title: Aprepitant: a review of its use in the prevention of nausea and vomiting.
abstract: Aprepitant (Emend) is a neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) receptor antagonist that is able to alleviate the emetic effects of substance P. When combined with a standard regimen of a corticosteroid (dexamethasone) and a serotonin 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist (ondansetron), oral aprepitant (125 mg on day 1 then 80 mg once daily on days 2 and 3) was effective in the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) associated with single or multiple cycles of highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). This aprepitant regimen was also effective in the prevention of CINV in patients treated with single or multiple cycles of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). A single oral dose of aprepitant 40 mg administered prior to patients undergoing abdominal surgery was also effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Aprepitant was generally well tolerated. Aprepitant is a recommended option for the treatment of PONV, and when combined with a corticosteroid and 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist is a recommended regimen for the treatment of CINV.
authors.affiliation: Wolters Kluwer Health, Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore 0754, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Monique P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077608:Aprepitant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D009025:Morpholines; D000077608:Aprepitant