Ondansetron Dosing

The ondansetron dosing guidelines your healthcare provider will follow will vary depending on several factors, such as your age, medical conditions you are being treated for, and other medications you may be taking. The ondansetron dosage will also vary depending on whether you are being treated for chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. In order for ondansetron to work properly, you must take it as prescribed. Do not stop taking or change your ondansetron dosage without discussing it first with your healthcare provider.

An Overview of Ondansetron Dosing

The dose of ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition you are being treated for
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may currently be taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Ondansetron Dosing for Chemotherapy

The dose of ondansetron depends on the type of chemotherapy, either high risk for nausea and vomiting or medium risk.
 
  • High-risk chemotherapy: The dose of ondansetron for high-risk chemotherapy is ondansetron 24 mg (taken as three 8 mg tablets) 30 minutes before chemotherapy.
     
  • Medium-risk chemotherapy: The dose of ondansetron for medium-risk chemotherapy is ondansetron 8 mg twice daily. The first dose should be taken 30 minutes before chemotherapy, and the second dose should be taken eight hours after the first dose. After that, ondansetron should be taken twice a day (about every 12 hours) until one to two days after chemotherapy.
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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