Ondansetron 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection or Infusion

What Ondansetron injection is used for:

Ondansetron Injection contains the active substance ondansetron, which belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics. 
Ondansetron Injection is used for 
• Preventing nausea and vomiting caused by 
o chemotherapy for cancer in adults and in children aged ≥6 months. 
o radiotherapy for cancer in adults 
• Preventing and treatment of nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults and in children aged ≥ 1 month.

Do not use Ondansetron Injection:

• If you or your child are allergic to Ondansetron or any of the other ingredients of this medicine or to any similar medicines e.g. granisetron or dolasetron. 
• If you or your child are taking Apomorphine (a medicine used to treat Parkinson’s disease)

 
Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Ondansetron Injection 
• if you or your child have a blockage in your gut or suffer from severe constipation Ondansetron can make these conditions worse. 
• if you or your child have liver problems 
• if you or your child have ever had problem with your heart 
• if you or your child have an uneven heart beat 
• if you or your child are allergic to medicines similar to ondansetron, such as granisetron or palonosetron 
• if you or your child are having surgery to remove your tonsils, because treatment with ondansetron may hide symptoms of internal bleeding 
• if you or your child have problems with the levels of salts in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and magnesium 
• if you are not sure if any of the above apply to you or your child, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before having ondansetron injection. 

Possible side effects:

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you or your child have an allergic reaction, tell your doctor or a member of the medical staff straight away. Less serious side-effects include:
 
• Headache
• Sensations of flushing or warmth
• Constipation
• Changes to liver function test results
• Irritation at the site of injection
• Seizures 
• Unusual body movements or shaking
• Uneven heart beat
• Chest pain
• Low blood pressure
• Hiccups
• Feeling dizzy or light headed
• Blurred vision
• Disturbance in heart rhythm 
• temporary loss of eyesight
 
Other medicines and Ondansetron injection:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you or your child are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, natural supplements or vitamins or minerals. In particular, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you or your child are taking any of the medicines used for:
• epilepsy & heart arrhythmias 
• tuberculosis
• bacterial or fungal infections 
• uneven heart beats 
• certain heart problems 
• pain 
• Parkinson’s disease 
• Cancer 
• depression and/or anxiety 
How to use Ondansetron injection:

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Ondansetron Injection is normally given by a nurse or doctor. 
The dose you have been prescribed will depend on the treatment you are having. 
To prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy or radiotherapy 
Adults
• On the day of chemotherapy or radiotherapy the recommended adult dose is 8 mg given by an injection into your vein or muscle, just before your treatment, and another 8 mg twelve hours later. The usual adult intravenous dose does not exceed 8 mg. 
• On the following days 
o After chemotherapy, your medicine will usually be given by mouth as an 8 mg ondansetron tablet or 10ml (8 mg) ondansetron syrup.
o oral dosing can commence twelve hours after the last intravenous dose and may be continued for up to 5 days. If your chemotherapy or radiotherapy is likely to cause severe nausea and vomiting, you or your child may be given more than the usual dose of Ondansetron Injection. Your doctor will decide this. 
To prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy 
Children aged over 6 months and adolescents 
• The doctor will decide the dose based on the child’s weight or size (body surface area). 
• On the day of chemotherapy 
o the first dose is given by an injection into the vein, just before your child’s treatment. After chemotherapy, your child’s medicine will usually be given by mouth as tablets or syrup. On the following days oral dosing can commence twelve hours after the last intravenous dose and may be continued for up to 5 days. 
To prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after an operation.
Adults: 
• The usual dose for adults is 4 mg given by an injection into your vein or an injection into your muscle. For prevention this will be given just before your operation. 
Children: 
• For children aged over 1 month and adolescents, the doctor will decide the dose. The maximum dose is 4 mg given as a slow injection into the vein. For prevention this will be given just before the operation.

How to store Ondansetron injection:

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. 
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the ampoule or carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to last day of that month. 
• This medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage conditions.
• Keep ampoules in the outer carton in order to protect from light Do not use this medicine if you notice container is damaged or particles / crystals are visible. 
• Do not throw away any medicine via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.