Ondansetron in the treatment of intractable nausea associated with theophylline toxicity.

OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy of ondansetron in the treatment of a patient poisoned with theophylline. PATIENT: A 36-year-old man who ingested 6 g of sustained-release theophylline. INTERVENTION: Ondansetron 8 mg intravenously after clinical failure of other antiemetics. RESULTS: Subjective relief of nausea within minutes, enabling the patient to tolerate multiple doses of activated charcoal and whole bowel irrigation. CONCLUSIONS: Ondansetron may offer an alternative to present antiemetic therapy in the poisoned patient.