Taking Zofran (Ondansetron) With Naltrexone to Avoid Nausea

If you’re worried about experiencing nausea while taking naltrexone, then you may want to consider taking Zofran (ondansetron) to calm your stomach in the first few weeks while your body adjusts to the medication.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Zofran works to prevent or correct nausea symptoms.

• The safety and health considerations involved with using Zofran and naltrexone.

• Drug interactions associated with ondansetron medications.

• Advice on how to best use Zofran to deal with naltrexone nausea.

One of the things that people worry about the most about taking naltrexone is the nausea side effect. While this is experienced by a minority of people, it is true that nausea is one of the most common naltrexone side effects. And the vast majority of people tend to dislike feeling nauseous.

There are two positives to keep in mind:

One of the ways that some people cope with nausea until their system gets used to naltrexone is taking ondansetron anti-nausea medication like Zofran. If you’re trying to find out more about taking Zofran type medications with naltrexone to avoid nausea this quick guide will provide the information you need.

How Zofran/Ondansetron Works

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Zofran was discontinued in 2023. This happened not due to safety reasons but because the patent expired and more affordable generic ondansetron medications became available.

Naltrexone can cause nausea because it inhibits opioid receptors. Inhibiting opioid receptors in the brain is how naltrexone works to prevent the buzzed feeling from alcohol and reduce alcohol cravings. But there are also opioid receptors in the gut. The disruption of opioid production in the gut is why some people experience nausea while taking naltrexone.

Zofran and other ondansetron medications are 5HT3 receptor antagonists. That means it works by blocking serotonin receptors in the gut as well as in the brain.

Serotonin does a number of things, and one thing it does is trigger vomiting. By blocking serotonin receptors in the brain the vomiting signal is cut off. Preventing serotonin from binding with receptors in the gut helps to prevent discomfort and nausea.

Ondansetron medications are very fast-acting. They’re effective in just 30-60 minutes and the effects last 8-12 hours. If you time your naltrexone medication right, one dose of ondansetron can help prevent nausea all day.

It’s important to note that ondansetron is a powerful prescription medication that treats the symptoms of nausea, not the cause. If the cause is naltrexone it will likely resolve on its own within a few weeks of starting the medication. If the nausea continues after that, your naltrexone dosage may need to be adjusted to avoid nausea.

Zofran/Ondansetron Safety and Health Considerations

We’ll ease your mind immediately by explaining why Zofran is perfectly safe to take with naltrexone. It’s actually a common practice because it’s so safe. Even pregnant women and people undergoing chemotherapy take ondansetron medication to control nausea.

There are no known drug interactions between naltrexone and Zofran or other ondansetron meds. The Zofran won’t impact the effectiveness of naltrexone and vice versa. Mixing the two together also won’t cause dangerous reactions.

That said, there are a few things that certain individuals need to watch out for.

Heart Arrhythmia

The one health concern to watch out for is heart arrhythmia. Zofran has the potential to affect heart rhythms. If you or a close family member have dealt with heart arrhythmia you’ll need to discuss using ondansetron medications with your doctor.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions are rare but possible with Zofran and other ondansetron meds. Signs of an allergic reaction include rash, fever, difficulty breathing, chills and swelling in the face or throat. You should also contact your physician immediately if you have severe bloating, stomach pain or constipation.

Serotonin Syndrome

A rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome can occur while taking ondansetron medication. It’s a build up of serotonin that can happen when ondansetron is combined with other medications. Medication combinations that can lead to serotonin syndrome include anti-depressants and opioids.

Advice For Taking Ondansetron Medications and Naltrexone at the Same Time to Prevent Nausea

Use Other Strategies to Avoid Nausea First

First, take a look at our article on ways to minimize or avoid naltrexone nausea. There are a number of strategies that can be used to calm your stomach during the early adjustment phase so that anti-nausea medication may not be needed.

If you use those strategies but still find yourself getting queasy, then it’s time to consider using anti-nausea medication like Zofran. Here are some best practices that can help:

Decide to Take Ondansetron As-Needed or as a Preventative Measure

Ondansetron medications are fairly fast-acting. If nausea is a random rather than regular occurrence, then you may want to just take Zofran as-needed when you start to feel your stomach getting upset. But if you feel nauseous anytime you take naltrexone you can take ondansetron medication to avoid feeling sick to your stomach before it happens.

Take Ondansetron Medication With or Without Food, But With Water

Zofran and other ondansetron medications can be taken with or without food. It’s a personal preference that’s usually based on when nausea is most likely to hit. However, you should take ondansetron tablets with a cup of water.

At Choose Your Horizon our telehealth platform has helped thousands of people not only get prescription naltrexone online, but also manage their care for the best results possible. A team of qualified clinicians will work with you to optimize the dosage of naltrexone so that it’s effective with minimal risk of side effects like nausea.

It’s the kind of care that makes getting alcohol use under control possible in a convenient and sustainable way where you have the support you need when you need it. If you want to explore your options, start by taking the Alcohol Use Assessment. In minutes you’ll receive guidance on your drinking behaviors using the Audit-C scoring system that’s used by health officials.