FOSAPREPITANT 150 MG POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

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Package leaflet: Information for the user Fosaprepitant 150 mg powder for solution for infusion fosaprepitant

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• - Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

• - If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

• - If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

• 1. What Fosaprepitant infusion is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you use Fosaprepitant infusion

• 3. How to use Fosaprepitant infusion

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Fosaprepitant infusion

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what fosaprepitant infusion is and what it is used for

Fosaprepitant infusion contains the active substance fosaprepitant which is converted to aprepitant in your body. It belongs to a group of medicines called „neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonists“. The brain has a specific area that controls nausea and vomiting. Fosaprepitant infusion works by blocking signals to that area, thereby reducing nausea and vomiting.

Fosaprepitant infusion is used in adults in combination with other medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (cancer treatment) containing cisplatin (a strong trigger of nausea and vomiting) and with chemotherapy that is a moderate trigger of nausea and vomiting (such as cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin or epirubicin).

2. what you need to know before you use fosaprepitant infusion

Do not use Fosaprepitant infusion :

• if you are allergic to fosaprepitant, aprepitant, or to polysorbate 80 or any of the other ingredients (listed in section 6).
• with medicines containing pimozide (used to treat psychiatric illnesses), terfenadine and astemizole (used for hay fever and other allergic conditions), cisapride (used for treating digestive problems). Tell your doctor if you are taking these medicines since your treatment must be modified before you start using Fosaprepitant infusion.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using Fosaprepitant infusion.

Before treatment with this medicine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease because your liver is important in breaking down the medicine in your body. Your doctor may therefore have to monitor the condition of your liver.

Children and adolescents

Do not give Fosaprepitant infusion to children and adolescents under 18 years of age, because it has not been studied in this population.

Other medicines and Fosaprepitant infusion

Fosaprepitant infusion can affect other medicines both during and after treatment with Fosaprepitant infusion. There are some medicines that should not be taken with Fosaprepitant infusion (such as pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole, and cisapride) or that require a dose adjustment (see also ‘Do not use Fosaprepitant infusion ’).

The effects of Fosaprepitant infusion or other medicines might be influenced if you take Fosaprepitant infusion together with other medicines including those listed below. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• – birth control medicines which can include birth control pills, skin patches, implants, and certain Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that release hormones may not work adequately when taken together with Fosaprepitant infusion. Another or additional non-hormonal form of birth control should be used during treatment with Fosaprepitant infusion and for up to 2 months after using Fosaprepitant infusion ,

• – cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus (immunosuppres­sants),

• – alfentanil, fentanyl (used to treat pain),

• – quinidine (used to treat an irregular heart beat),

• – irinotecan, etoposide, vinorelbine, ifosfamide (medicines used to treat cancer),

• – medicines containing ergot alkaloid derivatives such as ergotamine and diergotamine (used for treating migraines),

• – warfarin, acenocoumarol (blood thinners; blood tests may be required),

• – rifampicin, clarithromycin, telithromycin (antibiotics used to treat infections),

• – phenytoin (a medicine used to treat seizures),

• – carbamazepine (used to treat depression and epilepsy),

• – midazolam, triazolam, phenobarbital (medicines used to produce calmness or help you sleep),

• – St. John’s Wort (an herbal preparation used to treat depression),

• – protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV infections),

• – ketoconazole except shampoo (used to treat Cushing’s syndrome – when the body produces an excess of cortisol),

• – itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole (antifungals),

• – nefazodone (used to treat depression),

• – diltiazem (a medicine used to treat high blood pressure),

• – corticosteroids (such as dexamethasone),

• – anti-anxiety medicines (such as alprazolam), and

• – tolbutamide (a medicine used to treat diabetes)

Tell your doctor about any other medicines or herbal medicines you are taking, have recently taken, or might take.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

You should not use this medicine during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before receiving this medicine.

For information regarding birth control, see ‘Other medicines and Fosaprepitant infusion ’.

It is not known whether Fosaprepitant infusion is excreted in human milk; therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with this medicine. It is important that you tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed before receiving this medicine.

Driving and using machines

It should be taken into account that some people get dizzy and get sleepy after using Fosaprepitant infusion. If you get dizzy or get sleepy, you should avoid driving or using machines after using this medicine (see ‘Possible side effects’).

Fosaprepitant infusion contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially ‘sodium- free’.

3. how to use fosaprepitant infusion

The recommended dose of Fosaprepitant infusion is 150 mg fosaprepitant on Day 1 (day of chemotherapy).

The powder is reconstituted and diluted before use. The solution for infusion is given to you by a health care professional, such as a doctor or nurse, via an intravenous infusion (a drip) approximately 30 minutes before you start your chemotherapy treatment. Your doctor will ask you to take other medicines including a corticosteroid (such as dexamethasone) and a ‘5HT3 antagonist’ (such as ondansetron) for preventing nausea and vomiting. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking Fosaprepitant infusion and see a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, which may be serious, and for which you may need urgent medical treatment:

• – Hives, rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a serious decrease of blood pressure (frequency not known, cannot be estimated from the available data); these are signs of an allergic reaction.

Other side effects that have been reported are listed below.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are:

• – constipation, indigestion,

• – headache,

• – tiredness,

• – loss of appetite,

• – hiccups,

• – increased amount of liver enzymes in your blood.

  
  
  
  

The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only:

Instructions of how to reconstitute and dilute Fosaprepitant infusion 150 mg

• 1. Inject 5 ml sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection into the vial. Assure that sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection is added to the vial along the vial wall in order to prevent foaming. Swirl the vial gently. Avoid shaking and jetting sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection into the vial.

• 2. Prepare an infusion bag filled with 145 ml of sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection (for example, by removing 105 ml of sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection from a 250 ml sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection infusion bag).

• 3. Withdraw the entire volume from the vial and transfer it into an infusion bag containing 145 ml of sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection to yield a total volume of 150 ml. Gently invert the bag 2–3 times (see ‘How to use Fosaprepitant infusion ’).

The reconstituted and diluted final solution is stable for 48 hours at 20–25°C.

Parenteral medicines should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration whenever solution and container permit.

The appearance of the reconstituted solution is the same as the appearance of the diluent.

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) are:

• – dizziness, sleepiness,

• – acne, rash,

• – anxiousness,

• – burping, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain, dry mouth, passing wind,

• – increased painful or burning urination,

• – weakness, generally feeling unwell, – reddening of the face/skin, hot flush, – fast or irregular heartbeats, blood pressure increased,

• – fever with increased risk of infection, lowering of red blood cells,

• – infusion site pain, infusion-site redness, infusion-site itching, infusion site vein inflammation.

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) are:

• – difficulty thinking, lack of energy, taste disturbance,

• – sensitivity of the skin to sun, excessive sweating, oily skin, sores on skin, itching rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare severe skin reaction),

• – euphoria (feeling of extreme happiness), disorientation,

• – bacterial infection, fungal infection,

• – severe constipation, stomach ulcer, inflammation of the small intestine and colon, sores in mouth, bloating,

• – frequent urination, passing more urine than normal, presence of sugar or blood in urine,

• – chest discomfort, swelling, change in the manner of walking,

• – cough, mucus in back of throat, throat irritation, sneezing, sore throat,

• – eye discharge and itching,

• – ringing in the ear,

• – muscle spasms, muscle weakness,

• – excessive thirst,

• – slow heartbeat, heart and blood vessel disease, – lowering of white blood cells, low sodium levels in the blood, weight loss,

• – hardening of site of infusion.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting Yellow Card Scheme Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store fosaprepitant infusion

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and vial after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C).

The reconstituted and diluted solution is stable for 48 hours at 20–25°C.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or house hold waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Fosaprepitant infusion contains

• – The active substance is fosaprepitant. Each vial contains fosaprepitant dimeglumine equivalent to 150 mg fosaprepitant. After reconstitution and dilution 1 ml of solution contains 1 mg fosaprepitant (1 mg/ml).

• – The other ingredients are: disodium edetate polysorbate 80 (E433), anhydrous lactose, sodium hydroxide (E524) (for pH adjustment) and hydrochloric acid concentrate (E507) (for pH adjustment).

What Fosaprepitant infusion looks like and contents of the pack

Fosaprepitant infusion is a white to off-white lyophilized solid for solution for infusion.

The powder is contained in a clear glass vial with a rubber stopper and an aluminum flip off orange seal.

Each vial contains 150 mg of fosaprepitant. Pack sizes: 1 vial.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.