Patient Information
(a-PRE-pi-tant)
Read this Patient Information before you start taking aprepitant and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What are Aprepitant Capsules?
Aprepitant capsules are a prescription medicine used:
● With other medicines that treat nausea and vomiting in patients 12 years of age and older to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by certain anti-cancer (chemotherapy) medicines
● In adults to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery.
Aprepitant capsules are not used to treat nausea and vomiting that you already have.
Aprepitant capsules should not be used continuously for a long time (chronic use)
Who should not take aprepitant capsules?
Do not take aprepitant capsules if you:
● are allergic to aprepitant or any of the ingredients in aprepitant capsules. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in aprepitant capsules.
● are taking pimozide (ORAP®)
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking aprepitant capsules?
Before you take aprepitant capsules, tell your healthcare provider if you:
● have liver problems
● are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if aprepitant capsules can harm your unborn baby.
○ Women who use birth control medicines containing hormones to prevent pregnancy (birth control pills, skin patches, implants, and certain
IUDs) should also use a back-up method of birth control that does not contain hormones, such as condoms and spermicides, during
treatment with aprepitant capsules and for 1 month after your last dose of aprepitant capsules.
● are breastfeeding or plan to breasfeed. It is not known if aprepitant passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take aprepitant capsules.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Aprepitant capsules my affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how aprepitant capsules work causing serious side effects.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take aprepitant capsules?
● Take aprepitant capsules exactly as prescribed.
● Swallow aprepitant capsules whole.
● If you are receiving chemotherapy, aprepitant capsules may be taken with or without food.
● If you take too much aprepitant, call healthcare provider, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
● If you are receiving cancer chemotherapy, aprepitant capsules are taken as 3 doses over 3 days – starting on the day you have chemotherapy, and for the following 2 days.
● In adults who are receiving chemotherapy, there are 2 ways your healthcare provider may prescribe aprepitant capsules for you:
Capsules of aprepitant by mouth for all 3 doses:
○ You should get a package that has 3 capsules of aprepitant.
○ Day 1 (Day of chemotherapy): Take one 125 mg capsule of aprepitant (white and pink) by mouth 1 hour before you start your
chemotherapy treatment.
○ Day 2 and Day 3: Take one 80 mg capsule of aprepitant (white) by mouth 1 hour before you start your chemotherapy treatment. If no
chemotherapy treatment is given on Days 2 and 3, aprepitant should be taken in the morning.
● In children 12 years of age and older who can swallow capsules by mouth, aprepitant is prescribed as capsules of aprepitant by mouth for all 3 doses:
○ You should get a package that has 3 capsules of aprepitant.
○ Day 1 (Day of chemotherapy): Take one 125 mg capsule of aprepitant (white and pink) by mouth 1 hour before your start your
chemotherapy treatment.
○ Day 2 and Day 3: Take one 80 mg capsule of aprepitant (white) by mouth 1 hour before you start your chemotherapy treatment. If no
chemotherapy treatment is given on Days 2 and 3, aprepitant should be taken in the morning.
● If you are an adult and are having surgery:
○ Your doctor will prescribe a 40 mg capsule of aprepitant for you before surgery. Take a aprepitant capsule within 3 hours before surgery.
○ Follow your doctor's instructions about restrictions on eating and drinking before surgery.
● If you take the blood thinner medicine warfarin sodium (COUMADIN®, JANTOVEN®), your healthcare provider may do blood tests after you take aprepitant to check your blood clotting.
What are the possible side effects of aprepitant capsules?
● In adults taking aprepitant capsules, the most common side effects include tiredness, diarrhea, weakness, indigestion, stomach (abdominal) pain, hiccups, decrease in white blood cell count, dehydration, and changes in liver function tests.
● In adults taking aprepitant capsules to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery, the most common side effect include constipation, low blood pressure (hypotension).
● In children 6 months to 17 years of age, the most common side effects include decrease in white blood cell count, headache, diarrhea, decreased appetite, cough, tiredness, decrease in red blood cell count, dizziness, and hiccups.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of aprepitant capsules. For more information ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call our healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store aprepitant capsules?
● Store at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Keep aprepitant capsules and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of aprepitant capsules
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in Patient Information leaflet. Do not use aprepitant capsules for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give aprepitant capsules to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about aprepitant capsules that is written for health professionals. For more information about aprepitant call 1-800-912-9561.
What are the ingredients in aprepitant capsules?
Active ingredient: aprepitant
Inactive ingredients: hypromellose 2910, poloxamer 407, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose. The imprinting Ink: shellac glaze, iron oxide black and propylene glycol. The capsule shell excipients gelatin, titanium dioxide, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The 40 mg capsule shell contains yellow ferric oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide, 80 mg capsule shell contains sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide, 125 mg capsules contains red ferric oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide.
PHARMATHEN INTERNATION S.A., Rodopi 69300, GREECE (GRC)
Manufactured For:
TORRENT PHARMA INC. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Revised: 06/2022