How Can I Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting?
Medicines used to help prevent nausea and vomiting are called antiemetics. There are different classes, or groups, of antiemetics. They are grouped according to how they work in the body.
- Some block triggers and signals from your brain
- Others block triggers and signals from your stomach, saliva gland, and intestines
Doctors may prescribe medicines to help prevent nausea and vomiting that work in other ways. Dexamethasone is a steroid that is used to treat inflammation, or swelling, in the body and is usually given with most patients receiving antiemetics.
Antiemetics are taken in different ways
You can take antiemetics by mouth in the form of a pill or capsule, either swallowed or dissolved under your tongue. They may also be given by a doctor through an injection or an intravenous (IV) line.
Your doctor will tell you when to take your antiemetic before your chemo treatment.
Getting through your chemo treatment doesn’t mean you have to suffer from nausea and vomiting. It can be prevented.
Approved Use/Important Safety Considerations
Approved Use
AKYNZEO® is a prescription medicine called an "antiemetic." AKYNZEO is used in combination with the medicine dexamethasone in people to help prevent the nausea and vomiting that happens right away or later with certain anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy).
It is not known if AKYNZEO is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Important Safety Considerations
AKYNZEO may cause serious side effects, including:
- allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swollen face, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
- serotonin syndrome which can happen with AKYNZEO particularly with certain other medicines such as anti-depressants and anti-migraine medicines and can lead to death. Stop taking AKYNZEO capsules and go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of the following symptoms: agitation, hallucinations or other changes in mental status, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, high body temperature, shaking (tremors), unsteady movements, muscle twitching (overactive reflexes), or seizures with or without nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of AKYNZEO capsules and injection include: headache, weakness, fatigue, upset stomach, constipation, and skin redness.
These are not all the possible side effects of AKYNZEO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take or receive AKYNZEO, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to palonosetron or another medicine for nausea or vomiting.
- have liver problems.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. AKYNZEO may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if AKYNZEO passes into breast milk and you should not take AKYNZEO if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. AKYNZEO and certain other medicines can affect each other, causing serious side effects.
Only take AKYNZEO as prescribed by your doctor and read the Patient Information located at the end of the Prescribing Information. You can also read the full Prescribing Information that is written for health professionals.
AKYNZEO® is a registered trademark of Helsinn Healthcare SA, Switzerland, distributed and marketed by
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. under license.
© 2024 Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. All rights reserved. V-AKYN-US-0667 12/22
Approved Use/Important Safety Considerations
Approved Use
AKYNZEO® is a prescription medicine called an "antiemetic." AKYNZEO is used in combination with the medicine dexamethasone in people to help prevent the nausea and vomiting that happens right away or later with certain anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy).
It is not known if AKYNZEO is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Important Safety Considerations
AKYNZEO may cause serious side effects, including:
- allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swollen face, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
- serotonin syndrome which can happen with AKYNZEO particularly with certain other medicines such as anti-depressants and anti-migraine medicines and can lead to death. Stop taking AKYNZEO capsules and go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of the following symptoms: agitation, hallucinations or other changes in mental status, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, high body temperature, shaking (tremors), unsteady movements, muscle twitching (overactive reflexes), or seizures with or without nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of AKYNZEO capsules and injection include: headache, weakness, fatigue, upset stomach, constipation, and skin redness.
These are not all the possible side effects of AKYNZEO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take or receive AKYNZEO, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to palonosetron or another medicine for nausea or vomiting.
- have liver problems.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. AKYNZEO may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if AKYNZEO passes into breast milk and you should not take AKYNZEO if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. AKYNZEO and certain other medicines can affect each other, causing serious side effects.
Only take AKYNZEO as prescribed by your doctor and read the Patient Information located at the end of the Prescribing Information. You can also read the full Prescribing Information that is written for health professionals.