title: Safety of neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The substance P (SP)/neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor system is involved in many pathological processes. NK-1 receptor antagonists have many promising therapeutic indications. However, the only NK-1 receptor antagonist used in clinical practice is the drug aprepitant and its intravenously administered prodrug, fosaprepitant. In general, NK-1 receptor antagonists are safe and well tolerated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search was carried out in Medline using the following terms: adverse events, aprepitant, casopitant, clinical trials, CP-122,721, ezlopitant, fosaprepitant, NK-1 receptor antagonists, randomized, safety, side effects, tolerability and vofopitant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most clinical trials have focused on the antiemetic action of aprepitant in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. However, the efficacy and safety of aprepitant have not been fully tested in other diseases in which the SP/NK-1 receptor system is involved (e.g., cancer, HIV, alcoholism); thus, clinical trials are required. The use of NK-1 receptor antagonists in oncology therapy is quite promising, but to date pharmacological therapy has not exploited the many possible therapies offered by such antagonists.
authors.affiliation: Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides, Sevilla, Spain. mmunoz@cica.es
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coveñas
mesh_terms: D000077608:Aprepitant; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009025:Morpholines; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000077608:Aprepitant; C579707:fosaprepitant