Zofran vs. Reglan

• Are Zofran and Reglan the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zofran?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Reglan?
• What is Zofran?
• What is Reglan?
• What Drugs Interact with Zofran?
• What Drugs Interact with Reglan?
• How Should Zofran Be Taken?
• How Should Reglan Be Taken?

Zofran (ondansetron) and Reglan (metoclopramide) are antiemetics (anti-nausea and vomiting) used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Zofran is often used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy and after surgery.

Reglan is also used to treat loss of appetite, heartburn and early satiety (feeling of fullness).

Zofran and Reglan belong to different antiemetic drug classes. Zofran is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and Reglan is a dopamine antagonist.

Common side effects of Zofran include:

• diarrhea,
• headache,
• fever,
• lightheadedness,
• dizziness,
• weakness,
• tiredness,
• drowsiness,
• constipation,
• rash,
• blurred vision, and
• muscle spasm.

Common side effects of Reglan include:

• decreased energy,
• tiredness,
• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• restlessness,
• malaise,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• breast tenderness or swelling,
• changes in your menstrual periods, or
• urinating more than usual.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Reglan including:

• tardive dyskinesia (unusual muscle movements),
• muscle stiffness,
• depression,
• agitation, and
• difficulty breathing.

Zofran (ondansetron) is an antiemetic and selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist prescribed for the treatment of nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy and also used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after surgery. Zofran is available in generic form.

Reglan (metoclopramide) is a dopamine antagonist that is used as an antiemetic (anti-vomiting) agent used to treat nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn and early satiety (feeling of fullness). Reglan is available in generic form.

Zofran may interact with medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, narcotics, or seizure medications. Zofran may also interact with arsenic trioxide, tacrolimus, tramadol, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, other medicines to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, and migraine headache medicines.

Reglan may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), acetaminophen, cyclosporine, digoxin, glycopyrrolate, insulin, levodopa, mepenzolate, tetracycline, atropine, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medications, blood pressure medications, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medications, or MAO inhibitors.

Zofran adult dose is 32-mg given as a single dose or divided in three 0.15-mg/kg divided doses infused over 15 minutes.

Reglan can be administered both orally and by IV or IM. IM doses range from 10-20 mg, while IV doses are usually only 10 mg. IV and IM doses are usually only given in hospitals or health care facilities. Oral doses can vary from 10 to 15 mg, and are taken four times per day to prevent vomiting and other symptoms.