Zofran

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2012

Wow...I had hyperemesis and took the Zofran like candy. Lucy for me it was the po this time around. I did get more headaches this time around and thought it was just from being dehydrated and never really associated it with the Zofran..the fatigue I assumed was just from being pregnant, sick and having other kids. Never associated the two.

Major side effect in most pregnant women that take the zofran.....slight to extreme constipation (more than a normal pregnant women would have) I've also seen this in a few elderly patients that I give this med to.

BrandybunsRN · Jan 9, 2012

IMO, zofran is one of the safest medications out there. Safe for elderly patients and patients with kidney disease, and no dose adjustment required. Its also safe in patients with liver failure (although dose should not exceed 8mg/day). Safe for peds with dose adjustment. Safe for bowel obstruction (unlike reglan). Not irritating to tissues (unlike phenergan). Relatively non-sedating (unlike compazine). No hyperactivity/anxiety/panic attacks (unlike reglan). I've never had a patient experience any side-effects from zofran (except for the cessation of N/V!!!). I love the stuff and I advocate for it to be given to all my patients with N/V since it works so well and is well-tolerated.
Make sure to label all your syringes - that way, you won't accidently push a med that you thought was saline. This was a good situation to realize your mistake; had it been another medication, there could have been grave consequences (ie metoprolol IVP fast -> asystole). Be safe and label all your med syringes!!

Best advice of the day! Always label your medications and double check what you are giving before you give it (even if you're double checking that you are indeed flushing with the syringe markes saline).

tojal1989 · Jan 17, 2012

My case manager, who is also a NP, said sublingual zofran works better/faster than IV. And it's supposed to taste like fruit punch. If the pt can tolerate PO, get the doc to switch it from IV. Much easier to administer!

StrwbryblndRN · Jan 18, 2012

Right now we are using the tablets that dissolve. I had gotten an order for iv Zofran but it automatically changed to the tabs due to a "severe national shortage" of iv zofran.

cardiacrocks, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2012

Actually this is highly unlikely. This is more likely to happen if you push, IV protonix or Pepcid faster than over 2 minutes. I always push zofran slow as well. Zofran has always helped me when I've had N/V, nothing worse than puking and dry heaving.

suanna · Jan 19, 2012

Your patient will have less nausia too quickly?

OCNRN63, RN · Jan 20, 2012

What happened was, I'm just off orientation and I had 2 flushes with me and the Zofran and I pushed the Zofran first thinking it was the flush and my heart started pounding out of my chest because I didn't know what could happen.

It might have been better for you to look it up right away, rather than waiting and posting to a MB, where you may/may not get correct information. If you had needed to intervene, you wouldn't have known to do so.

Always check right away if you think you've made a mistake.