Palonosetron (Cont.)

Effects of Palonosetron

In studies, palonosetron was compared to ondansetron (Zofran®) and dolasetron (Anzemet®) for the prevention of nausea and vomiting. When used for chemotherapy that was fairly likely to cause vomiting, up to 81 percent of people taking palonosetron experienced no vomiting within the first 24 hours, compared to just 69 percent of those taking ondansetron. Palonosetron was not significantly better than dolasetron. It was also not significantly better than ondansetron when used for chemotherapy that was extremely likely to cause vomiting.
 
These studies also looked at "delayed" nausea and vomiting, which occurs after the first 24 hours after chemotherapy. Up to 74 percent of people taking palonosetron experienced no vomiting during the one to five days after chemotherapy, compared to just 55 percent of those taking ondansetron. Palonosetron was also more effective than dolasetron for preventing delayed vomiting.
 

When and How to Take Palonosetron

General considerations for when and how to take palonosetron include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in injectable form. It is given by IV about 30 minutes before chemotherapy.
     
  • Because palonosetron stays in the body for several days, you should not receive more than one dose per week.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
     

Dosing Information for Palonosetron

There is only one dose of palonosetron available, regardless of your age, weight, or liver or kidney function.
 
(Click Palonosetron Dosing for more information.)
 
(Palonosetron Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;