Aprepitant
Generic name: aprepitant · Brand names: Aprepitant
Substance P/Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist [epc]Class II recall · Ongoing
Presence of particulate matter: potential presence of metal particulates in the product.
Posted December 12, 2025. Check lot numbers with your pharmacy before taking Aprepitant. View FDA recall notices.
Information sourced from FDA Structured Product Labeling, updated June 11, 2026.
What is it used for?
Aprepitant is a substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist. Aprepitant capsules are indicated • in combination with other antiemetic agents, in patients 12 years of age and older for prevention of: o acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin o nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC) • for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in adults Limitations of Use : • Aprepitant has not been studied for treatment of established nausea and vomiting. • Chronic continuous administration of aprepitant is not recommended.
Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
(CINV) Aprepitant capsules, in combination with other antiemetic agents, is indicated in patients 12 years of age and older for the prevention of: acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associted with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin. nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC).
Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
(PONV) Aprepitant capsules are indicated in adults for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Limitations of Use Aprepitant
has not been studied for the treatment of established nausea and vomiting. Chronic continuous administration of Aprepitant is not recommended because it has not been studied, and because the drug interaction profile may change during chronic continuous use.
How to take it
Recommended Dosage for Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) •Aprepitant capsules in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older: is 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg on Days 2 and 3. • Administer aprepitant 1 hour prior to chemotherapy on Days 1, 2, and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer aprepitant in morning. See Full Prescribing Information for recommended dosages of concomitant dexamethasone and 5-HT 3 antagonist for HEC and MEC. Recommended Dosage for PONV • Adults: 40 mg Aprepitant capsules within 3 hours prior to induction of anesthesia. Preparation and Administration • Aprepitant capsules can be administered with or without food. • Swallow aprepitant capsules whole. • For details on preparation see Full Prescribing Information.
Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
(CINV) Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years of Age and Older The recommended oral dosage of aprepitant capsules, dexamethasone, and a 5-HT 3 antagonist in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who can swallow oral capsules, for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with administration of HEC or MEC is shown in Table 1 or Table 2, respectively. Table 1: Recommended Dosing for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC * Administer aprepitant capsules 1 hour prior to chemotherapy treatment on Days 1, 2, and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer aprepitant capsules in the morning. †Administer dexamethasone 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment on Day 1 and in the morning on Days 2 through 4.
A 50% dosage reduction of dexamethasone is recommended to account for a drug interaction with aprepitant . Population Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Aprepitant capsules* Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older 125 mg orally 80 mg orally 80 mg orally none Dexamethasone Adults 12 mg orally 8 mg orally 8 mg orally 8 mg orally Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older If a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, is co-administered, administer 50% of the recommended corticosteroid dose on Days 1 through 4 .† 5-HT3 antagonist Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older See selected 5-HT3 antagonist prescribing information for the recommended dosage none none none Table 2: Recommended Dosing for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with MEC * Administer aprepitant capsules 1 hour prior to chemotherapy treatment on Days 1, 2, and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer aprepitant capsules in the morning. † Administer dexamethasone 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment on Day 1. A 50% dosage reduction of dexamethasone is recommended to account for a drug interaction with aprepitant . Population Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Aprepitant capsules* Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older 125 mg orally 80 mg orally 80 mg orally Dexamethasone Adults 12 mg orally none none Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older If a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, is co-administered, administer 50% of the recommended corticosteroid dose on Days 1 through 4 .† 5-HT3 antagonist Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older See selected 5-HT 3 antagonist prescribing information for the recommended dosage none none
Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
(PONV) The recommended oral dosage of aprepitant capsules is 40 mg within 30 hours prior to induction of anesthesia.
Administration Instructions Aprepitant
capsules can be administered with or without food Aprepitant capsules Swallow capsules whole
Warnings
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • CYP3A4 Interactions : Aprepitant is a substrate, weak-to-moderate inhibitor and inducer of CYP3A4; See Full Prescribing Information for recommendations regarding contraindications, risk of adverse reactions, and dosage adjustments of aprepitant and concomitant drugs. ( 4 , 5.1 , 7.1 , 7.2 ) • Warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate) : Risk of decreased INR of prothrombin time; monitor INR in 2-week period, particularly at 7 to 10 days, following initiation of aprepitant. ( 5.2 , 7.1 ) • Hormonal Contraceptives : Efficacy of contraceptives may be reduced during administration of and for 28 days following the last dose of aprepitant. Use effective alternative or back-up methods of contraception. ( 5.3 , 7.1 , 8.3 )
Clinically Significant CYP3A4 Aprepitant
is a substrate, a weak-to-moderate (dose-dependent) inhibitor, and an inducer of CYP3A4. Use of aprepitant with other drugs that are CYP3A4 substrates, may result in increased plasma concentration of the concomitant drug. Use of pimozide with aprepitant is contraindicated due to the risk of significantly increased plasma concentrations of pimozide, potentially resulting in prolongation of the QT interval, a known adverse reaction of pimozide . Use of aprepitant with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, diltiazem) may increase plasma conentrations of aprepitant and result in an increased risk of adverse reactions related to aprepitant.
Use of aprepitant with strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin) may result in a reduction in aprepitant plasma concentrations and decreased efficacy of aprepitant. See table 10 and 11 for a listing of potentially significant drug interactions .
Decrease in
INR with Concomitant Warfarin Coadministration of aprepitant with warfarin, a CYP2C9 substrate, may result in a clinically significant decrease in International Normalized Ratio (INR) of prothrombin time . Monitor the INR in patients on chronic warfarin therapy in the 2-week period, particularly at 7 to 10 days, following initiation of the 3-day regimen of aprepitant with each chemotherapy cycle, or following administration of a single 40-mg dose of aprepitant for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting .
Risk of Reduced Efficacy of Hormonal Contraceptives
Upon coadministration with aprepitant, the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during administration of and for 28 days following the last dose of aprepitant . Advise patients to use effective alternative or back-up methods of contraception during treatment with aprepitant and for 1 month following the last dose of aprepitant .
Who should not take it
Aprepitant is contraindicated in patients: • who are hypersensitive to any component of the product. Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions have been reported . • taking pimozide. Inhibition of CYP3A4 by aprepitant could result in elevated plasma concentrations of this drug which is a CYP3A4 substrate, potentially causing serious or life-threatening reactions, such as QT prolongation, a known adverse reaction of pimozide . • Known hypersensitivity to any component of this drug. • Concurrent use with pimozide.
Pregnancy
PREGNANCY Risk Summary There
are insufficient data on use of aprepitant in pregnant women to inform a drug associated risk. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed in rats or rabbits exposed during the period of organogenesis to systemic drug levels (AUC) approximately 1.5 times the adult human exposure at the 125-mg/80-mg/ 80-mg aprepitant regimen . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Data Animal Data In embryofetal development studies in rats and rabbits, aprepitant was administered during the period of organogenesis at oral doses up to 1,000 mg/kg twice daily in rats and up to the maximum tolerated dose of 25 mg/kg/day in rabbits. No embryofetal lethality or malformations were observed at any dose level in either species. The exposures (AUC) in pregnant rats at 1,000 mg/kg twice daily and in pregnant rabbits at 125 mg/kg/day were approximately 1.5 times the adult exposure at the 125-mg/80mg/80-mg aprepitant regimen.
Aprepitant crosses the placenta in rats and rabbits.
Side effects
Most common adverse reactions (≥3%) are: Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) • Adults: fatigue, diarrhea, asthenia, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, hiccups, white blood cell count decreased, dehydration, and alanine aminotransferase increased. • Pediatrics: neutropenia, headache, diarrhea, decreased appetite, cough, fatigue, hemoglobin decreased, dizziness, and hiccups. PONV • Adults: constipation and hypotension. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Torrent Pharma Inc. at 1-800-912-9561 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
Clinical Trials Experience Because
clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The overall safety of aprepitant was evaluated in approximately 6,800 individuals. Adverse Reactions in Adults in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC and MEC In 2 active-controlled, double-blind clinical trials in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) (Studies 1 and 2), aprepitant in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone (aprepitant regimen) was compared to ondansetron and dexamethasone alone (standard therapy . In 2 active-controlled clinical trials in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) (Studies 3 and 4), aprepitant in combination with ondasetron and dexamethasone (aprepitant regimen) was compared to ondansetron and dexamethasone alone (standard therapy) . The most common adverse reaction reported in patients who received MEC in pooled Studies 3 and 4 was dyspepsia (6% versus 4%).
Across these 4 studies there were 1,412 patients treated with the aprepitant regimen during Cycle 1 of chemotherapy and 1,099 of these patients continued into the Mutliplwe-Cycle extension for up to 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The most common adverse reactions reported in patients who received HEC and MEC in pooled Studies 1, 2, 3 and 4 are listed in Table 5. Table 5: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Patients Receiving HEC and MEC from a Pooled Analysis of HEC and MEC Studies* *Reported in ≥3% of patients treated with the Aprepitant regimen and at a greater incidence than standard therapy. † Aprepitant regimen ‡ Standard therapy Aprepitant , ondansetron, and dexamethasone † (N=1,412) Ondansetron and dexamethasone ‡ (N=1,396) fatigue 13% 12% diarrhea 9% 8% asthenia 7% 6% dyspepsia 7% 5% abdominal pain 6% 5% hiccups 5% 3% white blood cell count decreased 4% 3% dehydration 3% 2% alanine aminotransferase increased 3% 2% In a pooled analysis of the HEC and MEC studies, less common adverse reactions reported in patients with the aprepitant regimen are listed in Table 6.
Table 6: Less Common Adverse Reactions in Aprepitant-Treated Patients from a Pooled Analysis of HEC and MEC Studies* * Reported in >0.5% of patients treated with the aprepitant regimen, at a greater incidence than standard therapy and not previously described in Table 5. Infection and Infestations oral candidiasis, pharyngitis Blood and the Lymphatic System Disorders anemia, febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders decreased appetite, hypokalemia Psychiatric Disorders anxiety Nervous System Disorders dizziness, dysgeusia, peripheral neuropathy Cardiac Disorders palpitations Vascular Disorders flushing, hot flush Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders cough, dyspnea, oropharyngeal pain Gastrointestinal Disorders dry mouth, eructation, flatulence, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, nausea, vomiting Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders alopecia, hyperhidrosis, rash Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders musculoskeletal pain General Disorders and Administration Site Condition edema peripheral, malaise Investigations aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood sodium decreased, blood urea increased, proteinuria, weight decreased In additional active-controlled clinical study 1,169 patients receiving aprepitant and HEC, the adverse reactions were generally similar to that seen in the other HEC studies with aprepitant. In another CINV study, Stevens-Johnson syndrome was reported as a serious adverse reaction in a patient receiving the aprepitant regimen with cancer chemotherapy.
Adverse reactions in the Multiple-Cycle extensions of HEC and MEC studies for up to 6 cycles of chemotherapy were generally similar to that observed in Cycle 1. Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients 6 Months to 17 Years of Age in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC or MEC In a pooled analysis of 2 active-controlled clinical trials in pediatric patients aged 6 months to 17 years who received highly or moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (Study 5 and a safety study, Study 6), aprepitant in combination with ondansetron with or without dexamethasone (aprepitant regimen) was compared to ondansetron with or without dexamethasone (control regimen). There were 184 patients treated with the aprepitant regimen during Cycle 1 and 215 patients received open-label aprepitant for up to 9 additional cycles of chemotherapy.
In Cycle 1, the most common adverse reactions reported in pediatric patients treated with the aprepitant regimen in pooled Studies 5 and 6 are listed in Table 7. Table 7: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Aprepitant-Treated Pediatric Patients in HEC and MEC Pooled Studies 5 and 6* * Reported in ≥3% of patients treated with the aprepitant regimen and at a greater incidence than control regimen. † Aprepitant regimen ‡ Control regimen Aprepitant and ondansetron (N=184) Ondansetron (N=168) neutropenia 13% 11% headache 9% 5% diarrhea 6% 5% decreased appetite 5% 4% cough 5% 3% fatigue 5% 2% hemoglobin decreased 5% 4% dizziness 5% 1% hiccups 4% 1% Forty-nine patients were treated with ifosfamide chemotherapy in each arm. Two of the patients treated with ifosfamide in the aprepitant are developed behavioral changes (agitation = 1; abnormal behavior = 1), whereas no patient treatesd with ifosfamide in the control arm developed behavioral changes.
Aprepitant has the potential for increasing ifosfamide-mediated neurotoxicity through induction of CYP3A4 . Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients in the Prevention of PONV In 2 active-controlled, double-blind clinical studies in patients receiving general anesthesia (Studies 7 and 8), 40 mg-oral aprepitant was compared to 4-mg intravenous ondansetron . There were 564 patients treated with aprepitant and 538 patients treated with ondansetron. The most common adverse reactions reported in patients treated with aprepitant for PONV in pooled Studies 7 and 8 are listed in Table 8. Table 8: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Aprepitant-Treated Patients in a Pooled Analysis of PONV Studies* * Reported in ≥3% of patients treated with the aprepitant 40 mg and at a greater incidence than ondansetron.
Aprepitant 40 mg (N = 564) Ondansetron (N = 538) constipation 9% 8% hypotension 6% 5% In a pooled analysis of PONV studies, less common adverse reactions reported in patients treated with aprepitant are listed in Table 9. Table 9: Less Common Adverse Reactions in Aprepitant-Treated Patients in a Pooled Analysis of PONV Studies* *Reported in >0.5% of patients treated with aprepitant and at a greater incidence than ondansetron Infections and Infestations postoperative infection Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders hypokalemia, hypovolemia Nervous System Disorders dizziness, hypoesthesia, syncope Cardiac Disorders bradycardia Vascular Disorders hematoma Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders dyspnea, hypoxia, respiratory depression Gastrointestinal Disorders abdominal pain, dry mouth, dyspepsia Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders urticaria General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions hypothermia Investigations blood albumin decreased, bilirubin increased, blood glucose increased, blood potassium decreased Injury, Poisoning and Procedural Complications operative hemorrhage, wound dehiscence In addition, two serious adverse reactions were reported in PONV clinical studies in patients taking a higher than recommended dose of aprepitant: one case of constipation, and one case of sub-ileus. Other Studies Angioedema and urticaria were reported as serious adverse reactions in a patient receiving aprepitant in a non-CINV/non-PONV study (aprepitant is only approved in the CINV and PONV populations).
Postmarketing Experience The
following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of aprepitant. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pruritus, rash, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions . Nervous system disorders: ifosfamide-induced neurotoxicity reported after aprepitant and ifosfamide coadministration.
All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health. Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling.