Sancuso, the brand name for the granisetron patch, is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. This antiemetic medication is approved for adults only. You typically apply a patch to the skin on the upper outer arm 1 to 2 days before chemotherapy. The patch slowly releases your dose over several days. The most common side effect of Sancuso (granisetron) is constipation.
Sancuso (granisetron) is an antiemetic. It works by blocking serotonin from sending signals to the area of the brain that causes nausea and vomiting. This helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
| Common Brands | Sancuso |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antiemetic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Severe constipation
Incidence not known
arm, back, or jaw pain
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
chest tightness or heaviness
chills
confusion
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fainting
fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
headache
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
muscle spasms or twitching
nervousness
painful or difficult urination
pain, itching, redness, irritation, blistering, burning, discoloration, or rash where the patch is applied
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
pounding in the ears
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
redness of the skin
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stomach pain or swelling
sweating
swollen glands
trouble breathing
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Decreased appetite
hair loss or thinning of the hair
lack or loss of strength
trouble sleeping
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sancuso (granisetron) 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.
People have had severe constipation while using Sancuso (granisetron). It can also hide symptoms of intestinal blockage or bloating. Intestinal blockages need to be treated right away to avoid damage and infection.
Pay attention to how often you're having bowel movements. Contact your prescriber if you have severe constipation, problems passing gas, or pain in your stomach area. These symptoms can be from an intestinal blockage, which can lead to serious problems.
Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening, condition where there's too much serotonin in the brain. It’s more likely to happen if you use Sancuso (granisetron) with other medications that affect serotonin levels. Examples include antidepressants, lithium, triptans, and St. John's wort.
Some symptoms of too much serotonin include fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, and confusion. Tell a healthcare professional right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Skin reactions or irritation can happen under or around the Sancuso (granisetron) patch. Your skin might also be red after taking off the patch, but it should go away within 3 days. During studies, most skin reactions were mild and people could continue using the medication.
If you have a severe skin reaction or have a rash that’s red, raised, and itchy, remove the patch right away and call a healthcare professional. You might be having an allergic skin reaction.
Exposing the Sancuso (granisetron) patch to heat and direct sunlight can cause more medication to get absorbed into the body. Direct sunlight on the application site can also cause skin reactions, even after you’ve removed the patch.
Avoid heat pads and heat sources around the Sancuso (granisetron) patch area. Wear clothes that cover your upper arms to protect the patch and skin from direct sunlight.
Patch| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1mg | 1 patch | $641.49 | $641.49 |
The recommended dose is 1 patch applied to the skin on the upper outer arm 1 to 2 days before chemotherapy. Each patch gives you 3.1 mg of granisetron per 24 hours. You can wear each patch for up to 7 days.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
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Sancuso can help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy for up to 7 days. Don't keep the patch on for longer than 7 days because it might run out of medication. If you still feel nauseous, you can try other options to help like eating smaller meals or sucking on hard candies. Ask your oncology care team for more ways to manage nausea and vomiting between your chemotherapy sessions.
Yes, Sancuso can get wet. You can shower and wash your body normally when you have the patch on. But, you should avoid long, hot showers and baths because it can expose the patch to a lot of heat. Heat can make more medication get absorbed through your skin. We don’t know how swimming or heavy sweating will affect the patch, so it’s best to avoid these situations while wearing it.
No. Sancuso is only available with a prescription from your oncologist or healthcare professional. Ask your oncologist about ways to control nausea and vomiting that don’t need a prescription. Some options include avoiding strong smelling foods or using aromatherapy.
Sancuso and ondansetron (Zofran) both prevent nausea and vomiting from cancer medications (chemotherapy). They work in similar ways, but they come in different forms and are taken differently. Sancuso is a patch that you put on the skin 1 to 2 days before chemotherapy. Then, it stays on the skin for up to 7 days. Ondansetron comes as tablets or a liquid that you swallow. It also comes as disintegrating tablets that dissolve on the tongue. Usually, people take ondansetron once before the chemotherapy session starts. Then, they take it a few times a day for up to 2 days after the session ends. In addition, ondansetron is an option for children. But Sancuso is only for adults. Review the similarities and differences between the medications. Ask your oncologist about which option is best for you.
It's unknown if Sancuso can harm an unborn baby if it’s used during pregnancy. Some home remedies that you can try include eating small snacks throughout the day or practicing breathing exercises to relax. But if you want to take medication, talk to your oncology care team about safer alternatives to help with nausea or vomiting from chemotherapy. Talk to your oncologist or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) if you're pregnant or have plans on becoming pregnant while using Sancuso or getting chemotherapy.
Apply Sancuso only to the skin on your upper outer arm. Place the patch on clean, dry, and nearly hairless skin. If you have a lot of hair on your arms, cut the hair as close to the skin as possible. Don't shave it because this can irritate the skin. Also avoid putting the patch on damaged, red, or irritated skin because the patch can irritate the skin even more. Don't apply the patch onto any areas that have lotion, creams, or other skin products on them because the patch won’t stick as well to your skin.
If you notice that the Sancuso patch is coming off, put surgical or medical tape to just the edges to keep it down. Try not to cover the whole patch or wrap your whole arm. This might change how quickly the medication gets absorbed through your skin. If more than half of the patch comes off, contact your healthcare professional.
