Ondansetron Oral Soluble Film

ZUPLENZ (ondansetron) oral soluble film is a white opaque orally dissolving film designed to be applied on top of the tongue where it will dissolve in 4 to 20 seconds and then is swallowed with saliva.

ZUPLENZ does not require water to aid dissolution or swallowing.

The active ingredient in ZUPLENZ is ondansetron base, the racemic form of ondansetron, and a selective blocking agent of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor type. Chemically it is (±) 1, 2, 3, 9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4Hcarbazol-4-one.

Figure 1: Structural formula of ondansetron

The empirical formula is C18H19N3O representing a molecular weight of 293.3. Each 4-mg ZUPLENZ oral soluble film for oral administration contains 4 mg ondansetron base. Each 8-mg ZUPLENZ oral soluble film for oral administration contains 8 mg ondansetron base. Each ZUPLENZ oral soluble film also contains the inactive ingredients butylated hydroxytoluene, calcium carbonate, colloidal silicon dioxide, erythritol, hypromellose, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, peppermint flavor, polyethylene oxide, sodium bicarbonate, sucralose, titanium dioxide and xanthan gum.

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

There is no specific antidote for ondansetron overdose. Patients should be managed with appropriate supportive therapy. Individual intravenous doses as large as 150 mg and total daily intravenous doses as large as 252 mg have been inadvertently administered without significant adverse events. These doses are more than 10 times the recommended daily dose.

In addition to the adverse events listed above, the following events have been described in the setting of ondansetron overdose: “Sudden blindness” (amaurosis) of 2 to 3 minutes' duration plus severe constipation occurred in 1 patient that was administered 72 mg of ondansetron intravenously as a single dose. Hypotension (and faintness) occurred in a patient that took 48 mg of ondansetron HCl tablets. Following infusion of 32 mg over only a 4-minute period, a vasovagal episode with transient second-degree heart block was observed. In all instances, the events resolved completely.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• You may need to have an ECG checked before starting ondansetron oral soluble film and while taking it. Talk with your doctor.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using ondansetron oral soluble film while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Slow heartbeat.
• Numbness and tingling.
• Belly pain.
• Trouble passing urine.
• Trouble controlling body movements.
• Change in eyesight.
• Feeling very sleepy.
• Seizures.
• Dizziness.
• Fever or chills.
• A type of abnormal heartbeat (prolonged QT interval) can happen with ondansetron oral soluble film. Call your doctor right away if you have a fast heartbeat, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, or if you pass out.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if you take this medicine with drugs for depression, migraines, or certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; very bad diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Hard stools (constipation).
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Feeling sleepy.
• Anxiety.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.