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Zofran With Chemotherapy
A healthcare provider may prescribe Zofran to help prevent nausea and vomiting that can occur when undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Zofran has been shown to be better at preventing vomiting than preventing nausea. During chemotherapy treatment, the body increases its production of serotonin in response to the chemotherapy, potentially causing nausea and vomiting. Taking Zofran with chemotherapy helps to prevent these conditions by blocking serotonin at certain receptors in the body.
An Overview of Zofran for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Zofran® (ondansetron hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed for the prevention of nausea and vomiting due to several causes, such as chemotherapy for cancer.What Is Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting?
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy for cancer. Some types of chemotherapy are more likely to produce nausea and vomiting than others.Nausea is feeling sick to your stomach, while vomiting is actually "throwing up." In general, Zofran is better at preventing vomiting than preventing nausea. It is much easier to prevent nausea and vomiting than to treat it once it starts. Zofran is licensed to prevent nausea and vomiting, not to treat these problems.
Zofran is often used in combination with other medications to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. The medications chosen by your healthcare provider for this purpose will depend on several factors, including the type of chemotherapy and your previous experiences with nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD