Key takeaways
Ondansetron (Zofran) and Metoclopramide (Reglan) are both medications used to treat nausea and vomiting, but they work in different ways and have different uses. Ondansetron is an antiemetic that blocks serotonin in the brain to prevent nausea and vomiting, especially after surgery or cancer treatments. It is available in various forms, including tablets, dissolvable tablets, oral solution, and injections. Metoclopramide, on the other hand, is a dopamine antagonist that speeds up muscle movements in the gut to treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetic gastroparesis. It is availible as a tablet, dissolvable tablet, oral solution, nasal solution, and injection. While both medications can cause drowsiness, metoclopramide has a serious risk of causing tardive dyskinesia, a condition with uncontrolled muscle movements, which limits its use to short-term treatment. Ondansetron is generally considered safer but can cause headaches and has potential heart-related side effects. Both medications are available as lower-cost generics.
