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Ondansetron
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.
 | Zofran |
| Zofran ODT |
In Canada
| Zofran |
Ondansetron (on-DAN-se-tron) is used to treat or prevent the nausea
and vomiting that may occur after therapy with anticancer medicines
(chemotherapy) or radiation, or after surgery.
Ondansetron is available only with your doctor's prescription, in
the following dosage forms:
Oral
| Oral Solution (U.S. and Canada) |
| Oral Disintegrating Tablets (U.S.) |
| Tablets (U.S. and Canada) |
Parenteral
| Injection (U.S. and Canada) |
If you vomit within 30 minutes after taking this medicine, take the
same amount of medicine again. 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.
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| 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. |
DosingThe dose of ondansetron will be different for
different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label . The following information includes only average
doses of ondansetron. If your dose is different, do not change it
unless your doctor tells you to do so.
| For oral dosage forms (solution, oral disintegrating
tablets, and tablets):
| For prevention of nausea and vomiting after anticancer
medicine:
| Adults and children 12 years of age and olderAt first, the
dose is 8 milligrams (mg) taken thirty minutes before the
anticancer medicine is 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 12 years of ageAt first, the dose is 4 mg
taken thirty minutes before the anticancer medicine is given.
The 4-mg dose is taken again four and eight hours after the
first dose. Then, the dose is 4 mg every eight hours for one to
two days. |
| Children up to 4 years of ageDose must be determined by
your doctor. |
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| For prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery:
| AdultsDose is usually 16 mg one hour before anesthesia
(medicine to put you to sleep before surgery). |
| ChildrenDose must be determined by your doctor. |
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| For prevention of nausea and vomiting after radiation
treatment:
| AdultsAt first, the dose is 8 mg taken one to two hours
before radiation treatment. Then, the dose is 8 mg every eight
hours. |
| ChildrenDose must be determined by your doctor. |
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| For injection dosage form:
| For prevention of nausea and vomiting after anticancer
medicine:
| AdultsDose is usually 32 mg injected into a vein, over a
period of fifteen minutes, beginning thirty minutes before the
anticancer medicine is 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 injected into a vein
over a period of fifteen minutes, beginning thirty minutes
before the anticancer medicine is given. It is injected again
four and eight hours after the first dose. |
| Children 4 to 18 years of ageDose is based on body weight
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 fifteen minutes, 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 4 years of ageDose must be determined by
your doctor. |
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| For prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery:
| AdultsDose is usually 4 mg injected into a vein over a
period of thirty seconds to five minutes. It is given just
before anesthesia (medicine to put you to sleep before surgery)
or after surgery if nausea and vomiting begin. |
| Children 2 to 12 years of ageDose is based on body weight
and must be determined by your doctor. It is usually 150 mcg per
kg (68 mcg per pound) of body weight for children weighing 40 kg
or less (88 pounds or less), or 4 mg for children weighing over
40 kg (over 88 pounds). The dose is injected into a vein over a
period of thirty seconds to five minutes. It is given just
before anesthesia or after surgery if nausea and vomiting begin.
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| Children up to 2 years of ageDose must be determined by
your doctor. |
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Missed doseIf you miss a dose of this medicine, and you do
not feel nauseated, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular
dosing schedule. If you miss a dose of this medicine, and you feel
nauseated or you vomit, take the missed dose as soon as possible.
StorageTo 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 other
damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
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| Keep the medicine from freezing. |
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be
sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
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