When to Take AKYNZEO
AKYNZEO is given by your doctor as a pill that is taken by mouth or as an intravenous injection before your treatment at the start of each chemo cycle.
If you are prescribed AKYNZEO injection, it will be given to you about 30 minutes before the start of your chemotherapy treatment.
If you are prescribed the AKYNZEO pill, you will take it about 1 hour before the start of your chemotherapy treatment.
- If you are going to an infusion center for your chemo treatment, you may need to bring your AKYNZEO pill with you
- Your doctor will tell you exactly when to take your AKYNZEO pill
- If you take too much AKYNZEO, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away
You can take AKYNZEO with or without food.
AKYNZEO is given with dexamethasone
Dexamethasone is a steroid that is used to treat inflammation, or swelling, in the body and is usually given with most antiemetics, including AKYNZEO.
- When given with AKYNZEO, dexamethasone is usually taken by mouth
- For patients receiving a highly emetogenic chemo medicine, the doctor may also prescribe dexamethasone for 3 days after receiving chemo treatment
Dosing recommendations
| Type of chemo medicine | Day of chemo (day 1) |
After chemo (days 2-4) |
|---|---|---|
| Highly emetogenic | AKYNZEO pill and dexamethasone 12 mg | Dexamethasone 8 mg once a day |
| or | ||
| AKYNZEO injection and dexamethasone 12 mg | Dexamethasone 8 mg once a day |
|
| Moderately emetogenic | AKYNZEO pill and dexamethasone 12 mg | |
Before taking AKYNZEO, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you
- have had an allergic or adverse reaction to palonosetron or another medication for nausea or vomiting
- have liver or kidney problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if AKYNZEO will harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if AKYNZEO passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take AKYNZEO or breastfeed. You should not do both
Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements as they might interact with AKYNZEO.
- AKYNZEO can effect certain medications that are metabolized through the liver
- In addition, certain medications, when taken with AKYNZEO may lead to a serious side effect known as serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome can be fatal
If you have an adverse reaction to AKYNZEO, report any side effects or call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Approved Use/Important Safety Considerations
Approved Use
AKYNZEO® is a prescription medicine called an "antiemetic." AKYNZEO is used in combination with the medicine dexamethasone in people to help prevent the nausea and vomiting that happens right away or later with certain anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy).
It is not known if AKYNZEO is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Important Safety Considerations
AKYNZEO may cause serious side effects, including:
- allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swollen face, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
- serotonin syndrome which can happen with AKYNZEO particularly with certain other medicines such as anti-depressants and anti-migraine medicines and can lead to death. Stop taking AKYNZEO capsules and go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of the following symptoms: agitation, hallucinations or other changes in mental status, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, high body temperature, shaking (tremors), unsteady movements, muscle twitching (overactive reflexes), or seizures with or without nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of AKYNZEO capsules and injection include: headache, weakness, fatigue, upset stomach, constipation, and skin redness.
These are not all the possible side effects of AKYNZEO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take or receive AKYNZEO, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to palonosetron or another medicine for nausea or vomiting.
- have liver problems.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. AKYNZEO may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if AKYNZEO passes into breast milk and you should not take AKYNZEO if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. AKYNZEO and certain other medicines can affect each other, causing serious side effects.
Only take AKYNZEO as prescribed by your doctor and read the Patient Information located at the end of the Prescribing Information. You can also read the full Prescribing Information that is written for health professionals.
AKYNZEO® is a registered trademark of Helsinn Healthcare SA, Switzerland, distributed and marketed by
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. under license.
© 2024 Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. All rights reserved. V-AKYN-US-0667 12/22
Approved Use/Important Safety Considerations
Approved Use
AKYNZEO® is a prescription medicine called an "antiemetic." AKYNZEO is used in combination with the medicine dexamethasone in people to help prevent the nausea and vomiting that happens right away or later with certain anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy).
It is not known if AKYNZEO is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Important Safety Considerations
AKYNZEO may cause serious side effects, including:
- allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swollen face, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
- serotonin syndrome which can happen with AKYNZEO particularly with certain other medicines such as anti-depressants and anti-migraine medicines and can lead to death. Stop taking AKYNZEO capsules and go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you get any of the following symptoms: agitation, hallucinations or other changes in mental status, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, high body temperature, shaking (tremors), unsteady movements, muscle twitching (overactive reflexes), or seizures with or without nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of AKYNZEO capsules and injection include: headache, weakness, fatigue, upset stomach, constipation, and skin redness.
These are not all the possible side effects of AKYNZEO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take or receive AKYNZEO, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to palonosetron or another medicine for nausea or vomiting.
- have liver problems.
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. AKYNZEO may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if AKYNZEO passes into breast milk and you should not take AKYNZEO if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. AKYNZEO and certain other medicines can affect each other, causing serious side effects.
Only take AKYNZEO as prescribed by your doctor and read the Patient Information located at the end of the Prescribing Information. You can also read the full Prescribing Information that is written for health professionals.