Emend

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Aprepitant

Available from:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Australia Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Listed (Export Only)

Patient Information leaflet

EMEND
®

_Aprepitant_
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
This leaflet answers some common
questions about EMEND. It does not
contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to
your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed
the risks of you taking EMEND
against the benefits they expect it
will have for you.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, ASK YOUR
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.
KEEP THIS LEAFLET WITH THE MEDICINE.
You may need to read it again.
WHAT EMEND IS USED
FOR
_CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED_
_NAUSEA AND VOMITING_
EMEND, in combination with other
medicines, is used to prevent nausea
(feeling sick) and vomiting
associated with cancer
chemotherapy.
_POST-OPERATIVE NAUSEA AND_
_VOMITING_
EMEND is used to prevent nausea
(feeling sick) and vomiting which
can occur after surgery.
EMEND belongs to a group of
medicines called neurokinin 1 (NK1)
receptor antagonists. It works by
blocking the actions of substances in
your brain, called substance P
neurokinins, that cause nausea and
vomiting.
Your doctor may have prescribed
EMEND for another reason. Ask
your doctor if you have any questions
about why EMEND has been
prescribed for you.
The safety and effectiveness of
EMEND in children and teenagers
under the age of 18 years have not
been established.
EMEND is not addictive.
BEFORE YOU TAKE
EMEND
_WHEN YOU MUST NOT TAKE IT_
DO NOT TAKE EMEND IF YOU HAVE
AN ALLERGY TO EMEND OR ANY OF THE
INGREDIENTS LISTED AT THE END OF THIS
LEAFLET.
DO NOT TAKE EMEND IF YOU ARE
TAKING:
•
cisapride, used to treat stomach
reflux
•
pimozide, used to treat psychotic
conditions
•
terfenadine (Teldane*) and
astemizole (Hismanal*),
antihistamines used for allergic
conditions, including hayfever
 * not available in Australia
•
St Johns Wort - a herb used to
treat depression
Taking EMEND with these
medicines may cause serious or life-
threatening reactions.
DO NOT TAKE EMEND IF YOU HAVE A
RARE HEREDITARY PROBLEM OF
FRUCTOSE INTOL

Summary of Product characteristics

A140522   

Page 1 of 29 
PRODUCT INFORMATION 

EMEND 
®

(aprepitant) 

(I) 
NAME OF THE MEDICINE 
EMEND (aprepitant) capsules 
EMEND

is a substance P neurokinin 1 (NK
1
) receptor antagonist.  
Aprepitant is chemically described
as 5-[[(2_R_,3_S_)-2-[(1_R_)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy]-
3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-morpholinyl]methyl]-1,2-dihydro-3_H_-1,2,4-triazol-3-one. 

Molecular formula:

C
23
H
21
F
7
N
4
O
3

Molecular mass: 534.43 
CAS number: 170729-80-3 

(II) 
DESCRIPTION 
Aprepitant is a white to off-white crystalline solid.  It is practically insoluble in water.  Aprepitant is 
sparingly soluble in ethanol and isopropyl acetate and
slightly soluble in acetonitrile. 

Each  capsule  of  EMEND  for  oral  administration  contains  40  mg,  80  mg,  125  mg  or  165  mg  of 
aprepitant. 

Each  capsule  of  EMEND  contains  the  following  inactive  ingredients:    sucrose,  microcrystalline 
cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and sodium lauryl sulfate.  The hard gelatin capsules contain the 
following inactive ingredients:  gelatin and titanium dioxide CI 77891, and may also contain sodium 
lauryl sulfate and silicon dioxide. The 40-mg capsule shell also contains iron oxide yellow CI 77492, 
the 125-mg capsule shell also contains iron oxide red CI 77491 and iron oxide yellow CI 77492, and 
the 165-mg capsule shell also contains indigo carmine. The capsules are printed with ink containing 
iron oxide black CI 77499. 

(III)  PHARMACOLOGY 
MECHANISM OF ACTION 
Aprepitant  is  a  selective  high  affinity  antagonist  at  human  substance-P  neurokinin-1  (NK
1
) 
receptors.    Aprepitant  showed  at  least  3,000-fold  selectivity  for  the  NK
1
  receptor  over  other 
enzyme, transporter, ion-channe