What is it and how is it used?
IVEMEND contains the active substance fosaprepitant which is converted to aprepitant in your body. IVEMEND is used in combination with other medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (cancer treatment) in adults.
What do you have to consider before using it?
Do not use IVEMEND
Take special care with IVEMEND:
Children
IVEMENDis not for use in children and adolescents under 18 years.
Using IVEMEND with other medicines
IVEMEND can affect other medicines both during and after treatment with IVEMEND. There are some medicines that should not be taken with IVEMEND (such as pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole, and cisapride) or that require a dose adjustment (see also Do not use IVEMEND).
The effects of IVEMEND or other medicines might be influenced if you take IVEMEND together with other medicines including those listed below.
Before starting treatment, it is important that you tell your doctor about any other medicines or herbal medicines you are taking, have recently taken, or plan to take, even those obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not use IVEMEND during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. It is important that you tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant before receiving IVEMEND.
For information regarding birth control, see Using IVEMEND with other medicines.
It is not known whether IVEMEND is excreted in human milk; therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with IVEMEND. It is important that you tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed before receiving IVEMEND.
Driving and using machines
It should be taken into account that some people get dizzy and get sleepy after using IVEMEND. If you get dizzy or get sleepy, you should avoid driving or operating machines after using IVEMEND. (See POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS).
Important information about some of the ingredients of IVEMEND
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially ‘sodium- free’.
How is it used?
The recommended dose of IVEMEND is150 mg fosaprepitant (IVEMEND 150 mg) on Day 1 (day of chemotherapy) only.
The powder is reconstituted and diluted before use. The solution for infusion is given to you by a health care professional, such as a doctor or nurse, via an intravenous infusion (a drip) approximately 30 minutes before you start your chemotherapy treatment.
What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines, IVEMEND can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The frequency of possible side effects listed below is defined using the following convention:
very common (affects more than 1 user in every 10)
common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100)
uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000)
rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000)
very rare (affects less than 1 user in 10,000)
not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).
Common side effects are:
Uncommon side effects are:
Side effects for which the frequency is not known:
Single cases of the following have been reported:
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you experience any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How should it be stored?
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and vial after EXP. The first 2 numbers indicate the month; the next 4 numbers indicate the year.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).
The reconstituted and diluted solution is stable for 24 hours at 25°C.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or house hold waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
