Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting

1 medicine

Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of surgery and anaesthesia, prevented and treated with antiemetic medicines such as ondansetron.

Zofran

Ondansetron

4/8mg

Zofran is a digestive health medication containing Ondansetron, available as 4/8mg tablets.

from $1.17 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is nausea, retching, or vomiting within 24 to 48 hours of surgery, one of the most common complications of anaesthesia.
  • It affects roughly one in three people having general anaesthesia, with women, non-smokers, and those needing opioid pain relief afterward at higher risk.
  • Ondansetron, a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is the main medicine used, both to prevent PONV before surgery and to treat it once it starts.
  • Staying hydrated, eating lightly, and getting up slowly after surgery help alongside medicines, and digestive health support is also relevant to recovery comfort.

Who is at higher risk

Several factors raise the chance of PONV. Women, non-smokers, people with a history of motion sickness or previous PONV, and those needing opioid pain relief after their procedure all carry higher risk. Longer operations and certain procedure types, laparoscopic, gynaecological, and ear surgeries among them, also raise the odds. Many hospitals use standardised risk scores, such as the Apfel score, to flag these patients before surgery so preventive treatment can start early rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.

How it is managed

Antiemetic medicines are the main treatment. Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists such as ondansetron are used widely, both to prevent PONV before it starts and to treat it once it occurs. They work by blocking the signals in the gut and brain that trigger vomiting. For higher-risk patients, anaesthetists often combine two agents from different drug classes for better control. Digestive health medicines also support overall recovery comfort. Staying well hydrated, choosing lighter foods, and moving slowly when first getting up after surgery all help alongside medical treatment. For most people, symptoms ease within a day or two as the anaesthetic clears from the body, though anyone with persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, or an inability to keep fluids down should tell their care team.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.