Zofran (Ondansetron) medication guide

What is the most important information I should know about Zofran?

• Before receiving Zofran, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome, or if you have had an allergic reaction to any medicine similar to Zofran, including dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or palonosetron (Aloxi).
• Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Zofran.
• Zofran can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
• Call your doctor at once if you have stiffness in your neck, or muscle spasms or twitching (especially in your face).
• There may be other drugs that can affect Zofran. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What is Zofran?

• Zofran blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.
• Zofran is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery or by medicine to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
• Zofran may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking Zofran?

• Before receiving Zofran, tell your doctor if you have:
  • liver disease;
  • a history of allergic reaction to any medicine similar to Zofran, including dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or palonosetron (Aloxi); or
  • a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome.
• If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Zofran, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
• FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
• Zofran can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is Zofran used?

• Zofran is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. In most cases, only one dose of Zofran is given just before the start of surgery or chemotherapy. Sometimes a second and third dose are also given at 4 hours and 8 hours after the first dose. The medicine must be given through an IV infusion, and can take up to 15 minutes to complete.
• Zofran is not for preventing nausea or vomiting that are caused by factors other than chemotherapy or surgery.
• If you receive this medicine at home and you keep your medicine there, store Zofran at room temperature away from heat and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor for instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.
• Symptoms of an Zofran overdose may include sudden loss of vision, severe constipation, feeling light-headed, fainting.

What should I avoid while receiving Zofran?

• Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Zofran.
• Zofran can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What are the possible side effects of Zofran?

• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  • muscle spasm or twitching, especially in your face; or
  • stiffness in your neck.
• Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
  • diarrhea;
  • headache;
  • fever;
  • drowsiness;
  • blurred vision; or
  • pain or redness where the medicine is injected.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Zofran?

• Before receiving Zofran, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
  • phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal);
  • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
  • tramadol (Ultram);
  • rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
  • amiodarone (Cordarone), mibefradil (Posicor);
  • cimetidine (Tagamet);
  • clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab); or
  • HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), ritonavir (Norvir), or nelfinavir (Viracept).
• If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Zofran, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
• There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Zofran. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.