Aloxi
® (
palonosetron hydrochloride) is a prescription nausea and vomiting medication. It is approved to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy or surgery. It is given by IV before chemotherapy, and a single dose helps to prevent nausea and vomiting for several days. When given by IV just before surgery, a single dose helps prevent nausea and vomiting for up to 24 hours after surgery.
Aloxi is made by MGI Pharma, Inc.
Nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting are complex processes involving many chemicals in the body and several parts of the body, including the brain and the small intestine. It is likely that Aloxi works in the small intestine, but it may also work in the brain.
It works by blocking serotonin, a chemical produced by the body that is associated with nausea and vomiting. Serotonin has many effects in the body and can bind to several different types of receptors. Aloxi blocks serotonin at a specific type of receptor (the 5-HT3 receptor), which is important for nausea and vomiting. It has no effects on other types of serotonin receptors in the body.
Aloxi lasts longer than most other nausea and vomiting medications. This helps to prevent the immediate nausea that can occur within the first day of chemotherapy, as well as nausea and vomiting that can occur in the next few days afterwards (known as "delayed" nausea and vomiting).
In studies, Aloxi was compared to
ondansetron (
Zofran®) and
dolasetron (
Anzemet®) for the prevention of nausea and vomiting. When used before chemotherapy that was fairly likely to cause vomiting, up to 81 percent of people taking Aloxi experienced no vomiting within the first 24 hours, compared to just 69 percent of those taking ondansetron. Aloxi was not significantly better than dolasetron, however. 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 of chemotherapy. Up to 74 percent of people taking Aloxi experienced no vomiting during one to five days after chemotherapy, compared to just 55 percent of those taking ondansetron. Aloxi was also more effective than dolasetron for preventing delayed vomiting.
Studies have also shown that Aloxi is effective for preventing nausea and vomiting after surgery. In one study, 44 percent of people who were given Aloxi had no vomiting (and no need for other nausea or vomiting medications) in the first 24 hours after surgery, compared to just 19 percent of people who were not given Aloxi.
When and How to Take Aloxi
General considerations for when and how to take Aloxi include the following:
- The medication comes in injectable form. It is given by IV (intravenously) about 30 minutes before chemotherapy. For surgery, it is given just before anesthesia is started.
Dosing Information for Aloxi
There is only one dose of Aloxi available, regardless of your age, weight, or liver or kidney function. However, there are different recommended doses for Aloxi, depending on whether it is taken for nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy or due to surgery.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Aloxi. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects of Aloxi include but are not limited to:
(Click Aloxi Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Drug Interactions With Aloxi
Aloxi: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Aloxi if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose of Aloxi?
It is not known exactly what to expect from an Aloxi overdose. In studies, doses up to six times the normal dose were used without causing any problems, other than the usual side effects of Aloxi. Extremely large doses (equivalent to 947 times the usual dose) of Aloxi are lethal to rats and mice, causing
seizures, gasping, and death. There is no known antidote for Aloxi, and the drug is unlikely to be removed from the body using dialysis.
If you happen to overdose on Aloxi, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Aloxi Be Stored?
Aloxi should be stored at your healthcare provider's office or facility. It should be stored at room temperature away from light.
Keep Aloxi and all other medications out of the reach of children.
Aloxi comes in the following strengths:
- Aloxi injection, containing 0.25 mg of Aloxi in 5 mL (for use before chemotherapy)
- Aloxi injection, containing 0.075 mg of Aloxi in 1.5 mL (for use before surgery).
Is There a Generic Version of Aloxi?
Currently, there is no generic version of Aloxi licensed for sale
(see Generic Aloxi).
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