Anzemet

Generic Name: dolasetron (oral) (doe LAS e tron)
Brand Names: Anzemet

What is Anzemet?

Anzemet (dolasetron) blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.

Anzemet is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery or by medicine to treat cancer (chemotherapy).

Anzemet may be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Anzemet

You should not take Anzemet if you are allergic to dolasetron. Anzemet can cause serious heart rhythm problems. You should not use this medication if you have a history of Long QT syndrome. Tell your doctor if anyone in your family has ever had this condition.

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Before taking Anzemet, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder; a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome, or an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. There are many other medicines that can increase your risk of heart rhythm problems if you use them together with Anzemet.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have fast, slow, or uneven heartbeats, or if you feel like you might pass out.

Anzemet is usually taken 1 hour before chemotherapy or 2 hours before surgery. Tell your doctor if you forget to take the medication within the specified amount of time before your procedure.

Before taking Anzemet

You should not take Anzemet if you are allergic to dolasetron. Anzemet can cause serious heart rhythm problems. You should not use this medication if you have a history of Long QT syndrome. Tell your doctor if anyone in your family has ever had this condition.

To make sure you can safely take Anzemet, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;

• a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome";

• a heart rhythm disorder such as slow heartbeats, or atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heart rhythm);

• congestive heart failure; or

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

FDA pregnancy category B. Anzemet is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether dolasetron passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Anzemet without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Anzemet should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old.

See also: Anzemet pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Anzemet?

Take Anzemet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Anzemet is usually taken 1 hour before chemotherapy or 2 hours before surgery. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Store Anzemet at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Tell your doctor if you forget to take your dose within 1 hour before chemotherapy or 2 hours before surgery. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include depression, tremors, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking Anzemet?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Anzemet side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Anzemet: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• feeling like you might pass out;

• slow heart rate, weak pulse, slow breathing;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats; or

• urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious Anzemet side effects may include:

• mild headache;

• tired feeling, mild dizziness;

• diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite;

• chills, shivering, numbness or tingly feeling;

• fever, sweating;

• rash; or

• joint or muscle pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Anzemet side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Anzemet?

There are many other medicines that can increase your risk of heart rhythm problems if you use them together with Anzemet.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);

• cimetidine (Tagamet);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

• tacrolimus (Prograf);

• tramadol (Ultram);

• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan, Tarka);

• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), or antibiotics given by injection;

• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), clomipramine (Anafranil), or desipramine (Norpramin);

• anti-malaria medications such as chloroquine (Aralen) or mefloquine (Lariam);

• cancer medicines (chemotherapy) such as daunorubicin (Cerubidine, Daunoxome), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil), epirubicin (Ellence), idarubicin (Idamycin), mitoxantrone (Novantrone), and others;

• a diuretic (water pill);

• heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), dronedarone (Multaq), flecainide (Tambocor), ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quin-G), or sotalol (Betapace);

• HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), ritonavir (Norvir), or nelfinavir (Viracept).

• medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine (FazaClo, Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), thioridazine (Mellaril), or ziprasidone (Geodon);

• migraine headache medicine such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet) or zolmitriptan (Zomig);

• narcotic medication such as methadone (Methadose, Diskets, Dolophine);

• other medicines to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting such as ondansetron (Zofran) or droperidol (Inapsine); or

• seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Anzemet. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Anzemet.