Aprepitant

Conditions Treated

Aprepitant is used with other medications to prevent nausea and vomiting that may occur within 24 hours after receiving cancer chemotherapy treatment. It is also used with other medications to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting that may occur several days after receiving certain chemotherapy medications. Aprepitant is also used alone to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by surgery. Aprepitant is not used to treat nausea and vomiting that you already have. Aprepitant is in a class of medications called antiemetics. It works by blocking the action of neurokinin, a natural substance in the brain that causes nausea and vomiting.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Aprepitant may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• weakness
• tiredness
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• stomach pain
• heartburn
• nausea
• hiccups
• loss of appetite
• headache
• fever
• itching
• hair loss

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• hives
• rash

Aprepitant may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Aprepitant comes as a capsule to take by mouth. To prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, aprepitant is usually taken once daily, with or without food, during the first few days of your cancer chemotherapy treatment. You will probably take aprepitant 1 hour before your first dose of chemotherapy, and then each morning for the next 2 days. To prevent nausea and vomiting caused by surgery, aprepitant is usually taken as one dose within 3 hours before the start of surgery. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take aprepitant exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Aprepitant capsules come in two different strengths. Your doctor may prescribe both of the strengths for you to take at different times. You should be careful to take the right strength at the right time as directed by your doctor. Aprepitant only works to prevent nausea and vomiting. Call your doctor if you already have these symptoms and do not begin to take aprepitant. . When used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, aprepitant is usually used only during the first 3 days of the chemotherapy treatment cycles. Do not continue taking aprepitant longer than instructed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking aprepitant, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to aprepitant or any other medications. do not take aprepitant if you are taking astemizole (Hismanal, not available in the US), cisapride (Propulsid, not available in the US) , pimozide (Orap), or terfenadine (Seldane, not available in the US). tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin);antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and lansoprazole; benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam (Halcion);diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), cancer chemotherapy medications such as docetaxel (Taxotere), etoposide (Toposar, VePesid), ifosfamide (Ifex), imatinib (Gleevec), irinotecan (Camptosar), paclitaxel (Taxol), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), vinblastine, vincristine (Vincasar), and vinorelbine (Navelbine); carbamazepine (Tegretol); clarithromycin (Biaxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac);HIV protease inhibitors such as nelfinavir (Viracept) and ritonavir (Norvir); hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, and injections); nefazodone (Serzone); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone); and methylprednisolone (Medrol); paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva); phenytoin (Dilantin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); tolbutamide (Orinase);and troleandomycin (TAO). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with aprepitant, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.