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Anzemet Side Effects
Diarrhea, headache, and fatigue are the most commonly reported side effects of Anzemet. Side effects that are less common (occurring in less than 2 percent of people) include loss of appetite, water retention, and shakiness. While most Anzemet side effects do not require medical attention, be sure to notify your healthcare provider immediately if you experience chest pain, decreased urination, or an allergic reaction.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Anzemet® (dolasetron mesylate); however, not everyone who takes the medication 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.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Anzemet. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
Anzemet has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common side effects of Anzemet included:
- Headaches -- in up to 22.9 percent of people
- Fatigue -- up to 5.7 percent
- Diarrhea -- up to 5.3 percent
- Dizziness -- up to 4.4 percent
- Fever -- up to 3.5 percent
- Pain -- up to 3.1 percent
- Indigestion or heartburn -- up to 3 percent
- Chills or shivering -- up to 2.2 percent.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD