Working With Your Doctor to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)
It is important to talk to your doctor about your risk of chemo-related nausea and vomiting so that he or she can you help you prevent it. Here are some tips to help you speak with your doctor.
Be descriptive
It can be hard for you to describe how much nausea affects you, so try to be as detailed and descriptive as possible when you talk to your doctor about it. Make sure to tell your doctor any other symptoms that you have when you have nausea.
Other words to describe nausea:
- Sick to my stomach
- Queasy
- Upset stomach
Keep a journal
Try to keep track of the side effects and of how you are feeling during treatment. You may wish to use a journal to help keep your information in one place. This journal can help your doctor understand how often or how badly nausea and vomiting has affected you.
Ask questions
You should find out about the possible side effects of the chemo you will be receiving. Ask your doctor if the therapy prescribed for you is likely to cause nausea and vomiting.
View this page to see what types of chemo medicine are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting.
Need help getting the conversation started?
Download and print this discussion guide to help you discuss chemo-related nausea and vomiting with your doctor.
Download Discussion Guide
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.