What is Zofran
OndansetronThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryOndansetron is a medication developed in the 1980s to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is also used to treat anxiety and has been approved by the US FDA since 1991. It is available in the form of oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets and injections, and can also be found as generic products. Recently, orally soluble films have been developed which make taking the drug easier, especially when a person is vomiting.
Zofranis the brand name
Zofran Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Zofran
Ondansetron
1991
574
Effectiveness
How Zofran Affects PatientsOndansetron is a medicine that blocks the serotonin 5-HT3 receptors in the body, which are responsible for causing nausea and vomiting. It has no effect on other serotonin receptors or dopamine receptors. Ondansetron can be given as an intravenous infusion, but a single dose of 8 mg orally is generally considered safe with minimal effects on the QTc interval. When taken over multiple days, it has been shown to slow down colonic transit. Ondansetron also does not affect plasma prolactin concentrations.
How Zofran works in the bodyOndansetron works by blocking the body's natural reaction to vomiting, which is triggered by serotonin. Serotonin is released when a person receives chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which causes the body to vomit. Ondansetron stops this reaction by blocking the serotonin receptor, 5-HT3. This prevents the body from sending the signal to vomit. It is not yet exactly known how Ondansetron works to prevent nausea and vomiting from opiates, but it likely works through similar pathways.
When to interrupt dosage
The recommended dosage of Zofran is contingent upon the diagnosed condition, such as Uremia, radiation therapy induced nausea and vomiting and Pharmacotherapy. The quantity of dosage is contingent upon the technique of delivery specified in the table below.Condition
Dosage
Administration
Nausea
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Pruritus
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Pharmacotherapy
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Pharmacotherapy
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Uremia
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
radiation therapy induced nausea and vomiting
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Nausea
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Nausea
, 2.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg, 24.0 mg, 4.0 mg, 3.2 mg/mL, 2.0 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 8.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg, 16.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, Intramuscular; Intravenous, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Injection - Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated, Injection, solution, Film, soluble, Liquid - Intravenous, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Film, soluble - Oral, Troche, Film, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Intravenous, Troche - Sublingual, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Kit; Tablet; Tablet, film coated - Oral, Injection, Liquid, Solution - Intravenous, Intramuscular, Film - Oral, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Injection, solution - Intramuscular, Sublingual, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous, Injection, solution - Intravenous
Warnings
Zofran ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
Toxoplasma Infections
Do Not Combine
Common Zofran Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Amitriptyline
Major
The metabolism of Amitriptyline can be decreased when combined with Ondansetron.
Amoxapine
Major
The metabolism of Amoxapine can be decreased when combined with Ondansetron.
Anagrelide
Major
The risk or severity of QTc prolongation can be increased when Ondansetron is combined with Anagrelide.
Apomorphine
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Ondansetron is combined with Apomorphine.
Arsenic trioxide
Major
The risk or severity of QTc prolongation can be increased when Ondansetron is combined with Arsenic trioxide.
Zofran Toxicity & Overdose RiskThere is limited information on overdosing on ondansetron. However, some cases have reported sudden blindness, low blood pressure, or abnormal heart rhythm with large doses. It is also not recommended to take ondansetron while pregnant or while breastfeeding. Additionally, there is not enough information to recommend a dosage for children under the age of 3.
Zofran Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Zofran?
Two ongoing clinical trials are examining the potential of Zofran to reduce Nausea, Uremia and Radiation Therapy induced Nausea and Vomiting.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Nausea
0 Actively Recruiting
Uremia
0 Actively Recruiting
radiation therapy induced nausea and vomiting
0 Actively Recruiting
Nausea
3 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 4
Nausea
0 Actively Recruiting
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
0 Actively Recruiting
Pruritus
0 Actively Recruiting
Pharmacotherapy
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 4
Pharmacotherapy
0 Actively Recruiting
Zofran Reviews: What are patients saying about Zofran?
5Patient Review
12/28/2018 I'd rather have a headache than feel nauseous any day.
5Patient Review
8/16/2022 The medication completely curbed my nausea and allowed me to eat again, which was amazing. I didn't have any issues with headaches, but other people have mentioned that as a potential side effect.
4.3Patient Review
12/19/2016 Zofran is a great alternative to Phenergan for those who are looking for something that will still work quickly, but without the drowsiness. I did experience a headache once from it, but not every time.
4Patient Review
4/10/2022 After getting sick from the Norovirus, this worked quickly and effectively. Just remember NOT to drink water whilst it dissolves under your tongue or you end up with a wicked headache. The relief is a godsend.
3.7Patient Review
3/17/2019 This medication helped me a lot with the nausea and vomiting I was experiencing from my other pain medications. However, it did cause constipation as a side effect.
3.3Patient Review
8/18/2021 It did help me keep fluids down but left me tired, dizzy and gave me a lingering headache. I don't think I will be taking it outside of emergencies.
3Patient Review
8/15/2022 Although this medication is effective, it completely stopped my digestive tract. I had to have the ER disimpact my bowls and assist with a enema multiple times throughout using. It is IMPOSSIBLE to have a bowl movement while on this medicine. I decided a few months of not being able to use the bathroom was better than severe nausea and vomiting. Just be prepared to rely on enemas
2.7Patient Review
5/19/2022 This medication made my migraines worse, increased my light sensitivity, and made the nausea linger. I also experienced fever and night sweats, as well as intensified stomach pains and constipation. It was prescribed to me despite the risks of negative interactions with my SSRI's, and sure enough, those side effects materialized.
2.7Patient Review
11/11/2022 I was prescribed this for nausea caused by migraines. It did help with the nausea very quickly, but now I have one of the most intense migraines ever. If you get migraines often, maybe give it a try to see if you have the same reaction as me. But if it does cause intense migraines like this, stop taking it immediately.
2.7Patient Review
10/25/2021 This didn't really work for me unfortunately.
2.3Patient Review
7/29/2019 I was really hoping this would help with the nausea and lack of appetite caused by the antibiotics I had to take for an infection, but unfortunately it did nothing.
2Patient Review
11/3/2022 I had a really terrible experience with Zofran. I got headaches that were so severe, it made me nauseous afterwards. Never again!
1Patient Review
12/28/2018 I experienced some mild side effects when I first started using this medication, but they were manageable. Unfortunately, the treatment stopped being effective after just a couple of days.
Patient Q&A Section about zofran
Is Zofran an opioid?
"Zofran does not belong to the class of medications that are classified as narcotics. Instead, it belongs to a class of medications called 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor antagonists." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
Who should not take Zofran?
"You should not use Zofran if you are allergic to it or to similar medicines such as dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or palonosetron (Aloxi). Zofran may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU)." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
What is the drug Zofran used for?
"Ondansetron is a medication used to prevent nausea and vomiting. It is typically used in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
Does Zofran make one sleepy?
"You may experience headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or fatigue, as well as constipation. If you have any of these symptoms, let your doctor know." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer