Ondansetron

Snapshot

• A 45-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma presents to the infusion center for her chemotherapy treatment. She had previously tolerated her treatment, but this infusion includes a newer chemotherapy agent. Fifteen minutes into her infusion, she feels very nauseous. The physician supervising prescribes her an anti-emetic medicine commonly used in the setting of chemotherapy.

Introduction

• Drugs
  • ondansetron
• Mechanism of action 
  • serotonin (5-HT₃) receptor antagonist, which decreases vagal stimulation
• Clinical use 
  • anti-emesis
    • particularly in the setting of chemotherapy or procedure
• Adverse effects
  • QT prolongation
  • serotonin syndrome
  • headache
  • constipation