Ondansetron

Uses of  Ondansetron

Ondansetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. It works by blocking the action of serotonin, a natural substance that may cause nausea and vomiting.

Precautions and 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.

To make sure ondansetron is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
• congestive heart failure, slow heartbeats;
• a personal or family history of long QT syndrome; or
• a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines).

Ondansetron is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether ondansetron passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Ondansetron is not approved for use by anyone younger than 4 years old.

Dosage

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Side Effects

Common side effects :

• diarrhea or constipation;
• headache;
• drowsiness; or
• tired feeling.