Ondansetron ODT – Uses, Side Effects, Warnings, and More
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Table of Contents
Uses
This medication can be taken alone or in combination with other medicines to reduce the likelihood of experiencing nausea and vomiting as a result of cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy) or radiation therapy. Additionally, it is used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting that may occur following surgical procedures. Ondansetron is effective because it prevents the action of serotonin, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that is responsible for vomiting.
Instructions for taking ondansetron by mouth
This drug is meant to be dissolved on the tongue’s surface. In contrast to other varieties of tablets, this one is not meant to be chewed or ingested.
Please ensure that your hands are dry before beginning to use this medication. This drug could come in either a bottle or a blister pack depending on the manufacturer. If you are using the blister pack, extract a tablet by first peeling back the foil that covers the blister pack. It is important not to try to force the tablet through the foil. Put the tablet on your tongue as soon as you’ve removed it from its packaging. After allowing it to completely dissolve, you should then swallow it with your saliva. There is no need to take this product with water since it can be taken on its own. If you do that, there is a greater possibility that you will acquire a headache.
Take this drug approximately 30 minutes before starting your chemotherapy treatment to prevent feeling sick during your treatment. Take this drug one to two hours before the beginning of your radiation treatment to prevent feeling sick during or after your treatment. If you want to avoid feeling sick after surgery, taking ondansetron one hour before the procedure will help. This drug can be given with or without food, whichever the patient prefers. However, before undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, your physician may instruct you not to eat.
Take any additional doses that have been prescribed to you by your doctor. After finishing your chemotherapy or radiation treatment, you will continue to take ondansetron for one to two days, at a maximum of three times per day. If your doctor has instructed you to take this medication at a certain time each day, be sure to take it as directed so that you can reap the full benefits of the treatment. Take it at the same time every day so that you don’t forget. This will assist.
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Your current health status and how well you respond to treatment will determine the appropriate dosage for you. The dosage that is given to children could also vary according to their age or how much they weigh. Patients who have severe liver disorders often have a maximum dose of 8 milligrammes to be administered over the course of 24 hours. Always follow the directions that come with your prescription. Never take more of your medication or take it more frequently than directed by your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
If your situation does not improve or if it gets worse, you should let your doctor know as soon as possible.
Side Effects
It’s possible that you’ll get a headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, weariness, or constipation. Notify your doctor as soon as possible if these side effects continue or become worse.
Keep in mind that the reason your doctor has recommended that you take this medication is that he or she believes that the potential benefits to you outweigh the potential risks of doing so. The majority of persons who take this medicine do not report experiencing any severe adverse effects.
Notify your physician as soon as possible if you experience any serious side effects, such as stomach pain, muscle spasms or stiffness, or changes in your vision (such as temporary loss of vision, or blurred vision).
In the event that you have any very serious adverse effects, such as chest pain, a slow, rapid, or irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, or fainting, you should seek immediate medical attention.
This medicine has the potential to raise serotonin levels, as well as the risk of a potentially fatal disease known as serotonin syndrome or poisoning. The danger is increased if you are also taking other medications that boost serotonin levels; thus, you should inform your physician or pharmacist of all the medications you now take (see Drug Interactions section). You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms: a rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, lack of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhoea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation or restlessness.
It is quite unusual for this medicine to cause an extremely severe allergic reaction. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you detect any symptoms of a significant allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), extreme dizziness, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms may indicate anaphylaxis.
This list of potential adverse effects is not exhaustive in any way. Please consult your physician or pharmacist if you have any side effects that are not listed above.
In the United States, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit their website at www.fda.gov/medwatch to report any adverse effects.
In Canada, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse effects you experience.
Precautions
Inform your physician or pharmacist if you are allergic to ondansetron, or to any other anti-nausea serotonin blockers (such as granisetron), or if you have any other allergies before beginning treatment with ondansetron. There is a possibility that this product contains inactive chemicals, the presence of which can trigger allergic responses or other complications. Discuss the matter further with your pharmacist for further information.
Before beginning treatment with this drug, it is important that you discuss your medical history with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly any history of irregular heartbeat, liver illness, or stomach or intestinal problems (such as recent abdominal surgery, ileus, swelling).
There is a possibility that ondansetron will create a disorder that disrupts the normal rhythm of the heart (QT prolongation). Rarely, a QT prolongation can produce a dangerous (and in extremely rare cases, fatal) fast or irregular heartbeat, in addition to other symptoms (such as severe dizziness and fainting) that require immediate medical attention.
If you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that can cause QT prolongation, your risk of developing the condition may be enhanced. Before beginning treatment with ondansetron, it is important to inform your doctor or pharmacist of all the medications you are currently taking, as well as if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), a family history of certain heart problems, and other similar conditions (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).
Your chance of having your QT interval becomes prolonged may also be increased if your blood potassium or magnesium levels are low. This risk may be increased if you use certain medications (such as diuretics or “water pills”) or if you have conditions like as intense sweating, diarrhoea, or vomiting. Likewise, this risk may be increased if you use certain drugs. Discuss the safe use of ondansetron with your attending physician.
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This medication could cause you to feel lightheaded or sleepy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle, operate any machinery, or engage in any activity that requires attentiveness until you are able to do it safely. Steer clear of beverages containing alcohol. If you are a marijuana user, you should consult your primary care physician (cannabis).
When rising from a seated or laying position, take your time in getting up so that you don’t end up feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
There is a possibility that this medicine contains aspartame. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that requires you to limit the amount of aspartame (or phenylalanine) that you consume, you should speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the proper use of this medication to avoid adverse effects.
It’s possible that older persons are more sensitive to the adverse effects of this medication, particularly the QT prolongation (see above).
During pregnancy, it is important to only use this drug when it is absolutely necessary. It could cause harm to an unborn child. Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential drawbacks and advantages.
There is no evidence to suggest that this medication makes its way into breast milk. Before starting to breastfeed, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Interactions
Drug interactions can alter the way in which your prescriptions work or raise the likelihood that you will have major adverse effects. This document does not contain all possible medication interactions. Maintain a list of all the goods you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal remedies, and give it to both your primary care physician and your pharmacist. Without first consulting your physician, you should never alter the dosage of any medication, stop taking any medication, or start taking any new medication.
Apomorphine and tramadol are two examples of products that could potentially interact with this medication.
Dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, amiodarone, quinidine, sotalol, and macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin) are some of the additional medicines that, in addition to ondansetron, have the potential to influence the cardiac rhythm by prolonging the QT interval. It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medications you are taking before beginning treatment with ondansetron.
If you are also taking other drugs that enhance serotonin, you put yourself at a greater risk of developing serotonin syndrome or serotonin poisoning. Street drugs such as MDMA or “ecstasy,” the herb St. John’s wort, and some antidepressants (such as SSRIs like fluoxetine/paroxetine and SNRIs like duloxetine/venlafaxine) are among examples. Other examples include the following: When you first begin taking these medications or raise your dosage, you may be putting yourself at a greater risk of developing serotonin syndrome or serotonin poisoning.
Overdose
Dial 911 if you suspect that someone has overdosed and they are exhibiting serious symptoms such as passing out or having problems breathing. In any other case, you should immediately contact a poison control centre. To reach the poison control centre for your area in the United States, dial 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control centre.
Warnings
Do not give anyone else access to this product.
Tests in the laboratory and/or examinations by a physician (such as an EKG) should be carried out on a regular basis in order to track your improvement and identify any potential adverse reactions. Consult your doctor for additional details.
Neglected Dose
Make every effort to take each dose at the exact time that was prescribed. In the event that you forget to take a dose, you should do so as soon as you remember, unless it is getting close to the time for the following dose. In this instance, you shouldn’t bother taking the missed dose. Your next dose should be taken at the typical time. It is not necessary to double the dose in order to catch up.
Storage
Keep out of the light and away from moisture and light in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Keep away from the bathroom at all costs. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any medications.
Unless you have been specifically told to do so, you should not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them down a drain. When it is no longer needed or has passed its expiration date, dispose of this product in the appropriate manner. Talk to your neighbourhood pharmacy or the firm that handles garbage disposal in your area.
