Efficacy of Ondansetron in oral rehydration
Introduction
Ondansetron is a drug that blocks actions of chemicals within the body that can trigger an episode of vomiting or diarrhea (Freedman, 2016). The body has a system of regulating itself and fighting any harmful condition or substance. The medulla oblongata is responsible for the regulation of involuntary actions such as breathing, vomiting, thirst and heart rate. This part of the brain can detect various chemicals and hormones within the blood. When a potentially toxic substance gets detected, the chemoreceptor trigger zone initiates the vomiting process.
Ondansetron prevents nausea and vomiting caused by surgical activities or cancer medication. Chemotherapy has adverse effects on the body. Patients usually vomit, hair falls off, and they also tend to lose a lot of weight. Anesthesia and other surgical drugs might cause discomfort that will lead to vomiting. This drug, however, should not get used to prevent vomit episodes resulting from other factors. The mechanism through which the drug functions in unknown, but studies indicate that it has a direct effect on the CTZ. As earlier mentioned, the chemoreceptor trigger zone gets inputs from hormones and drugs dissolved in the blood. It communicates with other structures in the vomiting center and initiates vomiting.
Studies have also indicated that Ondansetron has an effect on the vagus nerve. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter plays a role in Ondansetron’s effect on the human body. Though scientists claim that the drug is effective, it comes with some side effects. These effects include headaches, tiredness, drowsiness, flushes, constipation, and a slowed heart and raised body temperature. The drug users are thus advised to watch out for these symptoms so as not to have any panics and anxieties. However, if symptoms persist, the patients are advised to seek further medical attention. Additional effects are that the drug can cause hiccups, rashes, and liver disturbances. Overdoses of this drug can become a serious medical emergency. Interactions might cause serotonin syndrome which includes hallucinations, agitation, fast heart rate, muscle tremors, and seizures.
A study got conducted in India to determine the efficacy of Ondansetron in managing dehydration diarrhea. This disease is very common in the area and mostly affects children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years. Children suffering from diarrhea lose a lot of fluids. This loss causes massive dehydration coupled with the fact that young children have smaller body masses. For the body to function normally, it needs enough water in the body. Water plays a crucial role in enhancing a homeostatic balance which regulates all the metabolic processes in the body.
The immune systems of children below the age of five years are largely underdeveloped. For this reason, they easily contract simple diseases, with diarrhea being among them. If they do not get proper and timely treatment, they are likely to die within short periods. There are many drugs and methods available for treating dehydrating diarrhea. However, finding an efficient drug that can remedy the illness in the quickest time possible has always presented a challenge for most doctors.
Design
In this particular research, the doctors used a randomized controlled trial. This is a type of study whereby people get allocated at random to receive one of the several clinical interventions. One intervention may include a standard practice or a placebo. At times, it might not involve any form of intervention. The setting of the study was in the emergency department in Delhi India. The doctors selected children between the ages of three months and five years for the study. They were suffering from gastroenteritis, dehydration, and vomiting. Each of the children was given a single dose of Ondansetron vs. placebo.
Result
Oral rehydration treatment failure proved to be significantly less in the recipients of Ondansetron. Placebo, on the other hand, had less success. The study found that a single Ondansetron dose enhances the efficacy of ORT.
Discussion
The above study clearly shows that administration of one dose of oral Ondansetron results in better oral rehydration. The drug took effect much faster than conventional drugs. Placebo, which was the comparison treatment took a much longer period and was not as effective. However, the administration of Ondansetron is associated with a reduction in intravenous rehydration. Lack of benefits has a relation to lower rates of intravenous rehydration-related to Ondansetron administration.
These findings match an Iranian clinical trial on oral rehydration treatment. Therefore, the study provides promising evidence that Ondansetron can improve the success of ORT in third world countries. One step to ensure that this goal gets met is to enhance proper training and knowledge dissemination processes. When the practitioners receive proper instruction on how to undertake the treatment, they are less likely to make any mistakes in dosage administration. They will also get to know the correct drug combinations to administer. Children in low to middle-income countries suffer from a wide range of diseases that cause dehydration. The most common cause, however, is diarrhea because of the poor hygienic standards. Therefore, the establishment of such programs in these countries will go a long way in combating the issue of dehydrating diarrhea
Conclusion
Ondansetron has indeed proven to be effective in orally rehydrating young children suffering from dehydrating diarrhea. However, it should get administered with a lot of care because it is originally meant to treat vomiting and diarrhea that arises as a result of surgery or chemotherapy. It is not suitable for broad spectrum purposes.
References
Freedman, S. (2016). Ondansetron enhances efficacy of oral rehydration. The Journal of Pediatrics, 172, 224-227. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.02.026
