FOSAPREPITANT - INJECTION
Common Brand Name(s): Emend
Phonetic Pronunciation: (phos-a-PREP-ih-tant)
Information last revised May 2010
What does FOSAPREPITANT - INJECTION look like?

Emend 115 mg IV Solution
Uses:
Fosaprepitant is used with other medications to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy). Fosaprepitant works by blocking one of the body's natural substances (substance P/neurokinin 1) that causes vomiting. This medication will not treat nausea or vomiting if you already have it. Contact your doctor for further instructions if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting.
Missed Dose
It is important that you receive the dose before cancer chemotherapy as directed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.
How To Use
Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill or receive treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. This medication is given by injection into a vein by a health care professional. Fosaprepitant is usually given as a single dose 30 minutes before your chemotherapy or as directed by your doctor. On the following 2 days, you will usually take the form of this medication given by mouth (aprepitant). If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Rarely, a very serious allergic reaction to this drug might occur while your dose is being given (infusion reaction). Tell your health care professional immediately if you experience any side effects such as flushing, redness, or trouble breathing during your treatment. The infusion may need to be stopped. If the infusion is stopped, tell your doctor about the infusion reaction and do not use fosaprepitant again. Tell your doctor if you develop nausea or vomiting.
Drug Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious (possibly fatal) interactions may occur: cisapride, pimozide. If you are currently using either of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting fosaprepitant. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove fosaprepitant 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). Fosaprepitant can both speed up and slow down the removal of other drugs from your body, thereby affecting how they work. These affected drugs include (not a complete list): benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam), simvastatin, drugs to treat male sexual function problems (e.g., sildenafil). If you take warfarin, this drug may affect how well warfarin works in your body. Therefore, your doctor should test your blood during the 2 weeks after your fosaprepitant treatment to measure how well warfarin is working. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control (e.g., pill, patch, ring). This effect can result in pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details. Discuss whether you should use additional reliable birth control methods during treatment with fosaprepitant and for 1 month after the last dose of fosaprepitant. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.
Precautions
Before using fosaprepitant, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Storage
Refrigerate the unmixed vials between 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Use mixed drug solutions within 24 hours of preparation. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Side Effects
See also How To Use section. Tiredness and hiccups may occur. If either of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.
The information contained in the First DataBank databases is intended to supplement the knowledge of physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy problems and patient counselling information. This information is advisory only and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgment in the delivery of healthcare services. First DataBank disclaims all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any warranty as to the quality, accuracy, and suitability of this information for any purpose.
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