Palonosetron

What is palonosetron?

Palonosetron is a medicine that is used to treat or prevent nausea (feeling sick, upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up). Nausea and vomiting may be due to cancer medicines (chemotherapy), radiation treatments or medicines used for operations (surgery).

You may hear palonosetron called by its brand name, Aloxi. Palonosetron comes in capsule and injection forms.

Before giving this medicine to your child

Tell your child’s doctor if your child has:

• an allergy to palonosetron

How should you give your child palonosetron?

• Give your child palonosetron capsules by mouth exactly as your doctor or your pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better. A nurse may give your child palonosetron through a needle into your child’s vein.
• You may be asked to give a dose of palonosetron to your child before going to clinic. Give your child palonosetron 30 to 60 minutes before they are given chemotherapy.

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take palonosetron. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Slower heart rate
• Faster heart rate
• Constipation
• Diarrhea (watery bowel movements)
• Weakness

Call your child’s doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• Rash, hives (raised, red, itchy areas on the skin) or itching

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• Swelling of eyelids or face
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain, heart pounding
• Tremor or arching back

What safety measures should you take when your child is using this medicine?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with palonosetron or in some cases the dose of palonosetron or the other medicines your child is taking may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal) including medications that increase serotonin such as:

What other important information should you know?

• If you do not think that palonosetron is working for your child, talk to your child's doctor.
• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough palonosetron to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep palonosetron at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep palonosetron out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much palonosetron, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.