this? Constipation Try to eat a well-balanced diet, and drink several glasses of water each day. Let your doctor know if this continues Feeling warm or flushed Wear light, cool clothes. If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist. Are you protected against flu?
Further reading and references. Health Tools Feeling unwell? Assess your symptoms online with our free symptom checker. Start symptom checker. An anti-sickness medicine antiemetic - a serotonin 5HT 3 receptor antagonist.
If QT prolongation is too great, the bottom chambers lose their rhythm and start to beat wildly, causing conditions such as torsades de pointes , a potentially life-threatening heart condition. When taking Zofran , get immediate medical attention at any sign of QT prolongation such as:. Healthcare providers do not know the exact incidence of QT prolongation in people taking Zofran , but as a side effect , it is more likely in people who already have heart rhythm abnormalities , a family history of QT prolongation , slow heart rate, congestive heart failure , heart attack, or an electrolyte imbalance such as low magnesium , low calcium, or low potassium.
It is also more likely when Zofran is combined with other drugs that lengthen the QT interval such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , antipsychotics , antifungal drugs , and some types of antibiotics. Serotonin syndrome is a drug-induced condition that occurs when serotonin levels in the brain get too high, causing the brain to become overstimulated.
Symptoms are usually mild and last for only a few days, but the most severe cases can be life-threatening. In most cases, serotonin syndrome is brought on by taking more than one drug that affects serotonin levels.
However, ondansetron and similar drugs—5-HT3 receptor antagonists including granisetron and dolasetron—can cause serotonin syndrome when taken alone.
The exact incidence is not known, but get medical help at any sign of serotonin syndrome such as:. Most common Zofran side effects such as headache, drowsiness , constipation , and diarrhea go away when the drug is discontinued. Zofran has a half-life of three to four hours in healthy adults, but this may be increased to six to eight hours in older adults.
This means it takes the body three to four hours to eliminate half a dose of Zofran from the body, so the entire dose should be eliminated in 15 to 20 hours. Some more serious side effects may take longer to resolve. Some, like serotonin syndrome , severe allergic reactions , or heart rhythm abnormalities , may require emergency medical treatment to get better. Severe heart rhythm problems, however, may produce lifelong complications.
Physical and medical conditions may affect the safety or effectiveness of Zofran , so some people may not be able to take Zofran and others may require dosing changes or closer monitoring for adverse reactions.
The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA does not classify ondansetron as a controlled substance, meaning it has no potential for abuse or physical dependence. Ondansetron is given either as a single dose or for no longer than a few days during cancer treatment , radiation treatment , or surgery. Withdrawal symptoms are not experienced when ondansetron treatment is discontinued. An overdose of Zofran can be a serious medical emergency or even fatal , so get emergency medical attention if too much Zofran has been taken.
A Zofran overdose will cause symptoms such as temporary vision loss, severe constipation , light-headedness, and fainting. In addition, serotonin syndrome has been reported in children who have overdosed on Zofran. When a drug is never given to people with certain medical conditions , those medical conditions are called contraindications. Zofran is contraindicated in people who have a known hypersensitivity to ondansetron because of the risk of severe allergic reactions.
Zofran is also contraindicated in people who have congenital long QT syndrome because of the risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Ondansetron may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the tablets and rapidly disintegrating tablets away from light, at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Store the solution in the bottle upright at room temperature and away from light, excess heat, and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.
To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.
However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Do not let anyone else take your medication.
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital.
It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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