Fosaprepitant (Injection)

Introduction:

Fosaprepitant Dimeglumine (fos-ap-RE-pi-tant di-ME-gloo-meen)

Used with other medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment (chemotherapy).

Brand Name(s):

Emend

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• This medicine is usually given on the first day of your cancer treatment as part of a three-day regimen along with other medicines. Fosaprepitant is not for long-term use, but you may need to use this medicine again if you have more cancer treatments in the future.
• You may receive this medicine with or without food.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• There are many other medicines that you should not use together with fosaprepitant. These include prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines that you use.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), tolbutamide (Orinase®), diltiazem (Cartia®, Tiazac®), rifampin (Rifadin®), medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, Dilantin®, or Tegretol®), a sedative (such as alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam, Halcion®, Versed®, or Xanax®), medicine for depression (such as nefazodone, paroxetine, Paxil®, or Serzone®), medicine to treat fungal infections (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, Nizoral®, or Sporanox®), medicine to treat bacterial infection (such as clarithromycin, troleandomycin, or Biaxin®), or medicines to treat HIV/AIDS (such as nelfinavir, ritonavir, Norvir®, or Viracept®).
• Your doctor might need to change your dose of some other medicines while you are using fosaprepitant. These include drugs often used during chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel (Taxol®), etoposide (VePesid®), irinotecan (Camptosar®), ifosfamide (Ifex®), imatinib (Gleevec®), vinblastine (Velban®), vincristine (Oncovin®), methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone (Decadron®) by mouth.
• Birth control pills may not work while you are using fosaprepitant. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control during your treatment and for one month after your last treatment. Other forms of birth control include condoms, a diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease.
• This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have itching; hives; rash; trouble with breathing; trouble with swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.
• This medicine is not usually used to treat nausea or vomiting that has already started.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood after using this medicine if you are also taking warfarin (Coumadin®).

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, or muscle cramps.
• Fast or slow heartbeat.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.
• Warmth or redness in your face, neck, arms, or upper chest.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, or stomach pain or upset.
• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears.
• Hair loss.
• Headache or dizziness.
• Hiccups.
• Loss of appetite.
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed.
• Sores or white patches on your lips, mouth, or throat.
• Tiredness or weakness.
• Trouble with sleeping.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: