Why isn zofran otc

If further research supports it, maybe doctors will use it more for kids with the stomach flu. Phenergan promethazine is often used to control nausea and vomiting, but in the FDA recommended it not be used for children under age 2.

In older children, Phenergan so often causes drowsiness that many pediatricians don't like to use it. Even if your child isn't vomiting, if he is too sleepy to drink when he has a stomach virus, then he or she will likely still become dehydrated.

Zofran has its own warning, though, at least for higher dosages that were once for nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. This followed a study that found that a single milligram dose might affect the heart's rhythm, leading to QT interval prolongation. This dose, however, is no longer available and is much higher than the 2 milligrams to 8 milligrams that children and teens typically are prescribed.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Phenergan package insert. Droperidol and ondansetron-induced QT interval prolongation: A clinical drug interaction study.

Cheng A. Emergency department use of oral ondansetron for acute gastroenteritis-related vomiting in infants and children. Phenergan Package Insert. Zofran Prescribing Information. Antiemetics for reducing vomiting related to acute gastroenteritis in children and adolescents. I'd lose a lot of business but I wouldn't mind! Hmmm, we'll see who is right.

Because I kind of expect it to be even more restricted as I said. It is possible we could both be right. Still, Zofran is such a popular medication, and it has far more utility than the coxibs. I should note that I just realized that the comment linked in the question was my own, so I just repeated myself to some extent - obviously this is just my opinion as one doctor who sees a lot of people for whom Zofran is a useful treatment.

But based on patterns I've seen in the past 5 years, I definitely feel it's being prescribed more freely as physicians who trained since it went generic go into practice, and I believe that trend will continue even if a boxed warning came out for it. But there is a not insignificant subsegment of the population who would be at risk with a much smaller dose, namely, people with congenital QT prolongation not all of whom are aware they have this problem and people on other medications that prolong the QT, such as methadone, hydrochlorothiazide, and furosemide - all very common prescription meds, and as you saw, there are many more examples.

This is part of the reason why prescription meds that combine Tylenol with other pain medications recently got a black box warning. People take multiple Tylenol-containing medications without realizing it too frequently, and the resulting liver failure can be fatal. The FDA has to take into account the fact that we have an aging and diverse populace who would be accessing these meds if they were over the counter, we can't expect most people to know whether their combination of medications would be likely to produce a dangerous QT change.

Dystonic reactions are rare, but can occur with a regular dose of Zofran or other prescription anti-emetics and certain other classes of prescription medications. Generic Zofran is still incredibly expensive. Actually, the last time I checked, which was admittedly a couple of years ago, a month's supply of generic Zofran for 8 mg tabs was more than a thousand dollars!

Prescription plans can be a bit of a racket, where the consumer is only concerned with the co-pay, but the plan pays the deep costs.

Prescription plans buffer the cost with co-pay maximums, so people really are not aware of how much the insurer is actually paying. I'm guessing that as a geneirc consumers would howl at the charges, there would be no insurance buffer and people would not buy it.

The return for pharma is more reliable through prescription reimbursement. Would you spend 50 bucks for a single pill? As to its safety, I was floored that my pregnant daughter was prescribed Zofran for severe nausea. And if you know physicians, you will know they are extremely reluctant to prescribe anything for pregnant women.

When I was pregnant with her, I was told to "eat Saltines". Reusable menstrual pads Newer ». 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.

Common side effects may include: diarrhea or constipation; headache; drowsiness; or tired feeling. Based on FDA pregnancy categories. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Zofran ODT ondansetron is an antiemetic drug that helps prevent nausea and vomiting. This prescription medication dissolves on the top of your tongue and works by preventing a chemical called serotonin from reaching certain cells in the brain.

Zofran ODT is available as an orally disintegrating tablet. Ondansetron hydrochloride is available in non-disintegrating tablets and an oral solution. Zofran ODT comes in a bottle or a foil blister pack. It's important to only open the bottle or remove the tablet from the blister pack right before using it.

Also, be sure that your hands are dry. If you have a foil blister pack, do not push the tablet out of the foil.

Instead, peel the foil backing off the blister and gently remove the tablet. Do not break or crush any tablets. As soon as you remove the tablet from the bottle or foil blister pack, immediately place it on the top of your tongue and let it dissolve on its own.

This will take seconds, at which point you can then swallow the rest of the tablet with your own saliva. You do not need to drink water and should not swallow the pill whole or try and chew it. The timing of when to take your Zofran ODT depends on what it is being used for.

If you are undergoing chemotherapy, Zofran ODT is typically taken 30 minutes prior to the start of treatment. On the other hand, if you are undergoing radiation, Zofran ODT is taken one to two hours beforehand. Your Zofran ODT dosing may then continue for one to two days after treatment is finished.

To prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery, people usually take Zofran ODT one hour before the start of general anesthesia. If at any time you have questions about your Zofran ODT, or you feel like it isn't helping you, don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare team.

Store the Zofran ODT bottle or foil blister pack at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep your medication out of reach of children and pets. Healthcare providers prescribe Zofran ODT off-label to treat certain health conditions not specified on the product label, such as:.

Zofran begins to work within 30 minutes of taking it and reaches peak blood levels within one to two hours. This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur.

A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www. Zofran ODT can cause mild or severe side effects. The side effects of Zofran ODT may vary slightly depending on the reason the drug is being taken.

Common side effects of taking Zofran ODT for the prevention of nausea and vomiting caused by radiation are:. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects are uncommon, but they may occur when taking Zofran ODT. One serious side effect associated with Zofran ODT use is serotonin syndrome —a condition caused by elevated serotonin levels in your body.

Possible symptoms and signs of serotonin syndrome include:. Zofran ODT has also been associated with an electrical disturbance of the heart called QT prolongation. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience chest pain, an abnormal heartbeat too slow, fast, or irregular , severe lightheadedness, or fainting. Also, seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms or signs of a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis to Zofran ODT:.

Lastly, if you have just had abdominal surgery or are taking chemotherapy, Zofran ODT may mask the signs and symptoms of a bowel obstruction. Speak to your healthcare team if you experience stomach cramping or swelling after taking Zofran ODT. Zofran ODT may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients.