Aprepitant for Nausea or Vomiting
While the drug cannot treat nausea or vomiting once it starts, aprepitant (Emend®) can help prevent it from occurring in the first place. The medication is typically taken an hour before chemotherapy or within three hours before surgery.
It works by preventing a chemical in the body called substance P from binding to certain brain receptors. Aprepitant is available by prescription only and comes in capsule form.
(To learn more, click What Is Aprepitant Used For?. This article explains whether aprepitant is designed for use with other drugs and offers a list of people who are at higher risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.)