Provided by You Health for patients

Ondansetron ODT (generic for Zofran ODT©)

The following provides a medication overview of ondansetron and how to effectively and safely use it for the treatment of nausea and/or vomiting. You will also receive a physical document called a medication guide or patient drug information in the package with your medication when it arrives from the pharmacy which contains full information about ondansetron— you should read all of the information that comes with your prescription shipment before taking your medication and at each refill.

What is Ondansetron ODT

Ondansetron Oral Disintegrating Tablet (Zofran ODT©) is a prescription medicine that is commonly used for:

  • the treatment or prevention of nausea and/or vomiting.

In this medication overview you will find more information for the following:
  • 1

    Usage

    How to get the most out of your treatment

  • 2

    Side Effects

    What to look out for when using your treatment

  • 3

    Warnings

    Important safety information

Usage

  1. To get started, follow your provider's dosing instructions Take one Ondansetron ODT 4 mg tablet by mouth every 8 hours, as needed, for nausea and/or vomiting. Do not take more than 3 tablets in a 24 hour period.

  2. How to take Ondansetron ODT ? Place an oral disintegrating tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve. Water is not needed. Do not swallow it whole. Do not chew, break, or crush it. Take with or without food.

  3. Can I drink alcohol while using Ondansetron ODT? Alcohol can enhance the sedative effects leading to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. It is generally recommended to avoid consuming alcohol while taking this medication.

Medication disposal

If you no longer need your medication, the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately. You can use the DEA DIVERSION CONTROL DIVISION LOOKUP to find your nearest drug disposal site.

If no drug take back sites, locations, or programs are available in your area, and there are no specific disposal instructions (such as flushing) in the medication guide or package insert, you can visit FDA- Disposal of Unused Medicines for more information or follow these simple steps to dispose of most medicines in your trash at home:

Mix medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds; Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; Throw away the container in your trash at home; and Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging.

Side effects

The most common side effects of Ondansetron ODT include: Headache, malaise/fatigue, constipation, and diarrhea.

These are not all the side effects of Ondansetron ODT. Message your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

You can message a provider through your Hims & Hers account if you have any questions about your treatment, including any side effects you may be experiencing.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about Ondansetron ODT tablets?

Serious side effects can happen in people taking ondansetron ODT tablets, including:

  • Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and bronchospasm:

    Discontinue ondansetron ODT if suspected. Monitor and treat promptly per standard of care until signs and symptoms resolve.

  • QT interval prolongation and Torsade de Pointes:

    Avoid in patients with congenital long QT syndrome; monitor with electrocardiograms (ECGs) if concomitant electrolyte abnormalities, cardiac failure or arrhythmias, or use of other QT prolonging drugs.

  • Serotonin syndrome:

    Reported with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists alone but particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs. If such symptoms occur, discontinue ondansetron ODT and initiate supportive treatment. If concomitant use of ondansetron ODT with other serotonergic drugs is clinically warranted, patients should be made aware of a potential increased risk for serotonin syndrome.

  • Masking of progressive ileus and/or gastric distention following abdominal surgery or chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting:

    Monitor for decreased bowel activity, particularly in patients with risk factors for gastrointestinal obstruction.

  • Phenylketonuric patients should be informed that ondansetron ODT orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine (a component of aspartame). Each 4-mg and 8-mg orally disintegrating tablet contains less than 0.03 mg phenylalanine.

Do not take Ondansetron ODT if you:

  • you have a history of hypersensitivity (an allergic reaction) to the active ingredient, ondansetron, in ondansetron ODT, or to any of the inactive ingredients in ondansetron ODT. Inactive ingredients include: mannitol, crospovidone, lactose monohydrate, Microcrystalline cellulose, aspartame, strawberry guarana flavor, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate.maltodextrin, propylene glycol, artificial flavors, and acetic acid.

  • have congenital long QT syndrome.

  • have a history of an immediate family member who experienced sudden unexplained death, particularly at a young age, which may have been related to a heart rhythm problem or arrhythmia.

  • are 66 years of age or older.

  • have a history of heart disease, including an irregular heart beat or congestive heart failure.

  • take potassium-wasting diuretics (thiazide/loop diuretics), examples include: chlorthalidone (Hygroton), hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDiuril, Microzide), chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), and bumetanide (Bumex).

  • have phenylketonuria. Ondansetron ODT contains phenylalanine (a component of aspartame).

  • take any of the following drugs:

Apomorphine

Amiodarone

Domperidone

Levoketoconazole

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Sertindole

Thioridazine

Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone, Nexterone)

Anagrelide (Agrylin, Xagrid)

Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox)

Azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax)

Haloperidol (Haldol)

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, Ѕоvuna)

Ibutilide (Corvert)

Ivabradine (Corlanor)

Procainamide

Quinidine

Quizartinib (Vanflyta)

Sotalol (Betapace, Βеtараcе AF, Ѕotуlize)

Thioridazine

Vandetanib (Caprelsa)

Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

Methadone (Methadone HCL Intensol, Methadose)

Cesium Chloride (Energy Catalyst)

Chloroquine (Aralen)

Chlorpromazine (Thorazine, Largactil, Megaphen)

Cilostazol (Pletal)

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, Neofloxacin)

Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil)

Mobocertinib (Exkivity)

Osimertinib (Tagrisso)

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)

Pentamidine (Pentam)

Pimozide (Orap)

Clarithromycin (Biaxin, Prevpac)

Cocaine

Domperidone (Motilium)

Donepezil (Aricept)

Dronedarone (Multaq)

Droperidol (Inapsine, Droleptan, Dridol, Xomolix)

Erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin Stearate)

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Flecainide

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Moxifloxacin

Terlipressin (Terlivaz)

Dysopyramide (Norpace)

Stop taking ondansetron ODT and seek medical assistance right away if you begin having any of the following symptoms:

  • signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

  • trouble passing urine.

  • dizziness.

  • sudden chest pain or tightness.

  • a fast or abnormal heartbeat, or if you pass out. A type of abnormal heartbeat (prolonged QT interval) has happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has led to another type of unsafe abnormal heartbeat (torsades de pointes).

  • agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache. A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if you also take certain other drugs.

  • stomach pain or swelling of the stomach area. This drug may make it harder to see the signs of a bowel block in people who have had surgery in the stomach area or upset stomach and throwing up after chemotherapy.

This is only a summary of the most important information about ondansetron ODT.
Need more information?

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

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