A patient is complaining of nausea & vomiting and the nurse gave inj. Ondansetron 4 mg. Which would be the possible early side effect of ondansetron?

Appeared in: Central Institute of Psychiatry - 9 July 2022

Explanation

Dizziness is a frequent and early-onset side effect of ondansetron due to its action on the central nervous system.
This common reaction necessitates proactive safety measures by the nurse, primarily implementing fall precautions immediately after administration.
Unlike other options, dizziness is a well-documented, common reaction rather than a rare or severe complication.

Option A: Confusion is an uncommon side effect of ondansetron.
Option C: Tachycardia is not a common early side effect. It is associated with a more serious, albeit rare, adverse effect of ondansetron: QT prolongation, which can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias like Torsades de Pointes.
Option D: Blurred vision is a rare adverse effect of ondansetron.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Adverse effects of antiemetic medications to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
The primary nursing responsibility after administering ondansetron is to ensure patient safety by implementing fall precautions due to the high likelihood of dizziness.
Nurses must administer IV ondansetron slowly (typically over 2-5 minutes) to minimize the risk of adverse effects like transient visual changes and hypotension.
What if? If the patient also reports agitation, sweating, and tremors after receiving ondansetron, the nurse should suspect serotonin syndrome (a rare but life-threatening condition), withhold further doses, and notify the provider immediately.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the drug in question: Ondansetron, a common antiemetic.
Next, focus on the keywords in the question: 'possible early side effect'. This directs you to look for common, expected reactions, not rare or severe ones.
Recall or deduce the most frequent side effects for this drug class (5-HT3 antagonists). These typically involve the CNS (headache, dizziness) and GI system (constipation).
Evaluate the given options. Dizziness is a well-documented, common, and early side effect.
Eliminate the other options by categorizing them. Confusion and blurred vision are rare. Tachycardia is linked to a serious cardiac complication (QT prolongation), not a typical early effect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 3 p. 191-193

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