Aloxi

Aloxi is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and nausea and vomiting that may occur after surgery. This medication works by blocking the signal to the brain that causes nausea and vomiting.

This medication is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following forms: Solution.

As with all medicines, the risks of using Aloxi must be compared to how much this medication will help you. This is a decision that you and your doctor will make together.

For this medication, there are many things that need to be considered:

• Allergies: Inform your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Doxorubicin or to any other medications. It is also important to inform your doctor of any non-medicine allergies such as foods, dyes, preservatives or animals.
• Pediatric:
   
  • For nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy: Up-to-date pediatric appropriate studies have not indicated any problems that would limit the use of this medication. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 month of age.
  • For nausea and vomiting after surgery: No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
• Geriatric: Up-to-date studies have not shown any problems specific to the elderly that would limit the use of this medication in the elderly population.
• Pregnancy: This medication is listed as Pregnancy Category B. This means that animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the unborn baby, however there are are no studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have showed an adverse affect to the unborn baby, but studies in pregnant women have not shown a risk to the unborn baby.
• Breastfeeding: There are no up-to-date studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential risks with the benefits before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

• Drug Interactions: Certain medications should not be used together. However, in certain cases, two medications may be used together, even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change your dose or take other precautions.

  When taking this medication, it is important that you inform your doctor if you are taking any of the medications listed below. The following interactions were selected on the basis of potential significance and are not all-inclusive.

  Using this medication with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Apomorphine

    Using this medication with any of the following medication is not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. Your doctor may make the decision not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Almotriptan
  • Amineptine
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amitriptylinoxide
  • Amoxapine
  • Brompheniramine
  • Buspirone
  • Carbamazepine
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Citalopram
  • Clomipramine
  • Cocaine
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Desipramine
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Dibenzepin
  • Doxepin
  • Duloxetine
  • Eletriptan
  • Escitalopram
  • Fentanyl
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Frovatriptan
  • Furazolidone
  • Hydroxytryptophan
  • Imipramine
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Linezolid
  • Lithium
  • Lofepramine
  • Lorcaserin
  • Melitracen
  • Meperidine
  • Methadone
  • Methylene Blue
  • Milnacipran
  • Mirtazapine
  • Moclobemide
  • Naratriptan
  • Nefazodone
  • Nialamide
  • Nortriptyline
  • Opipramol
  • Paroxetine
  • Pentazocine
  • Phenelzine
  • Procarbazine
  • Protriptyline
  • Rasagiline
  • Rizatriptan
  • Selegiline
  • Sertraline
  • Sibutramine
  • St John's Wort
  • Sumatriptan
  • Tapentadol
  • Tianeptine
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Trazodone
  • Trimipramine
  • Tryptophan
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilazodone
  • Vortioxetine
  • Zolmitriptan
• Other Interactions: Certain medications should not be used while eating, or while eating certain foods in case of negative interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medications may also cause negative interactions. Talk with your doctor about the use of your medication with food, alcohol or tobacco.

You will receive Aloxi while you are in a hospital or cancer treatment center. A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medication. This medication is given through a needle placed in one of your veins (intravenously).

This medication is normally given 30 minutes before the start of chemotherapy or right before you receive anesthesia for surgery.

This medication comes with a patient information brochure. It is very important that you read this information. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Before using Aloxi, there are some precautions you must take.

Inform your doctor if nausea and vomiting continue after leaving the hospital or cancer treatment center.

This medication may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency medical help.

Inform your doctor immediately if you have a rash, fast heartbeat (tachycardia), fever, hives, itching, irritation, hoarseness, joint pain, stiffness or swelling, rash, redness of the skin, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands or feet, tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing or swallowing after receiving this medication.

Palonosetron may cause a serious condition called serotinin syndrome if taken with some medications such as fentanyl, lithium, tramadol or medications used to treat depression. Inform your doctor before taking any other medications with palonosetron.

Aloxi may produce unwanted affects along with the intended 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 you experience any of the following side-effects:

Less Common:

• Blurred vision
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• Fainting (syncope)
• Fever
• Irregular heartbeats that continue (arrhythmias)
• Sweating
• Unusual fatigue or weakness

Rare:

• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• Extra heartbeats
• Nervousness
• Pain in the shoulders, arms, jaw, or neck
• Pounding in the ears (pulsatile tinnitus)
• Slow or fast heartbeat (bradycardia, tachycardia)

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following signs of overdose occur:

• Bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms or nail beds
• Collapse
• Gasping for breath
• Paleness of the skin
• Seizures

Some side effects that may occur do not normally need medical attention. These may leave as your body becomes accustomed to treatment. Ask your doctor about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Talk to your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome, or if you have questions:

More Common:

• Difficulty having a bowel movement (constipation)
• Headache

Less Common:

• Acid or sour stomach
• Belching
• Bloated or full feeling
• Blood in the urine
• Bloody or black, tarry stools
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, ""pins and needles"", or tingling feelings
• Change in vision
• Chills
• Continuing ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
• Cough
• Decrease in frequency of urination
• Decrease in urine volume
• Deep breathing
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• Excessive sleeping (hypersomnia)
• Eye irritation
• Fear
• Feeling happy
• Feeling of warmth
• Flushed dry skin
• Fruit-like breath odor
• General feeling of discomfort or illness (malaise)
• Hearing loss
• Heartburn
• Hiccups
• Impaired vision
• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Indigestion
• Joint pain
• Large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches and pains
• Muscle tremors
• Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• Painful knees and ankles
• Painful urination
• Passing gas
• Raised red swellings on the skin, the buttocks, legs or ankles
• Rash
• Red, sore eyes
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
• Sugar in the urine
• Swelling or protruding veins
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Unexplained noise in the ears
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusually deep sleep
• Vein discoloration
• Weakness or heaviness of the legs

Some patients may experience other side effects that are not listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any other side effects.

Ask your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.