Is Ondansetron Good for Anxiety?

ondansetron for anxiety – Anxiety disorders can interfere with a person’s quality of life. That’s why it’s crucial to seek treatment as soon as possible. There are several treatment options for anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, meditation, and medication. Your doctor can recommend one or a combination of the above treatment plans. If you and your doctor settle on medication, there are many anxiety drugs. One of the medications that can be used is Ondansetron. As a patient, you may be eager to know if you can use Ondansetron for anxiety. That’s what we will address in today’s post.

 

What is Ondansetron?

 

It is a type of medication that alleviates the feeling of nausea and vomiting. Its often prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy since nausea is one of the side effects of cancer treatment. Ondansetron falls under a group of medications known as serotonin 5-HT3 receptor blockers. By blocking this receptor, Ondansetron prevents feelings of nausea and vomiting. It’s a highly effective medicine, and doctors can prescribe it to stop nausea caused by other conditions.

 

Depending on the severity of your condition, Ondansetron can be taken twice or thrice daily. Ondansetron is available as an oral solution or rapidly dissolving tablet. It’s crucial to take it as prescribed by the doctor or pharmacist.

From the above, it’s evident that this medication relieves symptoms of vomiting and nausea. But can you take Ondansetron for anxiety?

 

Does Ondansetron Treat Anxiety?

 

An anxiety disorder is characterized by frequent and intense fear or worries about everyday life situations. This disorder can manifest itself in several ways, such as feeling nervous, experiencing an increased heart rate, trembling, sweating, and tiredness. Symptoms of anxiety differ from one patient to another. Some people experience anxiety-nausea, and that’s where Ondansetron comes in.

 

If you often experience nausea triggered by anxiety, your doctor will first run some tests to diagnose if there are other underlying conditions. Should the tests point to anxiety as the cause of nausea, they may prescribe Ondansetron alongside other anti-anxiety medications.

 

Ondansetron will block the brain’s 5-HT3 serotonin receptor, which is responsible for causing nausea. And you will experience immediate relief. Certain antidepressants are also known to stimulate the production of 5-HT3 serotonins thus causing nausea. A doctor can also prescribe Ondansetron to counter the nauseating side effects of anti-depressants.

 

Please note that a serotonin receptor can have varying effects on your brain. That’s why Ondansetron isn’t considered a conventional treatment medication for anxiety. Before starting this medication, you should consult your doctor and check in frequently to examine how your body is responding to Ondansetron.

 

The bottom line is that Ondansetron only treats one symptom of anxiety: nausea. If feelings of nausea often accompany your anxiety attacks, you can gain relief from taking Ondansetron.

 

What is the Relationship Between Anxiety and Nausea?

 

Because Ondansetron is sometimes used to treat nausea triggered by anxiety, patients need to understand the relationship between nausea and anxiety.

 

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. It’s a normal body response. However, excessive anxiety can interfere with your normal functioning, especially if it’s accompanied by nausea. Anxiety-related nausea can be annoying because it can become too severe to the point that you have no option but to vomit. So, how does anxiety cause nausea?

 

When experiencing anxiety, your body activates its fight and flight systems. Hormones are produced and sent throughout the entire body, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. In the digestive tract, anxiety can trigger nausea and vomiting. It can also cause gas, stomachaches, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. If you often feel nausea when anxious, be on the lookout for these other symptoms and inform your doctor.

 

Side Effects of Taking Ondansetron to Treat Anxiety

 

Using Ondansetron for anxiety is a treatment plan that should be approached cautiously. The reason being the side effects of this medication can worsen your anxiety. Most of the side effects of Ondansetron are common and don’t require immediate medical attention. However, there is a possibility that they can introduce more symptoms of anxiety. Here are some side effects of taking Ondansetron.

 

• Drowsiness • Headache • Diarrhea • Constipation • Fast heartbeat

  • Blurred vision

  • Fever

  • Stomach pain

  • Agitation

  • Fainting

 

Fast heartbeat, agitation, and constipation are all signs of anxiety. And should they be caused by Ondansetron, your doctor should offer another type of medication. Also, there are certain risk factors that you should be aware of. For instance, individuals also taking apomorphine, suffer from liver disease, have a digestive tract blockage, or experience slow heartbeats should avoid taking Ondansetron. It’s crucial to inform your doctor if you are allergic to Ondansetron.

 

Ondansetron Alternatives for Anxiety-Related Nausea

Ondansetron can stop feelings of nausea caused by anxiety. But as we have seen above, some of its side effects can introduce more anxiety symptoms, which can be problematic. Because of such reasons, patients should explore alternative treatments for anxiety-related nausea. Below are some alternatives that can help manage anxiety nausea.

 

• Deal with the Underlying Condition

 

Since your nausea is caused by anxiety, when you treat this disorder, you will no longer experience such a symptom. Anxiety isn’t something that you can fully get rid of. You must learn how to live with it and ensure it doesn’t overpower you. There are many treatment plans for anxiety. You can try therapy, breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation. Medications can also help you cope with anxiety. When you consult your doctor, you should develop a suitable treatment plan to manage the anxiety and put a stop to nausea.

 

• Learn How to Manage Nausea

 

Even though medication is very effective at dealing with nausea, there are many effective tactics that can help you cope with this symptom. For instance, you can drink water in small amounts whenever you feel nauseated. You can also eat dry and bland foods such as bread. Switch to loose clothing and avoid greasy or sweet foods. Resting is also a remedy for nausea.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Ondansetron isn’t an anti-anxiety medication. It doesn’t belong in the same category as Benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Valium, and Xanax. It can only be used to alleviate nausea caused by anxiety. If nausea is one of the symptoms you experience during an anxiety attack, Ondansetron can be taken alongside Benzodiazepines. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the side effects and risk factors. Before taking Ondansetron, you should consult a doctor.

 

References;

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601209.html

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-nausea-vomiting-treatment

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-medication.htm

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cns-spectrums/article/ondansetron-use-in-psychiatry-a-fact-or-fiction/ED6ECEDEAD18ABABB09CDDE361893B68

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-nausea#coping