Ondansetron (Zofran)

ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.

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GI / Liver / PancreasCardiacneeds review

Ondansetron (Zofran)

ATI class: Antiemetic / Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist

Action

  • Blocks serotonin receptors involved in the vomiting reflex.
  • Works at vagal nerve terminals and central chemoreceptor trigger zones.

Therapeutic use

  • Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
  • Postoperative nausea and vomiting
  • Radiation-associated nausea and vomiting

Nursing assessment

  • Assess nausea, vomiting, hydration, and bowel pattern.
  • Monitor ECG/QT risk when ordered or when the client has electrolyte imbalance or dysrhythmia risk.
  • Check potassium and magnesium trends when relevant to QT prolongation risk.

Administration

  • PO
  • ODT
  • IV
  • IM

Side effects

  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

Adverse effects

  • QT prolongation
  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Hypersensitivity

Interactions

  • Other QT-prolonging drugs
  • Serotonergic medications
  • Apomorphine

Contraindications

  • Concurrent apomorphine use
  • Hypersensitivity

Precautions

  • Use caution with congenital long QT syndrome, electrolyte abnormalities, heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, or other QT-prolonging medications.
  • Monitor for reduced bowel motility or severe constipation in high-risk clients.

Client teaching

  • Report palpitations, fainting, severe dizziness, rash, or symptoms of serotonin syndrome.
  • Use oral disintegrating tablets as directed; do not push through foil if product instructions warn against it.
  • Maintain hydration and report uncontrolled vomiting.

Medication outcomes

  • Reduced nausea and vomiting
  • Improved oral intake or treatment tolerance

Antidote / rescue

  • No specific antidote is seeded; stop/question therapy for suspected serotonin syndrome, dysrhythmia, or severe allergy and support ABCs.

NCLEX priority cues

  • Palpitations or syncope after an antiemetic may signal QT trouble.
  • Serotonin syndrome cues beat routine nausea comfort measures.
  • Electrolyte derangements make QT risk more testable.

Medication classes

Antiemetics

Source attribution

Engage_MedTable_Ondansetron.pdf
ati-pdf
Google Drive ATI Engage antiemetic source folder
google-drive
Sentinel pharmacology API reference
sentinel-api

Related study cards

Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.

12 study links
Med classmedication class
Antiemetics

Reduces nausea through different pathways, including serotonin, dopamine, histamine, muscarinic, cannabinoid, and NK1 receptor effects.

ATI cueClass
Antiemetic

ATI medication class concept.

ATI cueInteraction
Apomorphine

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess nausea, vomiting, hydration, and bowel pattern.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueMechanism of Action
Blocks serotonin receptors involved in the vomiting reflex.

ATI medication mechanism of action concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Check potassium and magnesium trends when relevant to QT prolongation risk.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueTherapeutic Use
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

ATI medication therapeutic use concept.

ATI cueContraindication
Concurrent apomorphine use

ATI medication contraindication concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Constipation

ATI medication side effect concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Dizziness

ATI medication side effect concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Electrolyte derangements make QT risk more testable.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Fatigue

ATI medication side effect concept.