Antiemetic Drugs Most Commonly Used

The Most Common Antiemetic Drugs

Brand Names: Dramamine
Therapeutic Category: Antiemetic Drugs; Histamine H1 Antagonist
Dosage Forms: Oral Tablet
Use: Labeled Indications: Motion sickness/ Vertigo
Dosing : Adult: Motion sickness: Oral: 25 to 50 mg 1 hour before travel, repeat dose every 24 hours if needed
Vertigo: Oral: 25 to 100 mg daily in divided doses
Pediatric:Motion sickness: Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral: 25 to 50 mg 1 hour before travel, repeat dose every 24 hours, if needed
Vertigo: Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral: 25 to 100 mg/day in 3 or 4 divided doses
Dose Adjustments

Renal Impairment:. No dosage adjustment.
Hepatic Impairment: No dosage adjustment.
Adverse Drug Interaction:
Headache/ fatigue/ Drowsiness / Vomiting/ xerostomia
Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics:
Onset of action: 1 hour
Time to peak: plasma: 3.1 ± 1.4 hours
Duration: 24 hours
Half-life elimination: 5.2 ± 0.8 hours
Important Notes:
May cause CNS depression, which may impair physical or mental abilities; patients must be cautioned about performing tasks which require mental alertness
Inappropriate medication to be avoided in patients 65 years and older (independent of diagnosis or condition) due to its potent anticholinergic properties resulting in increased risk of confusion, dry mouth, constipation
Pregnancy & Lactation: Risk Factor B / not known if present in breast milk
Drug safety issue:

Antivert may be confused with Anzemet, Axert

Brand Names: Zofran
Therapeutic Category: Antiemetic Drugs
Dosage Forms: Oral Tablet/ Solution, Injection
Use: Labeled Indications: Cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting/ Postoperative nausea and/or vomiting/ Radiotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting
Off-Label: Carcinoid syndrome-associated diarrhea, severe, refractory/
Gastroparesis, symptomatic treatment of nausea and vomiting /
Nausea and/or vomiting, acute, severe/ Postoperative nausea and vomiting, treatment or rescue therapy/ Pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting, severe or refractory/ Vertigo-associated nausea and vomiting
Dosing : Adult: Oral: 8 mg 3 times daily or8 mg twice daily for 3 days, followed by a maintenance dose of 4 to 8 mg/day for 4 to 12 weeks
Pediatric IV: Infants ≥6 months, Children, and Adolescents: 0.15 mg/kg/dose; maximum dose: 16 mg/dose
Dose Adjustments

Renal Impairment:. No dosage adjustment.
Hepatic Impairment: Severe impairment: IV: Day 1: Maximum daily dose: 8 mg
Adverse Drug Interaction:
Headache/ fatigue/ Drowsiness /sedation / dizziness / agitation
Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics:
Onset of action: 30 minutes
Time to peak: Oral: 2 hours
Bioavailability: Oral: 50% to 70%
Half-life elimination: Adults: 3 to 6 hours
Important Notes:
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis and bronchospasm) have been reported; discontinue if hypersensitivity occurs
Pregnancy & Lactation: Risk Factor B / not known if present in breast milk
Drug safety issue:

Ondansetron may be confused with dolasetron, granisetron, palonosetron

Zofran may be confused with Zantac, Zosyn