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Read the Patient Information as a PDF
Patient Information
EMEND® (EE mend)
(aprepitant) Capsules
You should read this information before you take EMEND*. Also, read the leaflet each time you refill your prescription, in case any information has changed. This leaflet provides only a summary of certain information about EMEND. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you an additional leaflet that is written for health professionals that contains more complete information. This leaflet does not take the place of careful discussions with your doctor. You and your doctor should discuss EMEND when you start taking your medicine.
English
[PDF: 73KB, 3 pages]
What is EMEND?
EMEND is an antiemetic medicine for use in adult patients. An antiemetic is a medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting.
- EMEND is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy treatment. When used for this purpose, EMEND is always used WITH OTHER MEDICINES.
- EMEND is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by surgery.
- EMEND is not used to treat nausea and vomiting that you already have.
Who should not take EMEND?
Do not take EMEND if you:
- are taking any of the following medicines**:
- ORAP® (pimozide)
- SELDANE® (terfenadine)
- HISMANAL® (astemizole)
- PROPULSID® (cisapride)
Taking EMEND with these medicines could cause serious or life-threatening problems.
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in EMEND. The active ingredient is aprepitant. See the end of this leaflet for a list of all the ingredients in EMEND.
What should I tell my doctor before and during treatment with EMEND?
Tell your doctor:
- if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if EMEND can harm your unborn baby.
- if you are breast-feeding. It is not known if EMEND passes into your milk and if it can harm your baby.
- if you have liver problems.
- about all your medical problems.
- about all the medicines that you are taking or plan to take, prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. EMEND may cause serious life-threatening reactions if used with certain medicines (see the section Who should not take EMEND?). Some medicines can affect EMEND. EMEND may also affect some medicines, including chemotherapy, causing them to work differently in your body.
Your doctor may check to make sure your other medicines are working, after you have taken EMEND. Patients who take COUMADIN® (warfarin) may need to have blood tests after taking EMEND to check their blood clotting.
Women who use birth control medicines during treatment with EMEND and for up to 1 month after using EMEND should also use a back-up method of contraception to avoid pregnancy.
How should I take EMEND?
- Take EMEND exactly as prescribed.
- EMEND is a capsule that you swallow with a drink.
- one 125-mg capsule (white/pink) by mouth 1 hour before you start your chemotherapy treatment;
- one 80-mg capsule (white) each morning for the 2 days following your chemotherapy treatment.
AND
- EMEND may be taken with or without food. Follow your doctor’s instructions about eating before surgery.
- Do not start taking EMEND if you already have nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor what to do.
- If you take too much EMEND, call your doctor, local emergency room or poison control center right away.
What are the possible side effects of EMEND?
In patients taking the 125 mg/80 mg regimen of EMEND to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, the most common side effects are:
- tiredness
- nausea
- hiccups
- constipation
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- headache
- hair loss
In patients taking a single 40 mg dose of EMEND to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by surgery, the most common side effects are:
- constipation
- nausea
- itch
- fever
- low blood pressure
- headache
These are not all of the possible side effects of EMEND. For further information ask your doctor or pharmacist. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you.
General information about the use of EMEND
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use EMEND for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give EMEND to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. Keep EMEND and all medicines out of the reach of children.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about EMEND. If you would like to know more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about EMEND that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in EMEND?
Active ingredient: aprepitant
Inactive ingredients: sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and sodium lauryl sulfate. The capsule shell excipients are gelatin, titanium dioxide, and may contain sodium lauryl sulfate and silicon dioxide. The 125-mg capsule shell also contains red ferric oxide and yellow ferric oxide. The 40-mg capsule shell also contains yellow ferric oxide.
*
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The brands listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Merck & Co., Inc.
Issued June 2006
MERCK & CO., Inc.
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA
EMEND, in combination with other medicines, helps prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).
Important information about EMEND
EMEND is only used to help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is not used to get rid of nausea and vomiting after they start.
Do not take EMEND if you are taking Orap (pimozide), Seldane (terfenadine), Hismanal (astemizole), or Propulsid (cisapride). Taking EMEND with these medicines could cause serious or life-threatening problems. EMEND may also affect some medicines, including chemotherapy, causing them to work differently in your body. Patients taking Coumadin (warfarin) may need to have blood tests after taking EMEND to check their blood clotting. Women who use birth control medicines during treatment with EMEND and for up to 1 month after using EMEND should also use a backup method of contraception to avoid pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are taking or plan to take prescription or nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements, or if you have liver problems. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant because it is not known if EMEND can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding because it is not known if EMEND passes into your milk or if it can harm your baby.
EMEND is available by prescription only. Please read the Patient Information for EMEND and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.
