How long before ondansetron takes effect

You are at risk of serotonin syndrome if you just started taking or increased the dose of your ondansetron, or also take other medicines or herbal supplements that increase serotonin levels such as triptans for migraines or St John's Wort. Symptoms can range from mild such as shivering and diarrhoea runny poos to severe such as muscle rigidity, fever and seizures.

Milder forms of serotonin syndrome may go away within a few days of stopping the medicines that caused your symptoms. Severe serotonin syndrome needs hospital admission and can be fatal if not treated. Read more about serotonin syndrome.

Ondansetron interacts with some medicines and herbal supplements, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting ondansetron or before starting any new medicines. The following links have more information on ondansetron. The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.

Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Store liquid medicine in an upright position. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose.

Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Overdose symptoms may include sudden loss of vision, severe constipation, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

Ondansetron is sometimes used off-label to prevent nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy or the stomach flu. Some early research has suggested the medicine may also play a role in helping the following conditions:. Health Topics. Health Tools. Ondansetron Zofran. Reviewed: November 16, You should not use ondansetron if: you are also using apomorphine Apokyn ; or you are allergic to ondansetron or similar medicines dolasetron, granisetron, palonosetron. To make sure ondansetron is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: liver disease; an electrolyte imbalance such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood ; congestive heart failure, slow heartbeats; a personal or family history of long QT syndrome; or a blockage in your digestive tract stomach or intestines.

Side Effects. Side Effects What are the side effects of Ondansetron Zofran? Call your doctor at once if you have: severe constipation, stomach pain, or bloating; headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats; fast or pounding heartbeats; jaundice yellowing of the skin or eyes ; blurred vision or temporary vision loss lasting from only a few minutes to several hours ; high levels of serotonin in the body --agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

This drug should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed. For women who are breastfeeding: Ondansetron may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to.

This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. For children: This medication has not been studied in children younger than 4 years.

It should not be used in children of this age range. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:. It has not been confirmed that ondansetron is safe and effective for use in children younger than 4 years. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

For people with liver disease: If you have severe liver disease, you should not take more than 8 mg of ondansetron per day. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages.

Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Ondansetron orally disintegrating tablet is used for short-term treatment.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. How to tell if the drug is working: You should not have nausea or vomiting. If you do, it should be less severe. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead to make sure your pharmacy carries it. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Griseofulvin oral tablet is a prescription medication used to treat fungal infections of the hair, nails, and skin. It's available as a generic drug…. The force and acids that pass through your throat while vomiting can cause a sore throat — plus more severe damage. Although nausea and stomach pain are common, having both can help you narrow down what might be causing your symptoms.

Some are medical emergencies.