Treatments / Add-ons / Ondansetron
Prescription comfort medicationsRx
Ondansetron
Also called Zofran
A prescription anti-nausea medication, available on your nurse's assessment.
Prescription medication
This is a prescription medication administered by a licensed registered nurse under standing orders authorized by our Medical Director. It is not something you select for yourself; your nurse decides whether it is appropriate after screening you, and will decline it if it is not.
What it is
Ondansetron is a prescription medication that blocks a specific serotonin receptor involved in the body's nausea and vomiting reflex. It is widely used in hospitals and is well characterised.
At Excelsior it is given by a registered nurse under the Medical Director's standing orders, as a slow push over two to five minutes.
What it is used for
- A prescription medication indicated for nausea and vomiting
- Considered by your nurse when nausea is part of what you are experiencing at the visit
- Included in The Aftermath formulation, subject to the same screening
How we give it
As a 4 mg slow IV push over two to five minutes, or as an intramuscular shot.
Your nurse decides whether it is appropriate after screening you. It is not a menu item you can add for yourself.
Good to know
Why does my nurse ask about my heart?
Ondansetron can affect the QT interval, an aspect of the heart's electrical cycle, and some people and some drug combinations are more sensitive to that. The question is asked because the answer changes the decision, not because it is on a form.
Are there side effects?
Headache is the most common and is generally mild. Constipation and a feeling of warmth are also reported. Tell your nurse about anything you notice during the visit.
Others in prescription comfort medications
Ketorolac
A prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, available on your nurse's assessment.
Diphenhydramine
A prescription-strength antihistamine given intravenously, available on your nurse's assessment.
Famotidine
A prescription acid-reducing medication, available on your nurse's assessment.