Ondansetron
ZofranPubChem CID 4595 · 3D model
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Blocks a chemical signal in the gut and brain that triggers nausea and vomiting.
How it works
When the body encounters something that upsets the stomach, like chemotherapy drugs, radiation, or surgery, cells in the gut release a chemical called serotonin. That serotonin normally sends a distress signal along a nerve pathway straight to the brain's vomiting center, triggering nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron works by plugging into the same receptors serotonin would use, so the signal never gets through. It doesn't calm the stomach directly or sedate the brain — it simply blocks the alarm signal from reaching its destination.
What it’s used for
Approved to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. It's used both to head off nausea before it starts and to manage it across repeat treatment cycles.
- Mechanism
- 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Gastrointestinal / Antiemetic