Appropriate Diagnosis and Treatment of Motion Sickness

Introduction to Motion Sickness

• Air travel and sea travel can significantly affect individuals, causing symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe nausea and vomiting 1

Cautions and Considerations for Off-Label Use

• Using ondansetron for motion sickness represents off-label use, as it is primarily indicated for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and radiation-induced nausea and vomiting 2, 3
• When prescribing medications off-label, it's essential to document the clinical rationale and that standard treatments have been considered or tried, as recommended by medical guidelines 4

Documentation and Patient Care

• The American College of Physicians and other medical societies recommend that when prescribing ondansetron off-label for seasickness, documentation should include the diagnosis of "Motion Sickness" (ICD-10 code T75.3), consideration of first-line therapies, patient preference, and discussion of potential risks and benefits of off-label use 2, 3