What is the most important information I should know about aprepitant?
You should not use aprepitant if you also use pimozide. A serious drug interaction can occur when pimozide is used together with aprepitant.
What is aprepitant?
Aprepitant is used together with other medications to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by chemotherapy.
Aprepitant is given ahead of time and will not treat nausea or vomiting that you already have.
Aprepitant capsules are for use in adults and children who are at least 12 years old. Aprepitant oral suspension (liquid) can be given to adults and children as young as 6 months old.
Aprepitant may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using aprepitant?
You should not use aprepitant if you are allergic to it, or if you use another medicine called pimozide. Aprepitant can cause unwanted or dangerous side effects when used with pimozide.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. You should not be treated with aprepitant injection if you are pregnant.
Aprepitant can make hormonal birth control less effective, including birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings. To prevent pregnancy while using aprepitant, use a barrier form of birth control: condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge.
Keep using the barrier form of birth control for 1 month after your last dose of aprepitant.
How should I use aprepitant?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Aprepitant oral is taken by mouth.
Aprepitant injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Aprepitant is not for long-term use. You will most likely need only 1 to 3 doses.
The first dose of aprepitant is usually given 30 to 60 minutes before treatment with chemotherapy. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
Aprepitant oral can be taken with or without food.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
Give the oral suspension (liquid) using only the dosing syringe provided.
If you also take warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), you may need extra "INR" or prothrombin time tests after you have used aprepitant.
Store aprepitant capsules at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Store the prefilled liquid dosing syringe in the refrigerator, do not freeze. After taking the liquid out of the refrigerator, you must use it within 3 hours.
Throw away any liquid medicine not used within 3 days (72 hours) after you received it. Do not save it for later use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you forget to use your medicine within the prescribed length of time before your chemotherapy.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using aprepitant?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of aprepitant?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, itching, difficult breathing, dizziness, trouble swallowing, fast heartbeat, wheezing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- pain or burning when you urinate;
- sores or white patches in your mouth or throat, sore throat;
-
low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or
-
dehydration symptoms --feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin.
Common side effects may include:
- stomach pain, indigestion, burping, loss of appetite;
- low blood cell counts;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- hiccups;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- headache, dizziness;
- dehydration;
- pain in your arms or legs;
- pain, hardening, redness, swelling, or itching where the medicine was injected;
- cough; or
- feeling weak or tired.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect aprepitant?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Many drugs can affect aprepitant, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about aprepitant.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01. Revision date: 11/5/2019.
