APREPITANT belongs to a class of drugs called anti-emetics. It is used in combination with other medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (anti-cancer medicines) in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and above. Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness in the stomach that often comes before vomiting. On the other hand, vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth.
APREPITANT contains Aprepitant, a neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist which works by blocking the neurokinin-1 receptor (causes the feeling of sickness) present in the vomiting centre in the brain. Thus, it helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
Take APREPITANT as prescribed. You are recommended to take APREPITANT for as long as your doctor has advised it. In some cases, APREPITANT may cause common side effects such as headache, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, indigestion, and hiccups. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, consult your doctor immediately if the side effects persist or worsen.
Please tell your doctor if you are allergic to APREPITANT or any other medicines. APREPITANT is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT. Avoid driving or operating machinery if you feel dizzy or sleepy after taking APREPITANT. If you are taking other prescription or non-prescription medicines, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
APREPITANT contains Aprepitant, an anti-emetic (a drug used to treat nausea and vomiting) that works by blocking the action of a natural substance in the brain called neurokinin that causes nausea and vomiting. Thus, it is used in combination with other medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by anti-cancer medicines in adults and adolescents from the age of 12 years.
Please tell your doctor if you are allergic to APREPITANT or any other medicines. APREPITANT is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT. Avoid driving or operating machinery if you feel dizzy or sleepy after taking APREPITANT. If you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medicines, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT.
Drug-Drug Interactions: Avoid taking APREPITANT with antipsychotics (pimozide), antiallergic drugs (terfenadine, astemizole), and gastroprokinetic agents (cisapride). APREPITANT may interact with immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, everolimus, cyclosporine, sirolimus), pain killers (fentanyl, alfentanil), the medicine used to treat an irregular heartbeat (quinidine), anticancer medicines (etoposide, vinorelbine, irinotecan, ifosfamide), blood thinners (acenocoumarol, warfarin), antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin, rifampicin), anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine), medicines used to produce calmness or help you sleep (triazolam, phenobarbital, midazolam), antifungals (ketoconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole), antidepressant (nefazodone), corticosteroids (dexamethasone, methylprednisolone), anti-anxiety medicines (alprazolam), antidiabetic agent (tolbutamide) and medicines used to treat migraines and HIV infections.
Drug-Food Interactions: APREPITANT may interact with St. John’s Wort (herbal preparation used to treat depression).
Drug-Disease Interactions: If you have liver disease, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT.
The interaction of alcohol with APREPITANT is unknown. If you have any concerns regarding this, please discuss them with your doctor.
If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if clearly needed.
It is unknown whether Aprepitant is excreted in breast milk. Hence, if you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT.
APREPITANT may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Hence, do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy or drowsy after taking APREPITANT.
If you have liver disease, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT. Your doctor may monitor your liver condition.
If you have any kidney problems, inform your doctor before taking APREPITANT.
APREPITANT is not recommended for children below 12 years of age.
Nausea and vomiting: Nausea is an uneasiness in the stomach that usually precedes vomiting. Vomiting, on the other hand, is a normal bodily response in which a person desires to evacuate stomach contents from the mouth aggressively. In brief, nausea and vomiting are symptoms of a variety of disorders, including infections, motion sickness, an early stage of pregnancy, and gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). Vomiting is controlled by a receptor in the brain known as the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, nausea and vomiting are common side effects. It can also arise as a side effect of an operation or surgery. Controlling vomiting and nausea in cancer patients is critical for conducting daily tasks. It can cause mental abnormalities, lack of appetite, malnutrition, and dehydration if not managed.