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Threw Up After Taking Zofran

Overview | Schedule | Side Furnishings | Monitoring | Tips | Patient Aid | References

Treatment Name: Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®)

Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®) is a Supportive Care Therapy to forbid or care for Nausea and Vomiting

How does ondansetron work?
Ondansetron (Zofran®) is designed to cake receptors in your torso that control nausea and airsickness. These are called "serotonin type" (5-HT) receptors. 5-HT3 is a specific serotonin receptor that is located mostly in your brain, nervous organisation, and intestines (gut). When serotonin is released in the gut and brain, the trunk triggers vomiting. Ondansetron (Zofran®) binds to 5HT3 receptors instead of serotonin, and thereby stops the reflex to vomit.

Goals of therapy:
Ondansetron is given past mouth or IV (in the vein, intravenously) to both prevent and treat nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, or other causes of nausea. Ondansetron is commonly taken on a scheduled basis only before chemotherapy and on an equally needed ground at home. When a medicine is taken to prevent nausea and vomiting, it is known every bit prophylaxis, or prophylactic therapy.

Schedule

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Ondansetron is usually given in an outpatient infusion center earlier chemotherapy to prevent nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron may as well be taken at home for breakthrough nausea or vomiting.

  • Usual ondansetron starting dose just before chemotherapy:
    • Range: 4 to 16 mg wearisome Four push over ii - five minutes, at to the lowest degree 30 minutes earlier chemotherapy
    • Range: four to 24 mg past mouth, at to the lowest degree thirty minutes earlier chemotherapy
  • Usual ondansetron starting dose at home:
    • four mg oral (tablet) by oral fissure every 6 hours as needed
    • 8 mg oral (tablet) by mouth every viii hours equally needed

The ondansetron dosage will depend upon the verbal chemotherapy agents you are taking or receiving. Higher doses may be used for chemotherapy regimens with greater rates of nausea or airsickness, simply know that higher doses may too lead to more side effects (shown below).

After chemotherapy, ondansetron is commonly taken at home. Typical duration of therapy is until ondansetron no longer works in relieving nausea and vomiting or nausea has resolved and ondansetron is no longer needed.

Side Effects

In the ondansetron prescribing characterization data (Zofran®, Zofran ODT® bundle insert), the most commonly reported ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®) side effects are shown here. The exact percentages of patients that volition feel ondansetron side effects is unknown because information technology has been used under widely varying patient populations in a variety of clinical trials:

  • Headache (more than or equal to v%)
  • Fatigue (more than or equal to 5%)
  • Constipation (more than or equal to 5%)
  • Diarrhea (more than or equal to 5%)

Rare [less than one%]:

  • Extrapyramidal reactions (Musculus spasms, shakiness, and problems with moving or speaking)
  • Liver enzyme height
  • Rash
  • Serious unsafe heart rhythms
  • Serious allergic reactions

Important annotation: If you have these side furnishings from ondansetron, ask your physician or pharmacist if decreasing the dose or frequency (the number of times per day) might aid.

Side event videos Side Effect Videos
Nausea and Vomiting Nausea and Vomiting Fatigue Fatigue Constipation Constipation Diarrhea Diarrhea

Monitoring

How often is monitoring needed?
Labs (blood tests) volition usually be checked on the day of chemotherapy. They may also be checked as needed if yous are having trouble with nutrition, hydration, or electrolyte levels due to nausea and vomiting. Labs oft include: Comprehensive Metabolic Console (CMP), Magnesium, Phosphate, plus any others your doc may society.

How might test results/imaging touch on treatment?
In those with low potassium or low magnesium, middle failure, or dull heart rhythm, it may be recommended that ECG monitoring be done to determine the QTc interval and to make sure the time to make a heart beat is not too long. An ECG (or "EKG") may also be needed if yous are taking medicines that may prolong the QTc interval. Heart rhythm changes from ondansetron occur in a dose-dependent mode, merely are rare and occurr mainly with I.V., rather than oral ondansetron.

In patients with severe liver damage, the maximum daily dose of ondansetron is 8 mg because ondansetron is metabolized by the liver.

Questions to Ask Your...

A better understanding of your treatments will let y'all to inquire more questions of your healthcare team. We then promise that with the answers, you will become better results and have greater satisfaction with your care. Because we know it'south not always easy to know what questions to ask, we've tried to make it easy for you!

Choose whatever healthcare provider below to meet common questions that you may want to ask of this person. And then, either impress each list to bring to your clinic visits, or re-create the questions and send them as a message to your healthcare squad through your electronic medical record.

ChemoExperts Tips

  • Although ondansetron is oftentimes the first selection to forbid or treat nausea and vomiting at home, it is important that the crusade is identified because sometimes ondansetron does not work for sure causes of nausea. Ondansetron is non-drowsy for most people that take it, making it useful anti-nausea option during daytime hours.
  • A common side issue with ondansetron (Zofran®) is headache. Those with a history of migraines may be at higher take a chance of headaches from ondansetron. If your headaches noticeably worsen before long after taking ondansetron, contact your doctor to see if other anti-nausea medicines with a lower gamble of headache may be better for yous to employ
  • Another common side outcome of ondansetron (Zofran®) is constipation. Constipation can have many causes including a diet low in fiber, sure types of chemotherapy, recent abdominal surgery, or apply of pain medicines. Information technology is important to accept a bowel move at to the lowest degree every other day. Otherwise, your pocket-size bowel may get blocked. Over-the-counter laxatives and stimulants tin can assistance. Work with your doctor on a plan to keep your bowel movements regular
  • Swallowing tablets may be as well difficult in cases of astringent nausea or vomiting. If you experience like you cannot keep ondansetron tablets down, ask your dr. if they tin can prescribe the orally dissolving tablet (ODT) class of ondansetron. This form of ondansetron dissolves on the tongue, or inside the cheek and does not need liquid for swallowing
  • If yous are given palonosetron (Aloxi®) earlier your chemotherapy, do not take ondansetron at home for iii days (72 hours) after your infusion. Palonosetron is a long-acting drug given I.V. (in the vein) that works in a like way to ondansetron. It lasts for well-nigh 3 days in the body. Taking ondansetron during this time may cause more side effects, without helping with nausea
  • It is unknown if ondansetron volition damage a developing baby. Ondansetron should exist used in pregnant women only if the potential benefits to the mother outweighs the potential risks to the unborn babe
  • A pharmacist should ALWAYS review your medication list to ensure that drug interactions are prevented or managed appropriately

Patient Assistance & Co-payment Coverage

Patients nether the age of 65 years, or those with individual insurance plans:
If you have insurance and are looking for patient help or copay assistance for Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®), nosotros take provided links that may help.

Visit our Patient Aid folio and click the links to various patient assistance programs for help paying for Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®). Depending upon your income, they may exist able to help encompass the toll of:

  • Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®)

For Branded medications (may be bachelor for generic medications likewise), cheque with the manufacturer to determine if a co-pay card is offered and if information technology could reduce your monthly copay.

  • If you are uninsured, bank check with the manufacturer to determine if you are eligible to receive medication at no cost.

Medicare and Medicaid patients (Patients 65 years or older):
The dispensary providing treatment will likely pre-authorize medications and immune therapies such equally Ondansetron (Zofran®, Zofran ODT®) and are the best source to help you understand drug cost.

  • Ask to speak with a patient assistance technician or financial counselor at the clinic or hospital administering this therapy.

References

1) Zofran® injectable package insert

2) Zofran® oral, Zofran ODT® bundle insert

Created: May half-dozen, 2017 Updated: October 24, 2018

What is Nausea and Vomiting?

Nausea is the sensation that there is a need to vomit. Nausea can be astute and curt-lived, or it tin can exist prolonged. When prolonged, information technology is a debilitating symptom. Nausea (and vomiting) tin be psychological or physical in origin.

NOTE: Treatment Options listed below are non spread-out. Other treatments may be bachelor. ChemoExperts provides drug data and does non recommend any one treatment over another. Just your Medico tin choose which therapy is appropriate for you.

What is 5HT?

5-HT is an abbreviation for five-hydroxytryptamine, which is too known as serotonin

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are bones elements that the body needs to do things like brand the heart beat and contract muscles. If you are non drinking or eating well due to nausea and vomiting, electrolyte levels may be too depression or too high in your blood.

The major electrolytes include: sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. These electrolytes are watched closely during your care to brand sure they stay at prophylactic levels.

What is a CMP?

A Comprehensive Metabolic Console (CMP) is a frequently ordered claret test that tells clinicians the status of your: ane) Electrolytes & Acid/Base of operations status,two) Kidney function, 3) Liver part, 4) Claret sugar, and 5) Calcium at the fourth dimension the test was taken. It is commonly used to monitor liver and kidney function when beginning new medications such as chemotherapy. A total of 14 tests are run simultaneously and are shown below.

Electrolytes & Acrid/Base status:
1) Sodium, 2) Potassium, three) Carbon dioxide, 4) Chloride

Kidney Function:
5) BUN (claret urea nitrogen), 6) Serum creatinine (Scr)

Liver Function:
vii) AST, 8) ALT, ix) Total bilirubin, 10) Alk Phos, 11) Albumin, 12) Total protein

Claret sugar:
13) Serum glucose

Calcium:
14) Serum calcium

What is the QTc interval?

The fourth dimension it takes your heart to make i beat can exist measured using an electrocardiogram (ECG, or EKG) and is reported every bit the QTc interval. Ondansetron is generally safe to give when the QTc interval for men is less than 450 milliseconds per shell, and for women, less than 460 milliseconds per beat.

The QTc interval is prolonged if the eye takes too long to make the next shell, and could lead to a dangerous heartbeat known every bit an arrhythmia.

Sure medications, in improver to ondansetron, may prolong the QTc interval. The list includes: Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin antibiotics, certain oral chemotherapy medications, and others. Make sure your pharmacist checks all new medications to brand sure they do not prolong the QTc interval.

Causes of nausea (other than chemotherapy)

  • Dehydration​
  • Movement sickness
  • Swelling in encephalon
  • Feet or anticipatory nausea
  • Delayed emptying of stomach contents, such as in gastrointestinal obstruction or gastroparesis
  • Nausea from hurting medication or other medicines (if allowed, taking these medications with food may help)

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Source: https://www.chemoexperts.com/ondansetron-zofran-odt-nausea-vomiting.html