Two medicines, side by side
Dimenhydrinate vs ondansetron
Dimenhydrinate and ondansetron are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Pharmacies paid $0.0575 per driminate 50 mg tablet 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.
Check it at the source: the dimenhydrinate FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 17, 2026); the ondansetron FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026).
Highlights of the dimenhydrinate record
Dimenhydrinate · label of August 17, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsfor prevention and treatment of these symptoms associated with motion sickness: nausea vomiting dizziness
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0575 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Dimenhydrinate label of August 17, 2026, Ondansetron label of January 8, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dimenhydrinate and ondansetron differ on the record?
Generics: dimenhydrinate since 1972; ondansetron since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dimenhydrinate | Ondansetron | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nausea and vomiting | Nausea and vomiting |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Serotonin-3 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | January 4, 1991 |
| First generic approved | May 31, 1972 | November 22, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 1 labeler | 77 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0575 per tablet (Driminate 50 mg tablet) | $0.0582 per tablet (Ondansetron HCl 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -16% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 15 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,594 | 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)
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 dimenhydrinate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions