APREPITANT

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Emend

GENERIC NAME(S): APREPITANT

Description: Aprepitant is an antiemetic.

Uses

Aprepitant helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy) and surgery by blocking substance P in the brain. It will not treat nausea or vomiting if you already have it. Contact your doctor for further instructions if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting.

How to use Aprepitant

Take this medication by mouth, with or without food, take the first dose 1 hour before treatment. On the following 2 days, you will usually take the dose once daily in the morning or as directed by your doctor.

Follow your doctor’s instructions for proper dosing and best treatment outcome.

Warnings

Side Effects

Usually, tiredness and hiccups may occur.

Contact your doctor if you experience allergic reactions or symptoms mentioned above.

Precautions

Precautions

Inform your doctor or pharmacist your allergies, medical history, especially of: liver problems.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take caution, consult your doctor before taking and handling this drug.

Interactions

Some products that may interact with this drug include: cisapride, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove aprepitant from your body (such as azole antifungals including itraconazole, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, cimetidine, rifamycins including rifabutin, St. John’s wort, certain anti-seizure medicines including carbamazepine/phenytoin, certain cancer chemotherapy drugs including ifosfamide/vinblastine/vincristine), pimozide, warfarin,

It may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring.

Aprepitant is very similar to fosaprepitant. Do not use fosaprepitant while using aprepitant.

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

Get emergency medical help when overdose is suspected.

Missed Dose: As soon as you remember, take a regular dose or if the time of the next does is near, wait for it before taking another dose and resume your usual schedule. Do not increase the dose to compensate for the missed dose.

Storage: Store medication in room temperature. Do not expose to light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from pets and children. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour into a drain.

Brands

Also marketed as

Emend [ Merck Sharp & Dohme ]