| Brand Name | Emend |
| Generic Name | Aprepitant |
| Drug Class | Neurokinin-1 (NK1) Receptor Antagonist |
| Availability | Prescription |
| Manufacturer | Merck & Co. |
| Indications | Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) |
| Type | Capsule, Oral Suspension |
| Doses | 125 mg orally on day 1, then 80 mg daily for 2 days |
| Route | Oral |
| Side Effects | Fatigue, hiccups, constipation, nausea, dizziness |
| Interactions | May interact with warfarin, oral contraceptives, dexamethasone, ketoconazole, atazanavir. |
| Overdose | Fatigue, hiccups, dizziness, GI symptoms. Generally well tolerated. |
| Missed Dose | Take ASAP before chemotherapy session. Skip if too late; consult oncologist. |
| Contraindications | Concurrent use with pimozide, hypersensitivity to aprepitant |
| Alternatives | Ondansetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist, often used as a first-line anti-nausea drug) Granisetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) Dexamethasone (steroid used in combination with other anti-nausea medications for chemotherapy) Metoclopramide (prokinetic agent, also effective for nausea) |
| Co-Pay Assistance Program | Available |
| Patient Assistance Program | Available |
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
The use of aprepatinant is in the prevention of chemotherapy and surgery induced nausea and vomiting. It works by preventing neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor in the brain.
Mechanism of action Apratinib inhibits neurokinin-1 receptor which is a part of vomiting reflex and prevents vomiting and nausea during the chemotherapy or surgery.
The side effects include constipation, fatigue and dizziness amongst others. The side effects may be extremely severe such as hepatic or allergies.
Aprepitant is mostly administered orally in the form of capsules in a normal manner one hour before chemotherapy. It can be used along with other anti-nauseal medicine.
In this situation, Pregnancy Aparetin must be used only in the situations when the benefit of use of the drug is greater than the harm. Do not forget to ask your health practitioner in the event of becoming pregnant.
You are expected to take your dose as soon as you remember without such a period lest you forget to take your dose. Do not take two doses at once.
Aprepitant would not be applied in motion sickness, whereas has been proved to be suitable in the prevention of nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy or surgery.
Aprepitant is a rapid response medication and habitually it shall occur about an hour after the intake of medications to avoid vomiting and nausea effect brought about by chemotherapy or surgery.
Apeptinant is likely to react with other drugs particularly those that can possibly act on liver as it is disintegrated by liver enzymes. You should never forget to tell your health practitioner about the medications that you are using.
Yes, the Aprepatante can be used together with the other anti-nausea drug, such as dexamethasone and 5-HT3 antagonists, in order to have a complete control over the nausea.
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