Ondansetron 4mg Film Coated Tablets
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ONDANSETRON 4 mg and 8 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start
taking this medicine because it contains important
information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any of the side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET:
1. What Ondansetron Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ondansetron Tablets
3. How to take Ondansetron Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ondansetron Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
OWHAT ONDANSETRON TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
Ondansetron belongs to a group of medicines known as 'antiemetics and antinauseants'. These prevent feelings of sickness (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) that may occur after certain medical or surgical treatments.
Your doctor or nurse may give you Ondansetron Tablets to prevent you from or to treat you for feeling or being sick when you:
• are on chemotherapy and radiotherapy that can cause nausea and vomiting • undergo surgical treatment.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE ONDANSETRON TABLETS
Please take the time to read the following information carefully as this may stop you from being able to take Ondansetron Tablets.
Do not take Ondansetron Tablets if you are
• allergic (hypersensitive) to ondansetron or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• taking apomorphine (used to treat Parkinson's disease).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start to take this medicine if you:
• have ever been allergic (hypersensitive) to similar medicines known as 5HT3 receptor antagonists • have liver disease
• are suffering from severe constipation or have a blockage in your gut • have had surgery on your gut • have had surgery on your adenoids or tonsils • have had heart problems, including an uneven heart beat (arrhythmias)
• have problems with the levels of salts in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and magnesium.
If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor who will decide what to do.
Other medicines and Ondansetron Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. The following medicines may interact with Ondansetron Tablets:
• Tramadol. The effect of pain relief from Tramadol may be reduced whilst you are taking Ondansetron Tablets.
• Phenytoin and carbamazepine (usually used to treat epilepsy)
• Rifampicin (a type of antibiotic, often used for the treatment of tuberculosis)
• Medicines that affect the heart (such as haloperidol or methadone)
• Medicines used to treat an uneven heart beat (anti-arrhytmics)
• Beta-blocking medicines (used to treat heart problems, eye problems, anxiety or for prevention of migraines)
• Cancer medicines (especially anthracyclines and trastuzumab)
• Medicines used to treat infections (erythromycin, ketoconazole)
• Medicines used to treat depression (SSRIs and SNRIs).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not take Ondansetron Tablets if you are pregnant or there is a chance you may be pregnant. Ondansetron may pass into mothers' milk, therefore breast-feeding is not recommended in mothers taking Ondansetron Tablets.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Ondansetron Tablets should not affect your ability to drive or use machinery.
Ondansetron Tablets contain lactose
Ondansetron Tablets contain lactose monohydrate, a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3 HOW TO TAKE ONDANSETRON TABLETS
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Ondansetron Tablets should be swallowed whole with a little water.
Ondansetron Tablets should start to work within 1 to 2 hours of taking a dose. If you are sick within 1 hour of taking Ondansetron Tablets you should talk to your doctor who will tell you what you should do. If you continue to feel or be sick whilst taking the tablets, tell your doctor.
For patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy that causes nausea or vomiting Adults (including the elderly)
The usual dose is 8 mg 1-2 hours before you are treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, followed by 8 mg 12 hours later.
After the first 24 hours following chemotherapy, Ondansetron Tablets can be given to prevent further nausea or vomiting.
The usual dose for oral administration is 8 mg twice daily, which can be given for up to 5 days.
Use in children aged over 6 months and adolescents
The doctor will decide the dose.
• the usual dose for a child 4 mg, twice a day
• this can be given for up to 5 days.
To prevent nausea and vomiting after an operation Adults
The usual dose is 16 mg taken one hour before the operation or 8 mg taken one hour before the operation followed by two further doses of 8 mg at eight hourly intervals.
Use in children (aged 2 years or over)
Ondansetron Tablets are not suitable for use in children following abdominal surgery.
A slow intravenous injection is recommended. Patients with liver disease
In patients with moderate or severe liver problems a total daily dose of 8 mg should not be exceeded.
If you take more Ondansetron Tablets than you should
It is important to stick to the dose on the label of your medicine. Taking more than this could make you ill. If you or someone else swallows several of these tablets all together, contact your doctor, pharmacist or hospital emergency department immediately. Always take any tablets left over with you and also the box, as this will allow easier identification of the tablets.
If you forget to take Ondansetron Tablets
If you forget to take a dose and do not feel sick take the next day's tablet at the usual time. If you forget to take a dose, and feel sick or are sick, take a tablet as soon as possible. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Fits
• Unusual body movement or shaking.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Blurred vision
• Disturbances in heart rhythm (sometimes causing a sudden loss of consciousness).
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10000 people)
• Poor vision or temporary loss of eyesight, which usually comes back within 20 minutes.
If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C. Store your tablets in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If the following happens, stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
• An allergic reaction causing swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulties in breathing or swallowing, skin rash
• Collapse.
Other side effects include:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• Headache.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• A feeling of warmth or flushing
• Constipation
• Changes to liver function test results (if you take Ondansetron tablets with a medicine called cisplatin, otherwise this side effect is uncommon).
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Hiccups
• Low blood pressure, which can make you feel faint or dizzy
• Uneven heart beat or chest pain
©CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Ondansetron Tablets contain
• The active substance is ondansetron (as hydrochloride dihydrate). Each tablet contains 4 mg or 8 mg of ondansetron.
• The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, maize starch, magnesium stearate. The ingredients of the film-coating on the tablets are lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide E171, macrogol and sodium citrate dihydrate E331.
What Ondansetron Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Ondansetron Tablets are white to off-white, round biconvex film-coated tablets with PA engraved on one side and 933 (4 mg tablets) or 934 (8 mg tablets) on the other side.
Ondansetron Tablets are available in blister packs containing 6, 10, 15 or 30 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder
PLIVA Pharma Ltd., Ridings Point, Whistler Drive, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 5HX, UNITED KINGDOM.
Manufacturer
Teva Operations Poland Sp. z.o.o., Ul. Mogilska 80, 31-456 Krakow, Poland.
This leaflet was last revised in June 2013.
PL 10622/0100 PL 10622/0101
87335-E