Will a single dose of Varubi stop vomiting for days?
One dose of Varubi (rolapitant) has a long duration of action for up to five days to help reduce delayed nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy ("chemo"). Normally you would take this medicine on day 1 of your chemotherapy. Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
How are Varubi tablets given?
- You normally take two 90-mg Varubi tablets (180 mg total) by mouth about one to two hours before you receive your chemo (anti-cancer medicine).
- You will take Varubi with other anti-nausea medicines on Day 1 of your chemotherapy cycle. Be sure not to take Varubi more than once every 14 days.
- You can take Varubi tablets with or without food.
- Varubi is also available as an intravenous (IV) formulation.
Related: Varubi dosing
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can sometimes be delayed after receiving your anticancer (chemo) treatment. The start of the feeling of nausea and vomiting, when it is delayed, usually does not start until 24 hours or more after you get your chemo. This feeling can last for several days and can be debilitating.
Nausea and vomiting that occurs from 1 to 5 days after the start of chemotherapy is referred to as delayed nausea and vomiting, and it can result in serious health complications.
How well does Varubi work?
In three clinical studies in over 2,400 patients, one dose of Varubi, as part of an anti-nausea regimen, was proven to help prevent delayed nausea and vomiting due to moderately- or highly-emetogenic chemotherapy. In these studies, over 70% of patients met the complete response endpoint (no vomiting or administration of rescue medication in the delayed phase, 25 to 120 hours).
There are many chemotherapeutic drugs considered high- or moderately emetogenic. Highly emetogenic chemotherapy (nausea and vomiting occurring in 90% or more of patients) includes medicines such as cisplatin or dacarbazine, and the combination of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. Moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (occurring in 30% to 90% of patients) includes agents such as doxorubicin, carboplatin, and irinotecan.
Related questions
- How long does a dose of Varubi last?
- What to eat when you have a stomach virus?
- Why does throwing up relieve migraines?
What is Varubi?
Varubi is classified as a substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist used in combination with other medicines to help prevent delayed nausea and vomiting associated with certain cancer treatments. It blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that lead to nausea and vomiting.
Related: Varubi side effects (in detail)
This is not all the information you need to know about Varubi (rolapitant) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Varubi information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Varubi (rolapitant). [product information]. TerSera Therapeutics. Accessed March 2, 2021 at https://documents.tersera.com/varubi/VarubiPrescribingInformation.pdf
- Rapoport BL, Chasen MR, Gridelli C, et al. Safety and efficacy of rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting after administration of cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with cancer: two randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 trials. Lancet Oncol. 2015;16(9):1079-89.
- Schwartzberg LS, Modiano MR, Rapoport BL, et al. Safety and efficacy of rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting after administration of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide regimens in patients with cancer: a randomised, active-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2015;16(9):1071-78.
- Hesketh P, et al. Emetic risk of single intravenous antineoplastic agents in adults. Table: in Prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults. Up to Date. Accessed March 3, 2021 at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prevention-and-treatment-of-chemotherapy-induced-nausea-and-vomiting-in-adults#H31
Read next
What is the Benadryl hat man?
The Hat Man is a fictional figure that started appearing on certain internet sites in the early 2000s that has recently been referred to as the “Benadryl Hat Man” after reports of people hallucinating and sighting him after overconsumption or abuse of Benadryl. Most of these reports have appeared on Reddit or the image-based bulletin site 4chan. Continue reading
Can you take hydroxyzine for anxiety and sleep?
Hydroxyzine is a sedating antihistamine that can be used short-term to treat anxiety and trouble sleeping, but is not meant for long-term use. Medicines typically used first-line for the treatment of anxiety are the antidepressants like the SSRIs or SNRIs (for example: paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram). Continue reading
Can you take metformin without food?
If you take metformin without food you may end up with an upset stomach, especially if you are just starting treatment. Nausea and vomiting is one of the most common side effects with metformin and can occur in over a quarter of patients. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?
- What can I do to reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?
- How long does Benadryl take to work?
- Does Benadryl make you sleepy?
- Does Benadryl help with or cause anxiety?
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride vs Citrate: What's the difference?
- Does Ginger interact with any drugs?
- Can dogs take hydroxyzine?
- Yeast Infections
- Is Dramamine useful to treat nausea or dry heaving?
- Was azithromycin in my system long enough to treat chlamydia after throwing up?
- What do I need to know about Drug Interactions?
- I think I have an allergy to my antibiotic! What can I do to treat my infection?
- Can you take Benadryl while pregnant?
- Over the Counter Medication for Pets
- What Vaccines do I need if I'm over 50?
- What's the buzz on Ozempic and Wegovy?
- What is a medical abortion and what is a morning after pill?
- What OTC drugs relieve tripledemic symptoms in kids?
- Fish Oil and your Health
- Norovirus: What to know
- Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines
- How long does Sustol work to prevent chemotherapy nausea?
- Should gabapentin be taken with food?
- What is the difference between Cinvanti and Emend?
- What is the difference between the oral and injectable formulations of Akynzeo?
- What is Syndros used for?
Drug information
- Varubi Information for Consumers
- Varubi prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Varubi (detailed)
- Varubi user reviews (1)
Related support groups
- Varubi (2 questions, 3 members)
- Nausea/Vomiting (450 questions, 926 members)
- Nausea/Vomiting - Chemotherapy Induced (12 questions, 25 members)