Dolasetron Mesylate, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: 5-HT3 receptor antagonist; antiemetic (antinausea)

Generic and brand names: dolasetron mesylate, injection; dolasetron mesylate, oral; Anzemet Injection; Anzemet Oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

It is also given to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting after surgery.

It may be given by injection (shots) into a muscle or vein or by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein).

It may also be taken by mouth in the form of a tablet.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver disease.
• long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• hypokalemia (too little potassium in your blood) or hypomagnesemia (too little magnesium in your blood)

Also tell your healthcare provider if you take diuretics (water pills), or medicine to control heart rhythms.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

Take the tablets 1 hour before receiving your chemotherapy or 2 hours before surgery. Take the exact dose as directed by your healthcare provider.

If you are to receive shots of this medicine, they will be given by a healthcare provider about 30 minutes before chemotherapy or 15 minutes before the anesthesia is stopped during surgery.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: tremors, seizures, chest pain.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Pounding or irregular heartbeat; yellowish skin or eyes; trouble urinating.

Other: Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, shivering, sick feeling, tiredness, diarrhea, constipation, redness at the spot where the shots or infusions were given, anxiety, fever.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, Ery-Tab, EryPed)
• anticancer medicines such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), or idarubicin (Idamycin)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)
• antipsychotic medicines such as pimozide (Orap), thioridazine, and risperidone (Risperdal)
• apomorphine (Apokyn)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), metolazone (Diulo, Zaroxolyn), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), and furosemide (Lasix)
• medicines to treat heart rhythm problems such as disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Pronestyl, Rhythmin), tocainide (Tonocard), flecainide (Tambocor), quinidine, mexiletine (Mexitil), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), bepridil (Vascor), dofetilide (Tikosyn), propafenone (Rythmol), and sotalol (Betapace)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store the tablets at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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