Granisetron

What is granisetron?

Granisetron is a medicine that is used to prevent or treat nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up). Nausea and vomiting could be due to cancer medicines (chemotherapy) or radiation treatments.

You may hear granisetron called by its brand name Kytril®.

Granisetron comes in a tablet, pharmacy-compounded liquid and injection form.

Tell your child’s health-care provider if your child:

• is allergic to granisetron or any ingredient in the formulation, or other medications in the same drug class such as ondansetron or palonosetron

Talk with your child’s health-care provider if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• pre-existing heart problems, including irregular heartbeats
• liver problems

How should you give your child granisetron?

Follow these instructions when giving your child granisetron:

• Give granisetron by mouth exactly as your child’s health-care provider tells you.
• Granisetron can be given with or without food. Give granisetron with food if it upsets your child's stomach.
• If your child needs granisetron on an “as needed” basis only, speak to your child’s health-care provider about when you should give it to your child.

If your child is taking granisetron liquid:

• Shake the bottle well before giving your child each dose.
• Use the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you to measure and give the dose of granisetron.

If your child is prescribed granisetron injection, a nurse will give it by needle into your child’s vein in the hospital clinic or nursing unit.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of granisetron?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember, if your child is feeling sick.
• If it is almost time for the next dose and your child is feeling well, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.
• If your child vomits (throws up) less than 30 minutes after you gave a dose, you may give another dose.

What are the possible side effects of granisetron?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take granisetron.

Check with your child's health-care provider if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• headaches
• constipation

Call your child’s health-care provider during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• rash, hives or itching

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's health-care provider right away or take your child to an Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, throat, increased heart rate, rash, hives)
• change in heartbeat, including dizziness, palpitations (pounding, fast or irregular), chest pain, fainting
• agitation, confusion, hallucinations, poor balance, muscle twitching, shivering, sweating, seizures

What safety measures should you take when your child is using granisetron?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with granisetron, or, in some cases, the dose of granisetron or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your child’s health-care providers if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal) including:

• heart medicines, including amiodarone and sotalol
• medicines used to treat mood disorders, including citalopram and sertraline
• cisapride
• domperidone
• tramadol

What other important information should you know about granisetron?

• If you are asked to give a dose of granisetron before your child goes to the clinic, you can give granisetron 60 minutes before they are given chemotherapy.
• If your child’s symptoms of nausea and vomiting do not get better or if they become worse, talk to your child’s health-care provider.
• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to their health-care team.
• Do not share your child’s medicine with others and do not give anyone else’s medicine to your child.
• Granisetron liquid must be made by a pharmacy. Make sure your pharmacy is able to make it for your child.
• Make sure you always have enough granisetron to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep granisetron at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.

Keep granisetron out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much granisetron, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.