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What you need to know before you take Ondansetron

Do not take Ondansetron • if you are allergic to ondansetron or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • if you have ever had any allergic (hypersensitive) reaction with other anti-emetics (for example granisetron or dolasetron) • if you are taking apomorphine (used to treat Parkinson’s Disease) Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ondansetron • if you have a blockage in your gut or suffer from severe constipation • if you are due to have surgery to the adenoids or tonsils • if you have a heart problem (e.g. congestive heart failure which causes shortness of breath and swollen ankles). • if you have an uneven heart beat (arrhythmias) • if you have liver problems • if you have problems with the levels of salts in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and magnesium. If any of the above apply, you should inform your doctor before beginning treatment with Ondansetron. Other medicines and Ondansetron Ondansetron may have an effect on other drugs and other drugs may have an effect on Ondansetron. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular it is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: • Medicines used to treat epilepsy (phenytoin, carbamazepine) • Rifampicin (used to treat infections such as tuberculosis (TB) an antibiotic). • Tramadol (a medicine used to treat pain) • medicines that affect the heart (such as haloperidol or methadone) • Medicines used to treat heart problems such as abnormal heart beats (anti-arrhythmics like amiodarone) and/or high blood pressure (beta-blockers like atenolol, timolol) • beta-blocker medicines used to treat certain heart or eye problems, anxiety or prevent migraines • cancer medicines (especially anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab) as these may interact with Ondansetron to cause heart arrhythmias • antibiotics (such as erythromycin or ketoconazole), • SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) used to treat depression and/or anxiety including fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, citalopram, escitalopram • SNRIs (serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) used to treat depression and/or anxiety including venlafaxine, duloxetine. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility Pregnancy: You should not use Ondansetron during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is because Ondansetron can slightly increase the risk of a baby being born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (openings or splits in the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth). If you are already pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking Ondansetron. It is recommended that sexually active women of childbearing potential use effective contraception (methods resulting in less than 1% pregnancy rate) during treatment with ondansetron. Breast-feeding: You should not breast-feed your infant whilst taking Ondansetron. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. Fertility There are no data on the effects of ondansetron on fertility in humans. Driving and using machines Ondansetron is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Ondansetron contains lactose Ondansetron contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product