Ondansetron and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• OdB...
• August 18, 2021

For Gastroenteritis "So I’m in day 3 now of gastroenteritis, which has been a lovely experience…. After waiting in an urgent care for nearly 5 hours, my area is inundated with COVID, I got 30 seconds to a minute and a half with a doctor! Hooray. The doc looks me over briefly, hears my story, and prescribes ondansetron. Finally, some relief? No such luck. This medication did absolutely nothing to alleviate my symptoms, but on the bright side, I was left with a splitting headache for the rest of the night. Cause you know, that’s good."

• Vin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2018

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "I take another drug that causes severe nausea. Zofran was prescribed; the nausea stopped, but the other side effects from Zofran were so overwhelming that I had to stop taking it. The side effects were diarrhea, headaches, blood in stool, dizziness, and yes, nausea. I couldn't drive, so I'll live with the nausea until I see my endocrinologist again and (maybe) he suggests something else. Bottom line: the side effects of Zofran outweigh the benefits."

• Iha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Came down with a very high fever and the flu. I had chills off and on for two days, which culminated with some good ole' vomit. Doc at urgent care prescribed me this horrific, useless drug for the nausea. I have NEVER had a poor reaction to any drug until now. Even with this drug, I felt extremely nauseous and had horrific headaches. I forced myself to throw up to relieve the debilitating feeling and stopped taking this drug and voila. I hate this drug. Never again. The headaches it induced brought me to the brink of tears."

• Sir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have suffered with hyperemesis with all my pregnancies. It's a horrible feeling not to be able to function at all. Zofran has worked wonders through an IV while at the ER. I've had it many, many times and it's worked. HOWEVER, the tablets do not work for me. They have never worked. For me, they make matters worse and make me feel more nauseous, they give me a horrible headache and back pains. I'm glad it's helped others, but it doesn't help me."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2009

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "My doctor prescribed this to me in the first trimester of pregnancy to help control my vomiting. I was not able to keep anything in my stomach, including fluids, so I was becoming dehydrated and was near hospitalization. The first night I took it, I immediately felt better and was able to eat again within an hour. It did give me a slight headache after a few days of using it, but it was well worth it to be able to eat without getting sick!"

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2014

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was in the hospital for 11 days, diagnosed with failing kidneys, which made me highly nauseated. I've lost 20 lbs. in 2 months. The shots worked quicker for me than the 4 mg pills I'm taking at home. But reading through the posts, I now know why I was severely constipated, and I normally suffer from irritable bowel syndrome...constant diarrhea. My kidneys continue to deteriorate, which causes the nausea. As far as the person who mentioned they stopped taking it because of a headache...the headache probably came from extreme vomiting or the blood pressure going up from the stress of vomiting. That's what happened to me. I would give it another try."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2012

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "I am/was taking this medicine to combat nausea from post-chemo treatments, and I found that it did give me a headache, and I could not stand the taste it left in my mouth when the medicine disintegrated on my tongue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2021

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "Zofran is a miracle drug for me. I always have some on hand. I suffer from GERD, IBS, gastritis, malabsorption, endometriosis, and the list goes on. Nausea is a nagging symptom that I have often, and I vomit on a regular basis. Zofran has kept me out of the ER on many occasions due to severe vomiting. It also gets me through the occasional rounds of antibiotics as they really mess with my stomach. It does cause some pretty bad headaches when taken on a regular basis, but I will take a headache over vomiting any day. Could not recommend enough! It has been a total lifesaver!"

• EA2...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 25, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have been on ondansetron for 10 years, and it has kept me going most days. I have chronic GI conditions that put me in a constant state of nausea, and Zofran has been there to save the day for a long time. Other nausea meds caused unpleasant side effects. The only thing with Zofran is it causes me to have a headache here and there."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2022

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "It works okay. I wish it worked better for me because I struggle greatly with nausea and vomiting due to anxiety and panic disorder, as well as IBS. I have still vomited despite taking this medication before. Doctors love to prescribe it because it's very tolerable, but it won't be a cure-all. It works maybe 75% of the time to prevent vomiting. Helps just slightly with nausea. But it's better than nothing! The only side effect I get is dizziness and a mild headache."

• Myh...
• May 6, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "Took this for nausea due to flu. It might have helped, I'm not sure, but I took it twelve hours ago, and now I have the worst headache of my life, and nothing gets rid of it. I can't move, and I'm very dizzy. Also slightly nauseous. Phenergan would have been better. Also, this stuff tastes gross, and I almost puked trying to swallow it. Would not take this again."

• AAV...
• April 3, 2009

"I started taking this for 'morning sickness' during my 3rd pregnancy. In the past, I had dealt with extreme nausea and vomiting the first trimester, which made me so dehydrated I was hospitalized several times. This time around, I was at my wits' end and tried all the anti-nausea medicines except this. After taking it, the nausea completely disappeared. Like another user, I felt dizziness and a headache at first, but that soon was gone and I was normal. Can't say enough about this! A lifesaver for anyone who knows what it's like to throw up for weeks on end."

• vit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2024

Ondansetron "I had hyperemesis gravidarum during my pregnancy, and Zofran was the only medication that allowed me to feel 'okay.' I was prescribed 8 mg ODT every 6 hours. This medication truly kept me and my child alive during that time. I also have had it prescribed for kidney infections and kidney stones. Side effects include severe constipation, and it can cause headaches. Benefits include not vomiting all over the place."

• Ott...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "I was given this for nausea from gastritis. It really didn't help the nausea, but it did give me a headache, made me very tired, that I had to lay down, and then gave me short, awful nightmares that I woke from with something like an electrical shock. It also made my breathing shallow, and like many, the next day I was very constipated. It was not a pleasant experience all around. I find non-prescription products much better than this for nausea. This made me feel much worse, and I would never use it again."

• Med...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting, Postoperative "Think some reviews are suspicious since the CDC wanted Phenergan, which was 10 times the medication Zofran is. The headaches are severe, and nausea/vomiting hits without warning. I tried but could not tolerate the pain and misery. Phenergan was by far superior and boosted mood because it was such a good medication and better than Zofran or any so-called antidepressant. I can't believe Zofran has replaced other medications in hospice comfort packs."

• Rai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "My nurse practitioner put me on this to help with nausea related to my migraines, which are monsters even without the nausea. I've taken Promethazine in the past, but the ondansetron is helping much better because it's quick to absorb (two 4 mg dissolvable tablets every 12 hours as needed) and I can get relief fast. I am also taking prescription vitamin D for a deficiency, once a week, and I suffer from horrid nausea for at least 48 hours after taking that. The ondansetron helps with that, too, and the fact that it makes me sleepy, I'm able to get to sleep and rest. I do wake up occasionally with a small headache, but considering the monster I was dealing with before taking it, I'm not complaining. It's a good medicine."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2022

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting, Postoperative "I was prescribed this drug a few weeks back when I had an upper respiratory infection. The coughing fits got so bad they would make me throw up, and I had post-nasal drip, and the mucus made me feel sick to my stomach constantly. My Dr. gave me this to try because I couldn't really eat anything, and it works like a charm. 30 minutes after taking the ODT, I'm able to eat with no issues. I still have some left over from my URI, and I keep it on hand just in case. It's wonderful to have. I didn't have any side effects besides a slight headache, but it was completely worth it to finally be able to stomach some food and not have to get up 4 or 5 times a night feeling like I had to throw up."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2024

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have found this medicine can be very effective. Sometimes it works really, really well, and sometimes it doesn't work very well. The ODT version is much better than the tablets, and the IV version is the best (but least accessible), so I would recommend the ODT for outpatient settings. Zofran has never fully taken away the nausea for me, but it has helped a lot at times. It can make you very constipated and can cause headaches, but if you take Miralax, that can help with the constipation. I have also noticed the constipation is less bad the more often you take the medicine. Your body gets used to the side effects. If you are consistently nauseous/vomiting, I would suggest at least trying this medication, because it really is the love of my life. Even though it doesn't take away everything completely, it is like my safety blanket and helps. I really love ondansetron."

• Ecr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2025

For Gastroenteritis "Zofran Zydis 4 mg. I got food poisoning when I was 8. Started with abdominal cramps and diarrhea, then progressed to vomiting. After vomiting around 20 times over the night, I was given 1 wafer of Zofran Zydis. After being unable to keep down even a sip of water, I was able to keep down an entire popsicle within an hour of taking it. Did not vomit again until 2 days later, where I vomited a few times due to introducing some foods too soon. I took a half tablet and that was the end of my symptoms. The only minor side effects I got was when I took 1 wafer for a less severe episode of vomiting/diarrhea (not due to gastro) as an adult, which were a moderate headache and hard stool."

• BEE...
• April 1, 2018

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "I was prescribed this for nausea and vomiting several different times by Dr. I have anxiety that leads to vomiting and nausea. Zofran did not stop the nausea or vomiting and gave me a horrible headache that nothing would stop. Phenergan is the better of the two for me."

• EDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Have really bad food poisoning, had to go to the ER and get an IV where they prescribed me this medication, has stopped the vomiting, but has only barely subdued the nausea and causes intense headaches for me."

• Bri...
• February 2, 2016

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "Was given this drug while pregnant for morning sickness. Didn't help at all, gave me a headache and actually made me throw up a few times. My son was also born with a genetic mutation - Epidermal Nevus syndrome, which I'm sure is from the Zofran as it is not approved for use during pregnancy. If I could go back in time, I would NOT have used this during pregnancy. I was also given this drug several times for gastroenteritis with the same result - headache and increased vomiting. Did not work for me."

• Cha...
• August 18, 2016

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "This medicine did nothing except constipated me and give me a headache!"

• Go...
• October 6, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting "I have used this medicine on several occasions for nausea, and it works great, also calms the nerves. Never got a headache or other side effects."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2016

Ondansetron for Nausea/Vomiting "Did not improve nausea. It gave me a migraine-like headache."