netupitant and palonosetron (oral)

Pronunciation: net UE pi tant and PAL oh NOE se tron

Brand: Akynzeo

What is the most important information I should know about netupitant and palonosetron?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is netupitant and palonosetron?

Netupitant and palonosetron is a combination medicine used to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. This medicine is given together with a steroid called dexamethasone.

Netupitant and palonosetron helps prevent nausea and vomiting that occurs both during chemotherapy and later on (delayed nausea and vomiting).

Netupitant and palonosetron may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking netupitant and palonosetron?

Netupitant and palonosetron is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • liver or kidney disease; or
  • an allergic reaction to a medicine for nausea or vomiting, such as dolasetron (Anzemet), ondansetron (Zofran), or palonosetron (Aloxi).

Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, or serious infections. These medicines may interact with netupitant and palonosetron and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Netupitant and palonosetron may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take netupitant and palonosetron?

This medicine is given ahead of time and will not treat nausea or vomiting you already have.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

About 1 hour before chemotherapy, you will take netupitant and palonosetron with or without food.

You will take dexamethasone 30 minutes before chemotherapy, and you may need to keep taking it for 3 days afterward. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Store the capsules at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you have not taken netupitant and palonosetron at the correct 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 taking netupitant and palonosetron?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of netupitant and palonosetron?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Common side effects may include:

  • headache;
  • feeling weak or tired;
  • skin redness; or
  • upset stomach, constipation.

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 netupitant and palonosetron?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect netupitant and palonosetron. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about netupitant and palonosetron.

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