Zofran

Important Facts to Know before Taking Zofran

You should avoid Zofran if you are allergic to ondansetron or similar medications like dolasetron, granisetron or palonosetron. You should also avoid taking Zofran is you are also taking apomorphine. Before you take Zofran it’s important to tell your physician about any family or personal history of liver disease of Long QT syndrome. Zofran has been shown to have possible negative side effects if taken with these diseases. Zofran tablets also contain phenylalanine so you should tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria.

Zofran Side Effects

You should seek immediate medical attention if you begin to have an allergic reaction to Zofran. Symptoms could include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling in the face, lips and throat.

You should also call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these serious side effects:

• Blurred vision or loss of vision. This could last a few minutes or a few hours.
• Dizziness or shortness of breath.
• Abnormal heart rate, either too fast or too slow.
• Overwhelming anxiety or irritability.
• Urinating much less than normal or not urinating at all.

Some other less serious side effects of Zofran can include:

• Constipation or diarrhea.
• Overall weakness or always feeling tired.
• High fever.
• Headaches.

How is Zofran Taken?

You should only take Zofran is prescribed by your doctor. Avoid taking larger or smaller amounts than recommended and avoid taking for an extended period of time. You can take Zofran tablets as directed on your prescription label which may be with or without food washed down with a full glass of water to help the tablet dissolve completely. Normal doses for adults and children over the age of 12 could include 8 mgs every 8 to 12 hours, 1 to 3 times per day for a maximum of 2 to 3 days total. Zofran is also available in a liquid form which should be measured using a proper dose measuring cup to ensure accuracy.

What if I Miss a Dose?

If you missed your dose you can always take another dose just as soon as you remember. You should opt to skip the missed dose completely if you are already scheduled to take another dose in the next few hours. You should never take extra to try and make up for a missed dose. It’s better to miss a dose than to overdose.

What if I Accidentally Overdose?

If you accidentally overdose on Zofran you should seek immediate medical attention and contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Symptoms of an overdose might include loss of vision, constipation, dizziness or fainting. If you believe you have overdose it’s important to get medical attention as soon as possible.

Drugs to Avoid When Taking Zofran

You should always tell you doctor about any medications you are currently taking before starting another one. Some drugs to avoid while taking Zofran include:

• Trisenox (Arsenic Trioxide)
• Prograf (Tacrolimus)
• Ultra, Ultracet (Tramadol)
• Antibiotics including clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, pentamidine, and rifampin
• Antidepressants like amitriptylline, clomipramine, and desipramine
• Malaria medications like chloroquine or mefloquine
• Heart arrhythmia medications like amiodarone, dofetilide, disopyramide, dronedarone, ibutilide, procainamide, propafenone, quindine or sotalol
• Other nausea medications like dolasetron or droperidol
• Medications for psychiatric disorders like chlorpromazine, clozapine, haloperidol, pimozide, thioridazine, or ziprasidone
• Migrain medications like sumatriptan or zolmitriptan
• Methadone
• Seizure medications like carbamazepine, phenytoin, and Phenobarbital