Dolasetron is used to stop nausea and vomiting brought on by chemotherapy for cancer. Dolasetron belongs to the group of drugs known as serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. It functions by preventing the effects of serotonin, a naturally occurring chemical that can result in nausea and vomiting.

Dolasetron is available as an oral tablet. It is often administered an hour or less prior to chemotherapy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Dolasetron should be taken as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

A specifically formulated dolasetron liquid dose may be blended in apple or apple-grape juice and administered orally to children who are unable to swallow the pill. Despite being able to be stored at room temperature, this mixture must be consumed within two hours of mixing.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking dolasetron,

• If you have an allergy to dolasetron, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in dolasetron tablets, tell your doctor and pharmacist right away. For a list of the ingredients, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: medication for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide, quinidine (in Nuedexta), and verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan, in Tarka); diuretics (‘water pills’);Almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig) are migraine drugs. Methylene blue is also used to treat migraines, isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) are monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater) is an MAO inhibitor. Tramadol, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva), as well as (Conzip, Ultram, in Ultracet). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had long QT syndrome, another irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm issue, low blood levels of magnesium or potassium, a heart attack, heart failure (HF; condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to other parts of the body), long QT syndrome in your family, low blood levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood, or a heart attack.
• If you are breastfeeding a child or intend to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking dolasetron.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Dolasetron could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Tiredness
• Heartburn
• Chills
• Reduced frequency of urination

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms, or go to the hospital for emergency care:

• Dizziness
• Irregular, hammering, or quick heartbeat
• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Feeling unsteady, faint, or dizzy
• Irregular, fast, or sluggish heartbeat
• Agitation
• Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing sounds and voices that do not exist)
• Fever
• Excessive perspiration
• Confusion
• Diarrhoea, vomiting, or nauseous
• Inability to coordinate
• Twitching or stiff muscles
• Seizures
• Coma (loss of consciousness)

There may be more negative effects from dolasetron. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from light, excessive heat, and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• A quick, hammering, or erratic heartbeat

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.