Palonosetron

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

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to palonosetron.

Before you receive palonosetron, tell your doctor if you have an electrolyte imbalance, a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome," if you take a diuretic (water pill), or if you take a heart rhythm medication.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or ondansetron (Zofran).

Call your doctor at once if you have uneven heartbeats while receiving palonosetron.

What is palonosetron?

Palonosetron blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.

Palonosetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery or by medicine to treat cancer (chemotherapy or radiation).

Palonosetron may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to palonosetron.

Before you receive palonosetron, tell your doctor if you have:

• an electrolyte imbalance such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood;
• a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome";
• if you are taking a diuretic (water pill);
• if you are taking a heart rhythm medication; or
• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), or ondansetron (Zofran).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use palonosetron, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether palonosetron passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Palonosetron orally disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

How should I take palonosetron?

Palonosetron is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a hospital or cancer treatment setting.

Palonosetron is usually given within 30 minutes before the start of your chemotherapy treatment.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since palonosetron is given by a healthcare professional before your chemotherapy, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a palonosetron overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking palonosetron?

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

What are the possible side effects of palonosetron?

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever;
• slow or uneven heart rate, trouble breathing;
• anxiety, agitation, shivering;
• feeling light-headed, fainting; or
• urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

• diarrhea;
• constipation;
• dizziness;
• headache; or
• tired feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect palonosetron?

Before receiving palonosetron, tell your doctor about all cancer medications you receive, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

• a diuretic (water pill); or
• heart rhythm medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone), bepridil (Vascor), disopyramide (Norpace), sotalol (Betapace), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can affect palonosetron. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about palonosetron.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.05. Revision date: 09/18/2007.