taking ondansetron and vomiting

thennies61
thennies61 Member Posts: 285
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

They have givin me ondansetron to help nasua but have taken it twice now and both times ended up vomitng...is there anything else I can take??

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    EMEND

    You can see if they'll prescribe EMEND, but it's expensive...

    Myself and others that have had multiple chemos given at the same time were prescribed EMEND. You take it the first 3 days of chemo..., I never got sick at all.

    As for the single dose weekly chemo, I had Zofran and or Phennigrin to curve the edge if I felt queasy..

    JG

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    This was my nausea medication

    schedule for after chemo....like John, I was prescribed Emend for the first three days, also.....but also took Compazine and Ativan (lorazapam), as well as Zophran (ondansetron)....

    7 AM.....Zofran

    8 AM.....Emend (for the 2nd and 3rd days after day 1 chemo)

    10 AM.....Compazine.

    1 PM....Ativan

    4 PM....Zofran

    Before Bed....another Ativan

    p

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #4
    ZOFRAN

    ZOFRAN

  • yensid683
    yensid683 Member Posts: 349
    #5
    Chemo's not the only agent

    that can bring on vomiting.

    I used zofran, compazine and found it worked until they changed my pain med.  When I was deep into rads they changed me from hydroco/apap to fentanyl and while it was amazingly effective on pain, it made me feel like I was drunk to the point of being sick and despite hitting all of the meds for nausea and vomiting, I couldn't keep anything down until I discontinued the fentanyl!

    Emend works very well too but you could be sensitive to your pain meds. 

    As always, check with your medical team as chemo isn't the only thing that can drive vomiting

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #6
    That drug does not work for me either.

    Phenergan or compazine work well but will make you sleepy.  I had 25 of Phenergan but took half and that was enough to keep the nausea at bay.  Both come in generic and you can ask for a Phenergan suppository if you are too nauseated to keep it down orally.

    PJ

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #7
    Nausea

    I took Zofran and also had a continous release Nausea patch but I stick was sick at my stomach every day (EVERY DAY) from about the 4th week of radiation on.    I had a horrible gag reflex due to the radiation and my Dr said that was the hardest nausea to control as most nausea meds block the sensors/reciptors to the brain and mine was gag reflex which those meds don't control.  I was even sick every moring for months after I finished and my Oncologist said it was "morning Sickness" and due to a blood sugar imbalance in the morning (like being pregnant).  I had to start taking a spoon full of honey the first thing every morning as soon as I got up and that seemed to help.

     

    You might try the Zofran and take it 3 times a day whether you think you need it or not so it's in your system.  My wife is a nurse that works for a gastro group and that is what her doctors recommended.  you might try the patch as well.  I don't know the name of the medicine for the patch but i attached it to my arm and would change it like every 4 days or so.  If you ask you doctor they will know what you're talking about.

     

    Good Luck,

    Keith

  • cid817
    cid817 Member Posts: 58
    #8
    My hubby used the Sancuso

    My hubby used the Sancuso Patch.  It worked very well for him.  He could also take oral antinausea meds along with it if he really needed to, which didn't happen often at all.

    From the website:

    Developed by ProStrakan Group, Sancuso® is a transdermal patch that helps prevent chemo-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The patch is worn on the arm, and delivers the anti-nausea medication granisetron through the skin. The first of its kind to hit the U.S. market, the patch is designed to provide an alternative for people who have difficulty taking oral medications. But the long-lasting effects of the patch could be convenient and beneficial to other patients as well. A single Sancuso patch is designed to maintain a steady level of anti-nausea medicine in the body for several days (allegedly, up to seven). As a patch, Sancuso offers cancer sufferers who are at risk of severe nausea and vomiting a non-oral, non-invasive treatment choice. Sancuso eliminates the need for repeated daily injections, thus reducing potential infection risk, or having to take multiple pills on a daily basis.

    Cindy

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #9
    cid817 said:

    My hubby used the Sancuso

    My hubby used the Sancuso Patch.  It worked very well for him.  He could also take oral antinausea meds along with it if he really needed to, which didn't happen often at all.

    From the website:

    Developed by ProStrakan Group, Sancuso® is a transdermal patch that helps prevent chemo-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The patch is worn on the arm, and delivers the anti-nausea medication granisetron through the skin. The first of its kind to hit the U.S. market, the patch is designed to provide an alternative for people who have difficulty taking oral medications. But the long-lasting effects of the patch could be convenient and beneficial to other patients as well. A single Sancuso patch is designed to maintain a steady level of anti-nausea medicine in the body for several days (allegedly, up to seven). As a patch, Sancuso offers cancer sufferers who are at risk of severe nausea and vomiting a non-oral, non-invasive treatment choice. Sancuso eliminates the need for repeated daily injections, thus reducing potential infection risk, or having to take multiple pills on a daily basis.

    Cindy

    Just talked to the nurse she

    Just talked to the nurse she asked me how I was taking the pill.Told was crusing it up sn using the my peg tube.She said not to but let it dissovle in my mout.She think that might be why I was vomittimg was to strong to go directly into the stomach.She is also going to talk to the doctor about meds for acid reflex.

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #10
    thennies61 said:

    Just talked to the nurse she

    Just talked to the nurse she asked me how I was taking the pill.Told was crusing it up sn using the my peg tube.She said not to but let it dissovle in my mout.She think that might be why I was vomittimg was to strong to go directly into the stomach.She is also going to talk to the doctor about meds for acid reflex.

    Zofran

    There are 2 types of Zofran... one that dissolves in your mouth and one that you swallow.   make sure you have the right one for dissolving.

    Keith

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #11
    thennies61 said:

    Just talked to the nurse she

    Just talked to the nurse she asked me how I was taking the pill.Told was crusing it up sn using the my peg tube.She said not to but let it dissovle in my mout.She think that might be why I was vomittimg was to strong to go directly into the stomach.She is also going to talk to the doctor about meds for acid reflex.

    be careful...

    Pills are not all the same. Some are coated and made to time release. Crushing these up puts the full dose in your system all at once, somethings with ill effect. As a general rule, never crush up any meds unless you get it cleared from pharmacy that it is OK to do.

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #12
    donfoo said:

    be careful...

    Pills are not all the same. Some are coated and made to time release. Crushing these up puts the full dose in your system all at once, somethings with ill effect. As a general rule, never crush up any meds unless you get it cleared from pharmacy that it is OK to do.

    You are right Don, be very

    You are right Don, be very careful crushing pills. Jim has been on PEG for more than 3 years and I was surprised what pills cannot be crushed.

     

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #13
    Jim had a suppository that

    Jim had a suppository that worked well. Do not know the drug name. I am praying you get it under control. Blessings, Debbie 

  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #14
    jim and i said:

    Jim had a suppository that

    Jim had a suppository that worked well. Do not know the drug name. I am praying you get it under control. Blessings, Debbie 

    all pills are not alike

    Like others have mentioned above, not all pills can be crushed.....

    I was given a LIQUID form of Zofran, and was able to put it into my PEG tube.

    It worked wonderfully for me.

    good luck --- hope you find some answers ASAP.

     

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #15
    Ingrid K said:

    all pills are not alike

    Like others have mentioned above, not all pills can be crushed.....

    I was given a LIQUID form of Zofran, and was able to put it into my PEG tube.

    It worked wonderfully for me.

    good luck --- hope you find some answers ASAP.

     

    Zofran

    Ondansetron is just the generic equivalent of Zofran, so what you are taking is Zofran.

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #16
    Continuously

    Most anti-nausea drugs need to be taken in advance of the nausea starting, and continuously thereafter, for upwards of a week after your chemo dose.  It's the only way to stay ahead of it.  You can't wait till you start feeling sick, and then pop a pill.  The meds don't work that way.  Hope you are feeling better soon.

    Deb

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #17
    D Lewis said:

    Continuously

    Most anti-nausea drugs need to be taken in advance of the nausea starting, and continuously thereafter, for upwards of a week after your chemo dose.  It's the only way to stay ahead of it.  You can't wait till you start feeling sick, and then pop a pill.  The meds don't work that way.  Hope you are feeling better soon.

    Deb

    Thanks Deb will have to start

    Thanks Deb will have to start taking them every 8 hours as the directions say instead of 8hrs or as needed..

  • Steve5
    Steve5 Member Posts: 147
    #18
    I would recommend

    I would recommend that you let them know right now that it isn't working and what can they give you that will work- taking a page from Phrannies directives, STAY AHEAD of the NAUSEA - so you could ask them for something else to try -

    Steve

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #19
    always ask

    if the medicine is crushable or if it comes in liquid. I hope by now the illness is calming down some...make sure you drink,drink,drink ( water, damn ).

    You are doing remarkable, just don't overdue..

     

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