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Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2018 Mar 01;75(5):276-282. doi: 10.2146/ajhp161070. Epub 2018 Jan 09.

Effect of a single dose of i.v. ondansetron on QTc interval in emergency department patients.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Kai Li, Kathy Vo, Byron K Lee, Newton Addo, Zlatan Coralic

Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
  2. California Poison Control System, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
  3. Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
  4. Departments of Pharmacy and Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA [email protected].
  5. University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, CA. [email protected].

PMID: 29317399 DOI: 10.2146/ajhp161070

Abstract

PURPOSE: Results of a study to determine whether i.v. administration of a single dose of 4 mg of ondansetron was associated with QT interval prolongation in emergency department (ED) patients are reported.

METHODS: In a prospective observational study conducted at an urban academic medical center ED, a convenience sample of adult ED patients treated with ondansetron 4 mg i.v. were enrolled. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained immediately before and 5 minutes after ondansetron administration. Measurements of heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc measurements) provided by ECG machines were evaluated. An electrophysiologist analyzed all ECGs for adverse electrical events and verified the accuracy of QTc values. The primary objective was to measure the QTc change from baseline after ondansetron administration. The secondary objective was to describe adverse electrical cardiac events. Interactions between ondansetron and patients' home medications or ED-provided medications were analyzed.

RESULTS: Among patients included in the data analysis (

CONCLUSION: Significant QTc prolongation occurred in ED patients receiving a single 4-mg i.v. dose of ondansetron. None of the patients had an ondansetron-related cardiac adverse event.

Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: QTc; adverse event; ondansetron; safety

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