Information for the public
Summary of possible benefits and harms
Summary of possible benefits and harms
How well does ondansetron work?
Eight studies looked at how well ondansetron works for treating sickness in children and young people aged 3 months to 13 years with gastroenteritis. Ondansetron was given as tablet which melts in the mouth (called an orodispersible tablet), as a liquid medicine taken by the mouth, or by an injection. Most of the children and young people in the studies who took ondansetron were given just 1 dose of the medicine, with the amount given based on how much they weighed. All the studies were carried out in emergency departments of children's hospitals, but none were in the UK.
More children and young people in the studies were stopped from being sick when they had ondansetron compared with those who had a dummy treatment (which is a treatment with no medicine in it). Fewer children and young people also needed to have fluids given to them through a drip into a vein to treat severe dehydration or had to stay in hospital when they had ondansetron.
What are the possible harms or side effects?
In the studies, more children and young people given ondansetron had diarrhoea compared with those who had the dummy treatment.
Other common side effects of ondansetron (affecting less than 1 in 10 people) can be headache, constipation and feeling flushed. Uncommon side effects (affecting less than 1 in 100 people) include hiccups, chest pain, uneven heartbeat, slow heart rate, feeling dizzy when getting up, fits, and unusual body movements. Ondansetron may not be suitable for people with heart problems or an irregular heartbeat.
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Please note that the results of the research studies only indicate the benefits and harms for the population in the study. It is not possible to predict what the benefits and harms will be for an individual patient being treated with ondansetron. |