Zofran generic: Availability, cost, and dosage

In this article:

• Why was Zofran discontinued?
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Zofran?
• How much does generic Zofran cost?
• Is Zofran covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Zofran
• What are the off-label uses for ondansetron?

In this article

• Why was Zofran discontinued?
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Zofran?
• How much does generic Zofran cost?
• Is Zofran covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Zofran
• What are the off-label uses for ondansetron?

Zofran (ondansetron) is a prescription antiemetic medication used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting in people undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting. Zofran was approved in 1991 by the Food and Drug Administration, but was eventually discontinued as a brand-name drug. However, it’s still available in generic form as ondansetron. Here’s what to know about taking this common anti-nausea medication.

Zofran generic availability
Generic name	Ondansetron
FDA approval date of generic version	2006
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?	Yes

Why was Zofran discontinued? 

Various forms of Zofran have been discontinued over the years for different reasons. In 2012, high intravenous (IV) doses of the drug were taken off the market because they posed a cardiac risk, potentially causing an irregular heart rhythm called QT interval prolongation. By 2023, all other forms of brand-name Zofran were discontinued, but not for safety or efficacy reasons. The dissolvable tablets were discontinued because the packaging didn’t meet federal regulations for safety (the tablets themselves were safe), and other forms of the drug were no longer profitable once generic versions became widely available.

What are the differences between generic and brand-name Zofran?

Brand-name drugs and generic drugs are largely the same. They contain identical active ingredients and have the same safety and effectiveness. “When brand-name Zofran was still on the market, there were no meaningful differences between it and ondansetron,” says Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics. 

“Generic ondansetron is held to strict FDA standards for bioequivalence, ensuring it delivers the same therapeutic effect as the original brand,” she explains. “While some patients may have perceived differences based on pill appearance, taste, or tolerability, especially with orally disintegrating tablets, these variations are due to inactive ingredients rather than any change in efficacy and safety.” Currently, only generic ondansetron products are available: oral tablets, oral disintegrating tablets, oral solution (liquid), and injections. 

How much does generic Zofran cost?

Without insurance, generic Zofran (ondansetron) costs about $409 for 30, 4 mg tablets. Using a SingleCare discount card, your cost could be lowered to as low as $12 for 30, 4 mg tablets.

Orally disintegrating tablets of ondansetron are slightly more expensive, costing about $474 for 30, 4 mg orally disintegrating tablets. A SingleCare discount or coupon can lower that cost to about $14.

Generic Zofran prices
Cost details	Zofran generic oral tablets (ondansetron)	Zofran generic orally disintegrating tablets (ondansetron)
Average cost without insurance	$409 for 30, 4 mg tablets of ondansetron oral tablets	$474 for 30, 4 mg tablets of ondansetron orally disintegrating tablets (ODT)
SingleCare’s lowest price	$12 for 30, 4 mg tablets of ondansetron oral tablets at Food Lion	$14 for 30, 4 mg tablets of ondansetron ODT at Kroger or Harris Teeter
Free coupons	Ondansetron coupons	Ondansetron ODT coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of March 17, 2026. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. 

Is Zofran covered by insurance?

Brand-name Zofran is no longer available, but generic ondansetron is often covered by insurance plans, including commercial plans and Medicare and Medicaid plans. However, coverage and out-of-pocket costs may vary widely. To know for sure if your plan covers ondansetron, you can contact your health insurance company or check the most recent formulary online. 

Generic alternatives to Zofran

Since brand-name Zofran is no longer available, generic ondansetron would be the primary option. Generic ondansetron is available in several forms, including oral tablets (tablets that you swallow), orally disintegrating tablets (tablets that dissolve on the tongue), liquid, and injection. If generic ondansetron does not work for you or you cannot take or tolerate it, there are other generic medications used for nausea and vomiting that you can discuss with your healthcare provider, such as:

• Prochlorperazine
• Compro (prochlorperazine) rectal suppositories
• Emend (aprepitant)
• Reglan (metoclopramide)

You can read more about ondansetron alternatives here.

What are the off-label uses for ondansetron? 

Ondansetron can help ease nausea and vomiting in people going through cancer treatment, since these are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can also be given right after surgery to relieve post-operative nausea and vomiting associated with anesthesia use. Ondansetron has a few other off-label (non-FDA-approved) uses, too.

Morning sickness

According to Katina Hope, MD, a family medicine physician with Village Medical, ondansetron is sometimes used to treat morning sickness during pregnancy, though it hasn’t been approved by the FDA for this purpose.

Some studies suggest there is a higher risk of certain birth defects associated with taking ondansetron during the first trimester, but the risk appears to be low. In general, ondansetron is considered a relatively safe way to manage morning sickness (only when used as prescribed by a healthcare provider), especially if other strategies (like B6 supplementation) don’t help and your morning sickness is affecting your quality of life.

Gastroparesis

Dr. Gray says ondansetron can be used to treat gastroparesis-related nausea in people who don’t respond to first-line treatments like metoclopramide. Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a condition where your stomach stops moving food into your intestines or only moves it very slowly. Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common symptoms of gastroparesis.

Other 

There are many conditions that cause nausea and vomiting, and Dr. Gray says ondansetron may be prescribed to help relieve those symptoms.

Some of these conditions include:

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Vertigo
• Acute gastroenteritis (i.e., a stomach bug)
• Acute mountain sickness

Expert takeaway

“Even though brand-name Zofran is no longer available in pharmacies, generic ondansetron is widely prescribed because it works the same way and is just as effective,” says Karen Berger, Pharm.D., member of the SingleCare Medical Board.