Granisetron: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Granisetron is a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Serotonin-3 Receptor Antagonist
- Available as
- Injectable · Solution · Tablet · Patch
- Sold as
- 4 products — Granisetron Hydrochloride, Granisol and Kytril, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $33 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How Granisetron Hydrochloride is dosed
From the FDA label for Granisetron Hydrochloride (application ANDA078629). Other granisetron products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting ( 2.1 ) : Recommended dosage is 10 mcg/kg intravenously within 30 minutes before initiation of chemotherapy Pediatric patients (2 to 16 years): Recommended dosage is 10 mcg/kg 2.1 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Adult Patients The recommended dosage for Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection is 10 mcg/kg administered intravenously within 30 minutes before initiation of chemotherapy, and only on the day(s) chemotherapy is given. Infusion Preparation Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection may be administered intravenously either undiluted over 30 seconds or diluted with 0.9% Sodium Chloride or 5% Dextrose and infused over 5 minutes. Stability Intravenous infusion of Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection should be prepared at the time of administration. However, Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection has been shown to be stable for at least 24 hours when diluted in 0.9% Sodium Chloride or 5% Dextrose and stored at room temperature under normal lighting conditions. As a general precaution, Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection should not be mixed in solution with other drugs. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration whenever solution and container permit. Pediatric Patients The recommended dose in pediatric patients 2 to 16 years of age is 10…
Everything below is the FDA label for Granisetron Hydrochloride (injectable, solution, tablet). Granisetron is also sold as patch, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Granisetron Hydrochloride side effects
QT prolongation has been reported with granisetron hydrochloride [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )] . Most common adverse reactions: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (≥3%): Headache, and constipation ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. at 1-877-845-0689 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www . fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in patients. Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting The following have been reported during controlled clinical trials or in the routine management of patients. The percentage figures are based on clinical trial experience only. Table 1 gives the comparative frequencies of the two most commonly reported adverse reactions (≥3%) in patients receiving Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection, in single-day chemotherapy trials. These patients received chemotherapy, primarily cisplatin, and intravenous fluids during the 24-hour period following Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection administration. Reactions were generally recorded over seven days post-Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection administration. Table 1. Principal…
Who shouldn’t take Granisetron Hydrochloride
Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylaxis, shortness of breath, hypotension, urticaria) to the drug or to any of its components. Hypersensitivity to granisetron or to any of its components. ( 4 )
Granisetron Hydrochloride drug interactions
Granisetron does not induce or inhibit the cytochrome P-450 drug-metabolizing enzyme system in vitro . There have been no definitive drug-drug interaction studies to examine pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction with other drugs; however, in humans, Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection has been safely administered with drugs representing benzodiazepines, neuroleptics and anti-ulcer medications commonly prescribed with antiemetic treatments. Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection also does not appear to interact with emetogenic cancer chemotherapies. Because granisetron is metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P-450 drug-metabolizing enzymes, inducers or inhibitors of these enzymes may change the clearance and, hence, the half-life of granisetron. No specific interaction studies have been conducted in anesthetized patients. In addition, the activity of the cytochrome P-450 subfamily 3A4 (involved in the metabolism of some of the main narcotic analgesic agents) is not modified by granisetron hydrochloride in vitro . In in vitro human microsomal studies, ketoconazole inhibited ring oxidation of granisetron hydrochloride. However, the clinical significance of in vivo pharmacokinetic interactions with ketoconazole is not known. In a human pharmacokinetic study, hepatic enzyme induction with phenobarbital resulted in a 25% increase in total plasma clearance of intravenous granisetron hydrochloride. The clinical significance of this change is not known. QT prolongation has been reported with granisetron hydrochloride. Use of granisetron hydrochloride in patients concurrently treated with drugs known to prolong the QT interval and/or are arrhythmogenic may result in clinical consequences. 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 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )]. Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection, USP has been administered safely with benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, and anti-ulcer medications. ( 7 ) Does not appear to interact with emetogenic cancer chemotherapies. ( 7 ) Inducers or inhibitors of CYP450 enzymes may change the clearance and therefore the half-life of granisetron. ( 7 ) Coadministration of granisetron hydrochloride with drugs known to prolong the QT interval and/or are arrhythmogenic may result in clinical consequences. ( 7 )
Every granisetron product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $33 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $33 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $33 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Patch | Generic | $33 | View → |
What granisetron pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GN | 1 mg | white | triangle | — |
Can you crush or split granisetron?
At least one granisetronproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each granisetron label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long granisetron keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some granisetron labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 24 hours.
Does granisetron expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about granisetron
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 11,856 reports naming granisetron, and the FDA flagged 92% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- nausea1,343 reports
- febrile neutropenia935 reports
- diarrhoea913 reports
- vomiting878 reports
- pyrexia865 reports
- dyspnoea730 reports
- fatigue609 reports
- anaemia602 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean granisetron caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Granisetron Hydrochloride?
Granisetron Hydrochloride is a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist.
What kind of drug is granisetron?
The FDA classifies granisetron as a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take granisetron with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run granisetron against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is granisetron sold under?
We track 4 granisetron-containing products in the U.S.: Granisetron Hydrochloride, Granisol, Kytril and Sancuso. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does granisetron come in?
Across the brands we track, granisetron is currently marketed as injectable, solution, tablet and patch, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic granisetron?
Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic granisetron products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Granisetron: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/granisetron
- MLA
- “Granisetron: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/granisetron.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for granisetron on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.