Aponvie
Aponvie (aprepitant) is an injectable medication used to prevent nausea and vomiting from surgery. It's given by a healthcare provider intravenously (IV), which means the medication is delivered directly into your vein. Typically you'll receive Aponvie (aprepitant) before surgery. Common side effects of this medication include constipation and low energy.
What is Aponvie (aprepitant)?
What is Aponvie (aprepitant) used for?
- Prevention of nausea and vomiting after surgery
How Aponvie (aprepitant) works
Aponvie (aprepitant) is an antiemetic called NK1 receptor antagonists. It works by blocking certain chemicals in the brain that can cause nausea and vomiting. In doing so, Aponvie (aprepitant) helps ease acute and delayed nausea and vomiting.
Drug facts
Side effects of Aponvie (aprepitant)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Constipation (8%)
- No energy (6%)
- Headache (4%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Itching
Please note: Some of these side effects were reported by adults taking oral aprepitant (Emend).
Aponvie (aprepitant) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing, rash, swelling of lips, tongue, or throat
- Severe skin reaction: blistering or peeling of skin, hives, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, fever
The following Aponvie (aprepitant) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
- Unusual weakness or fatigue
- Upset stomach
Pros and cons of Aponvie (aprepitant)
Pros
- Can use in people who have liver or kidney problems
- Might work well for people who didn’t see benefits with other antiemetics
- Starts working within 5 minutes after injection
Cons
- Only prevents nausea and vomiting, can't treat nausea and vomiting if you already have symptoms
- Not clear whether it's safe or works well in children
- Can't be taken with pimozide, a medication for Tourette syndrome
Pharmacist tips for Aponvie (aprepitant)
- You'll typically receive Aponvie (aprepitant) before your surgery. It takes about 30 seconds to receive the full dose of this medication.
- Aponvie (aprepitant) can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions. Your provider will monitor you for symptoms such as trouble breathing, swelling of your face, flushing, rash, hives, and dizziness during and after injection.
- Don't use this medication if you're pregnant since it contains alcohol and can cause harm to your unborn baby. If you're pregnant before your surgery, let your provider know.
- If you're taking hormonal birth control, make sure to also use non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condoms) as a backup for a month after you've received Aponvie (aprepitant). This is because Aponvie (aprepitant) can cause hormonal birth control to not work as well to prevent pregnancy.
- Aponvie (aprepitant) can interact with many medications. Let your provider or pharmacist know what medications you're taking, including over-the-counter products and supplements, before you start Aponvie (aprepitant). Talk with your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about interactions with this medication.
Common questions about Aponvie (aprepitant)
No, Aponvie (aprepitant) can't treat symptoms of nausea and vomiting because it's only meant to help with preventing these symptoms. If you feel nauseous after your surgery, let your provider know. Your provider can prescribe other medications to help you fight off nausea and vomiting.
Aponvie and Cinvanti have the same active medication (aprepitant) and are both options to prevent nausea and vomiting. The main difference between them is that Aponvie is only FDA-approved to be given before a surgery to prevent procedure-related nausea and vomiting, while Cinvanti is approved to be given on Day 1 of the chemotherapy cycle for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Please note that a single dose of Cinvanti is much higher than a single dose of Aponvie because the approved dose of aprepitant for chemotherapy is higher. Your provider will make sure you get the appropriate medication, based on your medical condition.
It typically takes Aponvie (aprepitant) less than 5 minutes to start working after your injection. If you feel nauseous before you receive general anesthesia, let your provider know.
Aponvie and Emend are both medications that contain aprepitant. They're bioequivalent, which means you can expect similar improvements for your nausea and vomiting, whether you take one or the other. One main difference between the two medications is how you take the medication. Aponvie (aprepitant) is injected into the veins by a healthcare provider, while aprepitant (Emend) is taken by mouth. Another main difference is how fast the medication works. According to a study, Aponvie (aprepitant) works within 5 minutes after injection, while aprepitant (Emend) takes 1 hour to 3 hours to work. Before your surgery, talk with your provider to see which medication is a better option for you.
A single dose of Aponvie (aprepitant) is expected to work similarly well as 40 mg of oral aprepitant (Emend) because they're considered bioequivalent. In studies that compared oral aprepitant (Emend) to IV ondansetron in the first 24 to 48 hours post-surgery, about 50% fewer people who took oral aprepitant (Emend) experienced nausea and vomiting than those who received IV ondansetron. If you have any questions about which medication is right for you, follow up with your provider for more information.
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Risks and warnings for Aponvie (aprepitant)
Aponvie (aprepitant) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious allergic reaction
- Risk factor: Allergic to aprepitant
In some rare cases, Aponvie (aprepitant) can cause allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening. Your risk is higher if you've been allergic to medications with aprepitant (e.g., Emend, Cinvanti) in the past. Your provider will monitor you for serious allergic reactions during and after your injection to make sure this medication is safe for you. Watch out for signs and symptoms, such as wheezing, eye swelling, flushing, itching, and rash. Let your provider know right away if you have any of these allergic reactions.
Interactions with other medications
Aponvie (aprepitant) interacts with many medications. Before you receive it, make sure your provider is aware of all the other medications, vitamins, and supplements you're currently taking. They can help you check for any serious medication interactions.
Certain medications, like ketoconazole, can raise the amount of Aponvie (aprepitant) in your body. Taking them together can make it more likely for you to experience Aponvie (aprepitant) side effects, such as diarrhea and fatigue. On the other hand, taking certain medications like rifampin (Rifadin) can lower the amount of Aponvie (aprepitant) in your body and cause the medication to not work as well.
Aponvie (aprepitant) can also cause your body to absorb less warfarin (Coumadin), which can raise your risk of blood clots. Your provider will monitor your blood work (INR blood test), 7 to 10 days after your injection of Aponvie (aprepitant), to make sure warfarin (Coumadin) is working well for you.
Finally, Aponvie (aprepitant) might cause certain hormonal birth controls to work less well. If you're taking hormonal birth control, make sure to also use a back-up birth control, like condoms, for at least a month after your injection of Aponvie (aprepitant).
Aponvie (aprepitant) dosage
Typical dosage for Aponvie (aprepitant)
Aponvie (aprepitant) is usually given in a hospital setting by a healthcare provider.
- Adults: The typical dose of Aponvie (aprepitant) is 32 mg injected through the veins before you receive anesthesia for a surgery.
Aponvie (aprepitant) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Aponvie (aprepitant) will not be safe for you to take.
- Taking pimozide
What are alternatives to Aponvie (aprepitant)?
Aponvie (aprepitant) images
