Two medicines, side by side
Aprepitant vs ondansetron
Aprepitant and ondansetron are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Drugs@FDA records approvals of aprepitant since 2003 and of ondansetron since 1991. Pharmacies paid $46.42 per aprepitant 40 mg capsule and $0.0582 per ondansetron HCl 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, aprepitant is a substance p/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist and ondansetron a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the aprepitant FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 5, 2024); the ondansetron FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026).
Highlights of the aprepitant record
Aprepitant (Emend) · label of July 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsEMEND ® for oral suspension, in combination with other antiemetic agents, is indicated in patients 6 months of age and older for the prevention of: acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin. nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 26, 2003
- Generic labelers
- 5 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $46.42 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the ondansetron record
Ondansetron (Zofran) · label of January 8, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsOndansetron is indicated for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with: • highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, including cisplatin greater than or equal to 50 mg/m 2 • initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy • radiotherapy in patients receiving either total body irradiation, single high-dose fraction to the abdomen, or daily fractions to the abdomen Ondansetron is also indicated for the prevention of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 4, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 77 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0582 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 15
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Aprepitant label of July 5, 2024, Ondansetron label of January 8, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do aprepitant and ondansetron differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, aprepitant is a substance p/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist and ondansetron a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Aprepitant, “Aprepitant is a selective high-affinity antagonist of human substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK 1 ) receptors.”; Ondansetron, “Ondansetron is a selective 5‑HT 3 receptor antagonist.”
Generics: aprepitant since 2012; ondansetron since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Aprepitant | Ondansetron | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nausea and vomiting | Nausea and vomiting |
| Pharmacologic class | Substance P/Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist | Serotonin-3 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Aprepitant is a selective high-affinity antagonist of human substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK 1 ) receptors. | Ondansetron is a selective 5‑HT 3 receptor antagonist. While its mechanism of action has not been fully characterized, ondansetron is not a dopamine‑receptor antagonist. |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent terminal half-life ranged from approximately 9 to 13 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | March 26, 2003 | January 4, 1991 |
| First generic approved | September 24, 2012 | November 22, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 5 labelers | 77 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $46.42 per capsule (Aprepitant 40 mg capsule) | $0.0582 per tablet (Ondansetron HCl 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | no change | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 15 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,353 | 121,842 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Aprepitant label, drug interactionsExamples; ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Ondansetron label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Serotonergic Drugs Serotonin syndrome (including altered mental status, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular symptoms) has been described following the concomitant use of 5-HT 3 receptor antagonists and other serotonergic drugs, including SSRIs and SNRIs.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to aprepitant
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions