ONDANSETRON (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Category
Description
Ondansetron (on-DAN-se-tron) is used to prevent the nausea and vomitingthat may occur after therapy with anticancer medicines (chemotherapy) or radiation,or after surgery.
Ondansetron is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the followingdosage forms:
Oral- Oral Solution (U.S. and Canada)
- Oral Disintegrating Tablets (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ondansetron, thefollowing should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to ondansetron. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.
Pregnancy?Ondansetron has not been studied in pregnant women.However, this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or otherproblems in animal studies. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctorknows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether ondansetron passes intothe breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are takingthis medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children?This medicine has been tested in a limited numberof children with cancer 6 months of age or older and after surgery in children1 month to 12 years of age. In effective doses, the medicine has not beenshown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
Older adults?This medicine has been tested in a limited numberof cancer patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to causedifferent side effects or problems in older people than it does in youngeradults.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of ondansetron. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Abdominal surgery?Use of ondansetron may cover up stomach problems
- Allergy to selective 5-HT3 receptorantagonists (alosetron [e.g., Lotronex], dolasetron [e.g., Anzemet], granisetron[e.g., Kytril], palonosetron [e.g., Aloxi])? If you are allergic toone of these, you may be allergic to ondansetron because they are in the samegroup of medicines.
- Liver disease?Patients with liver disease may have an increasedchance of side effects
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)?The oral disintegrating tablets may containaspartame, which can make your condition worse.
Proper Use of This Medicine
If you vomitwithin 30 minutes after taking this medicine, take the same amount of medicineagain. If vomiting continues, check with your doctor.
For patients using the oral disintegrating tablet form of this medicine:
- 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 withyour saliva. You do not need to drink water or other liquid to swallow thetablet.
Dosing?The dose of ondansetron will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only averagedoses of ondansetron. If your dose is different, do notchange it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For oral dosage forms (solution, oraldisintegrating tablets, and tablets):
- For prevention of moderate nausea and vomiting after anticancer medicine:
- Adults and children 12 years of age and older?At first, thedose is 8 milligrams (mg) taken thirty minutes before the anticancer medicineis given. The 8-mg dose is taken again eight hours after the first dose. Then,the dose is 8 mg every twelve hours for one to two days.
- Children 4 to 11 years of age?At first, the dose is 4 mg takenthirty minutes before the anticancer medicine is given. The 4-mg dose is takenagain four and eight hours after the first dose. Then, the dose is 4 mg everyeight hours for one to two days.
- Children up to 4 years of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
- For prevention of more severe nausea and vomiting after anticancermedicine:
- Adults and children 12 years of age and older?One 24-milligram(mg) tablet taken thirty minutes before the anticancer medicine is given.
- Children up to 12 years of age?Use and dose must be determinedby your doctor.
- For prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery:
- Adults?Dose is usually 16 mg one hour before anesthesia (medicineto put you to sleep before surgery).
- Children?Dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For prevention of nausea and vomiting after radiation treatment:
- Adults?At first, the dose is 8 mg taken one to two hours beforeradiation treatment. Then, the dose is 8 mg every eight hours.
- Children?Dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For injection dosage form:
- For prevention of nausea and vomiting after anticancer medicine:
- Adults?Dose is usually 32 mg injected into a vein, over a periodof fifteen minutes, beginning thirty minutes before the anticancer medicineis given. Or, if the dose is based on body weight, it is usually 150 micrograms(mcg) per kilogram (kg) (68 mcg per pound) of body weight. This dose is injectedinto a vein over a period of fifteen minutes, beginning thirty minutes beforethe anticancer medicine is given. It is injected again four and eight hoursafter the first dose.
- Children 6 months to 18 years of age?Dose is based on bodyweight and must be determined by your doctor. It is usually 150 mcg per kg(68 mcg per pound) of body weight, injected into a vein over a period of fifteenminutes, beginning thirty minutes before the anticancer medicine is given.The dose is given again four and eight hours after the first dose.
- Children up to 6 months of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
- For prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery:
- Adults?Dose is usually 4 mg injected into a vein over a periodof thirty seconds to five minutes. It is given just before anesthesia (medicineto put you to sleep before surgery) or right after surgery if nausea and vomitingbegin.
- Children 1 month to 12 years of age?Dose is based on body weightand must be determined by your doctor. It is usually 100 mcg per kg (45.5mcg per pound) of body weight for children weighing 40 kg or less (88 poundsor less), or 4 mg for children weighing over 40 kg (over 88 pounds). The doseis injected into a vein over a period of thirty seconds to five minutes. Itis given just before anesthesia or after surgery if nausea and vomiting begin.
- Children up to 1 month of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, and you donot feel nauseated, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosingschedule. If you miss a dose of this medicine, and you feel nauseated or youvomit, take the missed dose as soon as possible.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep the medicine from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwantedeffects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occurthey may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any ofthe following side effects occur:
Rare
Chest pain or discomfort; pain, redness,or burning at place of injection; shortness of breath; skin rash, hives, redness, and/or itching; tightness in chest; troubled breathing; wheezing
Incidence not known
Blurred vision; cold, clammy skin; confusion; coughing; decreased or irregular heartbeat; difficulty in breathingor swallowing; dizziness or fainting; dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up froma lying position; fast, pounding, slow, or irregularheartbeat or pulse; fast, weak pulse; fixed position of eye; heart stops; hives or welts; hoarseness; inability to move eyes; increased blinkingor spasms of eyelid; lab results that show problemswith liver; large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids,lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs; lightheadedness; no breathing; no pulse or blood pressure; noisy breathing; pain in neck, back, or jaw; palpitations; shortness of breath; slow or irregular breathing; sticking out of tongue; sweating; swelling offace, throat, or tongue; trouble in breathing, speaking,or swallowing; unconscious; uncontrolled twisting movements of neck, trunk, arms, or legs; unusual facial expressions; weakness; weakness of arms and legs
Other sideeffects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effectsmay go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However,check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or arebothersome:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 04/12/2005
